Polyurethane is a plastic element. It can be in different forms. It can be tailored to be in various forms. It has a rigid form. It can be severe form. It was invented back in the 1930s. During the 2nd World War, it was started to be used broadly. From the 1950s, it had been going through further developments. And now, it has become dominant in a variety of uses.
If we check the list of polyurethane applications on the internet, then the list would be quite long. When it is used for industrial works, it is predictable that people put on necessary accessories. But what if somehow it is exposed to your hand while furnishing? Will this sticky chemical stay forever on your hands or get removed? Well, the title of the article already indicates that there are ways. So, we are going to discuss what those several ways are, how to do them.
Regardless of polyurethane is a strong chemical, and there are debates about its effect on the human body, stains of this chemical are stubborn. Yet, the removing steps are pretty straightforward. So let’s start!
What You Will Need to Remove Polyurethane from Hands
Items we will need to remove stains are pretty available and easy to get. Except mineral spirit rests items, we usually have at our homes.
Mineral Spirits
Mineral spirits are petroleum products. It is made of 100 percent petroleum concentrate. It is a low-price product. It has versatile utilities when it comes to domestic cleanings. And these features made it quite famous. It softens polyurethane on any surface.
Soap
Mineral spirits are toxic. Skin exposure to mineral spirits for a long time can irritate. So it is necessary to wash it off properly as soon as possible. Since polyurethanes are oil-based, soaps are perfect for doing so. Bar soaps or liquid soaps work well.
Warm water
warm water works better and more effectively in this case.
Baby Oil or Any Moisturizer
These are effective in removing polyurethane. As I mentioned earlier, it is a concrete stain, and some residues remain even after washing with soaps. Also, they help to remove the smell of mineral spirits from the skin.
Lotion
Washing and rubbing your skin with spirits, soaps, water accordingly can dry your skin out. So, it is always good to use a lotion to keep your hands moisturized. In addition, if there is any irritation due to prolonged skin exposure to mineral spirits, lotion can help smooth.
It was discussed above that there are different effective methods to remove polyurethane stains from hands. Here, I choose to talk about the one with available ingredients. Hence, you can say it is the easiest one. I will guide you step by step.
Step 1: Apply Mineral Spirit
Polyurethane is a strong chemical. Hence the stain is sticky. So, as a primary item, we need to apply mineral spirit. While using spirit for any work, always keep in mind that it is flammable. Be extra cautious. At first, go to a place with enough space and ventilation. Check if there is an element that can start the fire. Then put some amount of spirit and rub that on your hand softly. Do not put too many spirits on your skin. It is toxic and harmful. Also, do not keep rubbing for a long time. The purpose of applying mineral spirit is to soften the stain. It makes the rest of the steps easier.
Step 2: Wash Your Hand
Take soap water. The water should be warm. Make sure you wash your hand with soap water as soon as you finish applying mineral spirit. Polyurethane is chemically made of a combination of diisocyanates and polyols. To remove this type of chemical, soap water is needed. Dishwashing liquid soap with warm water is the better option. They are good at breaking the chemical chain of the stain. The stain is quite sticky. So, keep rubbing mildly and rinsing with soap water until the stain loosens up. Rinse with plain water after that. Then dry your hand.
Step 3: Try Additional Methods
Usually, the above two steps are enough to remove the stain. But sometimes, the stain can be stubborn. In that case, you can move to this step. Take some baby oil or any moisturizer. Could you put it on the stain and rub it? Keep rubbing mildly. What if you do not have baby oil, or if you do not want to use that? Just go to your kitchen. Take some peanut butter out of the jar and apply it to the stain. Again, rub properly. Do not be harsh on your skin. That is not needed. Baby oil or any moisturizer or peanut butter, whatever you choose, rinse with soap water once again after applying. Not to mention water should be warm. Then dry your hands. After this, there were supposed to be no stains or stickiness anymore. If you feel no stickiness after that, that means the stain is diminished.
Step 4: Use Lotion
You already learned that there is a big chance that the rubbing and rinsing will dry your skin out again and again. Also, the spirit might leave a mild odor. (Though I do not mind the spirit smell!) Many people do not like that odor on their skin. So apply lotion or any moisturizer.
This whole method is convenient. Things are easy to get. It is pretty much essential. But there are other methods too. I am going to throw sheds on that on our next segment.
Remove Polyurethane from Hands Without Mineral Spirits:
It is easy to get that to some people, and polyurethane might not be accessible. What to do in that case? Let’s go for the following methods:
- We Need:
- As I told kitchen ingredients always come in handy. You can opt for vegetable oil or peanut butter to remove polyurethane stain.
- There is another option. Paint thinner. Less expensive than mineral spirit. But the primary purpose of both of them in removing polyurethane stain is to soften the chemical bond.
- In addition, a soy-based polyurethane stripper can be given a chance. It is very safe. It was odorless. Reviews say that it is quick and effective.
- Denatured alcohol can be another wonder.
- After applying any of the above options, wash your hands with soap (any kind of. But dish soap is better) and warm water. There is no alternate for this step. Again, do not rub too hard.
- Dry your hand and check if the stain is still sticky or not.
- Moisturize your hand.
You can see the primary method is the same. The only difference is what we are using at the same step. We just shared the substitute of mineral spirits. Mineral spirit is the easiest and the best option to remove polyurethane. But people should go for what they have immediately.
Will Paint Thinner Remove Polyurethane?
You can see I mentioned paint thinner as a good alternative for mineral spirit in the previous segment. It will remove polyurethane. It works well. Almost all paints contain polyurethane. So, paint thinner eventually is a good option for removing polyurethane. It might not be the best option. It might not be skin-friendly. But it will serve the purpose.
Will Mineral Spirits Remove Polyurethane?
Mineral spirit is the best option so far. If you are still reading this article, you already have read that several times. It is the easiest option. Apply it directly to your skin. It will remove the stain. But please keep in mind, clean with soap water immediately. Mineral spirit is harmful to our skin. So, do not keep applying it or leave it on the skin without washing it off.
Can A Soy-based Stripper Remove Polyurethane?
Soy-based stripper is used for basically removing paints. Paints contain polyurethane. So, yes, it can remove polyurethane. You can say it is the safest for your skin among all other options and is very environment-friendly. It works quickly.
Will Denatured Alcohol Remove Polyurethane?
Yes, it will. It is degraded with elements like methanol, benzene, castor oil, acetone, and other additives. I would say it should be the last option since it is not suitable for skin at all. In California, it has been banned. It can cause excessive dryness to your skin. So, if you use this, use a good lotion or moisturizer immediately.
We often go for furnishing our homes. Especially during festivals, home renovation makes our schedule hectic. If the stain happens in the middle of this chaos, I would advise you to follow these methods. Mineral spirits are the best element to opt for. But do not put extra stress if you do not find it nearby. Go for the options that are available and easy to get for you. Just stay cautious about every step of whatever method you go for.
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