“Help! I want to know how to get polyurethane off hands effectively.” -Alice
There is no doubt that polyurethane is difficult to remove from hands. For house painters, their daily work is to apply various coatings, such as brushing, roller coating, and spraying etc.
Different projects may have different application methods, but one thing is the same: it’s likely to spill the paint and stain on their hands or clothes.
As we all know, polyurethane has its own special adhesion, so these stains on hands or clothes cannot be washed clean easily with water.
Today, our editor will share a small talk with our guest and tell you how to clean polyurethane off hands or clothes. Let’s get started.
Small talk：How to get polyurethane off hands
Editor: So what is a good way to get polyurethane off hands?
Guest: If you accidentally got the polyurethane waterproof coating on your hand, you can use makeup remover oil. Simply apply it to the contact area slowly, then rub it for about 2 minutes, then pour in an appropriate amount of detergent and continue to slowly rub it. Finally, you can use clean water to absorb it completely.
Editor: Great. And how do you get polyurethane off clothes?
Guest: If the polyurethane waterproof coating gets stuck on clothes, you can pour an appropriate amount of alcohol into the coating area, then use soap to apply it to the coating area, slowly rub it until the coating area becomes clean, and finally wash it clean with water. If you still haven’t cleaned it after doing this, you can repeat the above steps!
Editor: Got it. And any other possible ways?
Guest: Yeah. Here is another way. Pour a small amount of gasoline onto the paint, add an appropriate amount of shampoo, then rub for about 2 minutes, and finally wash it clean with water. However, please note that this method may not be suitable for some special clothing, such as silk, mink, and leather clothing. For these clothes, it is not to recommend to use this method because it may directly damage the clothing.
Guest: The fourth way is to Pour a proper amount of Lacquer thinner (also known as Tianna water, Isoamyl acetate, and isoamyl acetate) on the paint, rub it directly for about 2 minutes, then add washing powder to scrub it, and then rinse it with clean water.
Editor: Well noted. Thank you for all sharing!
Why polyurethane is hard to remove?
Now you may have a general idea of how to get it done. Yet you may be still wondering why polyurethane is hard to remove. Before answering it, let’s dive into the definition of polyurethane.
There are two kinds of polyurethane. One is water-based polyurethane, the other is oil-based polyurethane.
Water-based Polyurethane is an environmental type of system because it uses water as dispersion medium instead of organic solvent.
Tips for using and removing polyurethane
More importantly, it’s always wise to take precautions before they occur. Below are some tips for using and removing polyurethane:
- Wear gloves to prevent polyurethane from getting on your hands.
- Immediate cleanup. Clean up spills on hands, clothes or shoes before they dry.
- Keep a container of mineral spirits or paint thinner on hand.
- Run mineral spirits on dried spills of polyurethane before they fully settle on your skin to make it easier to wipe them away.
- Be careful when applying polyurethane to avoid spills.
- Keep the container far from your body while applying.
- Change your clothes as soon as you’re through, or at the very least, wash them separately until the polyurethane stops making them tacky.
More Experience in Removing Polyurethane from Hands
Other users share their experience in removing polyurethane from hands.
1. Use a soft towel or cloth to wipe off wet polyurethane to prevent it from soaking into the skin.
2. Rub your hands with mineral spirits or denatured alcohol to remove polyurethane.
3. Use a soy-based polyurethane stripper, which is gentle and comfortable on the hands.
4. Use olive oil and vinegar to remove polyurethane from your hands.
5. Use acetone, dish soap, or other household items to remove polyurethane.
6. Denatured or Isopropyl Alcohol: Rubbing denatured or isopropyl alcohol on your hands can help lift and remove polyurethane.
7. Mineral Spirits: Mineral spirits are effective at removing polyurethane. Rub a little mineral spirits on your hands, rinse under warm water, and wash with dish soap and water.
8. Peanut Butter: Applying peanut butter to the affected area can help loosen the polyurethane. Afterward, wash your hands with warm water and liquid dish soap.
9. Vegetable or Baby Oil: Rubbing vegetable oil or baby oil on the affected area can help loosen the polyurethane. Wash your hands with warm water and liquid dish soap, then dry and moisturize them.
10. Rubbing Alcohol: Rubbing alcohol can help break down the polyurethane. You can try rubbing it on your hands and then washing with soap and water.
11. White Vinegar: White vinegar can be used to remove polyurethane from hands. Apply it to the affected area and wash with soap and water.
Please note that some of these substances can be harmful or may not be as effective as others. Always use caution and follow proper safety guidelines when using these methods.
Conclusion
To conclude, it’s important to take precautions when working with polyurethane. If got spills on hands or clothes, immediate cleanup is recommended.
Moreover, for cleanup of polyurethane stains, it’s better to use dish soap and warm water to remove water-based poly and use mineral spirits or denatured alcohol to remove oil-based poly.
Learn more about SioResin Water-based Polyurethane, feel free to contact our team sales@sioresin.com