Getting spray paint on your skin is quite normal if you’re working with paint, as is your subsequent battle to get it off your skin. Regardless of whether you’re a first-timer or a regular, removing spray paint from skin can be quite a pain.
If you’re unable to make headway with the paint on your skin after an hour or two, you end up waging a war against it with chemical-based removers, which are usually harsh not to mention expensive. Surprisingly, solutions come in the form of some readily available household items.
In most cases, you can remove paint from your skin with a variety of oil-based liquids. Sometimes you’ll need to employ more than one method in order to find out which works best. There are lot of everyday things from your house that you can use to clean spray paint off your skin.
While working to remove any stain from your skin, always resist harsh scrubbing. You only end up making your skin sensitive and vulnerable doing that. Go a few rounds and take a break. Let your skin heal from the excess pressure before working at it again.
Here are five methods to help you, if you are currently sporting a spray-painted patch of skin.
Contents
Method 1: Baby Oil
Things you’ll need:
- Baby oil
- Cotton balls
Step 1. Put some baby oil on a cotton ball
Put some baby oil on a clean cotton ball. Intended for babies, this oil is very gentle on the skin. It also efficiently rids your skin of spray paint stains.
While baby oil is gentle, you can use any number of oils or vegetable oils to the same effect.
Step 2. Wipe the spray paint off your skin
Work the soaked cotton ball over the stained skin. Gently scrub in circles to clean the paint. The paint should start loosening after a few moments. When this happens, wipe off the baby oil and the loose paint with a fresh cotton ball.
Method 2: Acetone
Things you’ll need:
- Acetone
- Cotton balls
Step 1. Soak a cotton ball with acetone
Soak a clean cotton ball with acetone. Acetone is a very strong solvent, capable of cutting through a variety of water and oil-based paints.
Step 2. Lift the spray paint off with the soaked cotton
Rub the acetone-soaked cotton ball over the stained skin very gently. After sometime, you should be able to easily lift the spray paint off your skin with the soaked cotton ball.
Method 3: Tea Tree Oil
Things you’ll need:
- Tea tree oil
- Cotton balls
Step 1. Put a couple drops of tea tree oil on a cotton ball
Drizzle some tea tree oil over a fresh cotton ball. Naturally antiseptic and quite potent, tea tree oil can eat through most paints. You can, however, use any other essential oil available to you, namely lavender, rosemary, peppermint and others.
Step 2. Gently scrub off the spray paint
Give the stained patch of skin a mild scrub with the tea tree oil to remove the spray paint.
Method 4: Mayonnaise
Things you’ll need:
- Mayonnaise
- Cotton balls
Step 1. Dip a cotton ball in mayonnaise
Dip a fresh cotton ball in mayonnaise. Mayonnaise cuts through any oil-based paint. Hence, it’s a cheap and readily available alternative that you can get a hold of in a pinch.
Step 2. Apply the mayonnaise on the stained skin
Use the cotton ball to apply the mayonnaise liberally over the stained skin. Let it sit for 2 to 4 minutes.
Step 3. Wipe off the spray paint
Use a fresh cotton ball to wipe the mayonnaise off your skin. The paint will come off along with it.
Method 5: Butter
Things you’ll need:
- Butter
- Cotton balls
Step 1. Coat the stained skin with some butter
Coat a layer of butter over the stained patch of skin with a cotton ball. Oil dissolves oil and butter is a water-in-oil emulsion, so it efficiently dissolves any oil-based spray paint.
Step 2. Clean your skin with a fresh cotton ball
Take a fresh cotton ball and scrub the stained area lightly. When the paint starts coming loose, wipe the gooey mess off your skin with a fresh cotton ball.
Additional Tips
- The sooner you start removing it the better. Fresh paint is much easier to deal with, as paint often becomes more stubborn by the minute. Keep paint removal agents on hand when you’re set to work with paint.
- After working with spirits or oily substances to remove spray paint from your skin, wash your hands with soap and water to clean off any traces of oil and spirits.
- Acetone or acetone-based cleaners and mineral spirits should always be worked within a well-ventilated area to minimize any fume-related risks.
- Discard dirty and greasy cotton balls while cleaning, replacing them with new ones. Taking time to change the cotton balls in between the cleaning will make your job much more efficient.
- All essential oils are extremely potent. If you have sensitive skin, dilute the essential oil before using it on your skin.
- As a precaution, coat your hands with oil or liquid soap – let liquid soap dry – before you start working with paints. This makes the cleanup job much easier afterwards, as the paint doesn’t get a chance to bond with your skin.
- Wear coveralls and gloves, if possible, to protect your skin.