How to Get Spray Foam Off Hands Easily as Possible
Author: Omar Alonso | Editor: Omar Alonso
Review & Research: Jen Worst & Chris Miller
Spray foams improve air door quality by blocking any available air space in your walls. It also provides energy savings and efficiency in buildings; it’s environmentally friendly, straightforward to use, and long-lasting... except you didn't put on gloves and now you need to know how to get spray foam off hands.
This is why spray foams have become a must-have in every home. The only cause of concern you’ll probably have is how to remove spray foam from skin when it sticks because it can be pretty messy.
How to Get Spray Foam Off Hands
Although spray foam on your hands during or after its use might not harm you. Removing spray foam immediately after you are done with your insulating activity is best, as it is a better alternative than when it dries on your hands.
You should note that the longer the spray foam content stays on your hands before you remove it, the more complex it becomes and the longer you’ll need to soak it before it softens.
The following procedure can be looked at as separate steps you can try, as well. You don't need every step in this same order. You may not have all of the items needed around, which is why we offer so many choices for you to try.
Let’s walk through the procedures for each of these methods below. If one isn’t working, simply proceed to the next and by the end your hands will be clean from the spray foam. Yes, it’s a giant annoyance, which is why next time we urge you to wear gloves when working with this adhesive foam.
Clean Your Hand With a Piece of Cloth
As soon as you are done using the spray foam, you should get a piece of cloth to clean any particles off your hands. This would save you a great deal of stress, and be sure to dispose of the cloth to avoid it sticking to any surface.
Also, use a dry cloth to avoid curing the spray foam instead of removing it from your hand.
Wash Your Hands to Remove as Much Spray Foam as Possible
This is usually the next step after cleaning with your dry cloth. Run your hands in warm water and wash them with dish soap. Be sure to scrub your h by ands thoroughly and try as much as possible to get the remaining particles off your hands.
Do this for a few minutes and apply a generous amount of soap during this phase. Some of the properties contained in the dish wash can help eliminate the spray foam particles on your hands.
Clean Your Hands With a Paper Napkin or Tissue Paper
Your first step for how to get expanding foam off your hands is to remove as much excess as possible first. Start to clean spray foams off your hands by using a napkin or tissue paper. This method works best when the spray foam is still fresh on your hand, and simply using any of the cleaning materials mentioned will help clean your hands.
You should dispose of the used paper napkin or tissue paper properly to avoid sticking to surfaces. Don't stray too far into the paper towel alternatives because you will absolutely be ruining whatever towel or cloth you use. So stick to scraps or disposables only.
Additionally, you should use a generous amount of tissue paper or paper napkins if the spray foam particles you are trying to eliminate are too much. This is because the cleaning material must be commensurate with the spray foam you are trying to clean out for it to be efficient.
Apply Nail Polish Remover
Applying a nail polish remover or using any acetone-based dissolver is one step to cleaning out your hands when stained with insulating materials such as spray foam. This step comes after you have tried the above methods and still have some spray foam particles on your hands.
Also, you should apply this step if the spray foam had dried on your hands before you had the opportunity to take it out. You can also use any liquid with dissolving properties, such as acetone, and still get the same result. Just ventilate so your home won't smell like acetone.
Pour your preferred dissolving content inside a bowl that can accommodate your hands; the liquid you should apply depends on the spray foam content you want to remove. Be sure to soak your hands for as long as possible and try to scrub off once the spray foam content softens. Then keep that nail polish remover around to help remove nail polish from walls later.
Apply a Moisturizer or Hand Cream
Moisturizers or hand creams don’t help remove spray foams from your hands, but they are a good form of self-care after soaking your hands in dissolvers or any removal liquid with acetone.
And it is equally essential you apply moisturizer to help you rejuvenate your skin and restore any oil loss and glow it might have lost during the process. You should have a moisturizer recommended by your dermatologist handy to apply once you get spray foam particles off your hands. Be sure to moisturize generously.
Apply Powder to Bind to the Spray Foam
Powders work wonders and sometimes serve as great removal agents for how to get spray foam off hands. Although research shows that most people believe that baby powder works best, others think white powder would do the trick.
The steps are easy:
- Apply a generous amount of powder to your hand.
- Keep applying and rubbing till it sticks to the spray foam.
- Shake off the particles that come off during this process.
- Wash your hands with warm water to determine what’s left.
- Continue to repeat the process till your hands are clean.
Don’t feel like you need to get your hands completely free of spray foam in this step. Let it take you as far as it can without too much work and then move on to one of the next, more aggressive methods.
Wash Your Hands With a Scrub or Exfoliating Soap
Scrubs and exfoliating soaps also help with spray foam particles, as their hard surfaces help to get rid of them quickly. You’ll need to channel your scrubbing strength to peel off the spray foam while applying caution to avoid damaging your skin. You can choose to use organic scrubs and exfoliating soap because it is milder on your skin.
You can also decide to create your organic scrub using natural ingredients like:
- Honey
- Sugar
- Aloe vera
- Oat
- Almond meal
An old tactic we used when I was younger was to scrub your hand with a brick, which you may have lying around. It works like a lava stone, essentially. It works better if your hands are fairly calloused because otherwise you may find the scrubbing too discomforting.
Make a Vegetable Oil & Baking Soda Paste
Sometimes, you need to take a step further regarding how to remove foam sealant from hands by making vegetable oil and baking soda paste before the spray foam is off your hand permanently. You should note that this usually happens when you let the spray foam dry on your hand before cleaning it with a dried cloth or paper napkin.
You can pour oil into some baking soda and apply it on your hand once you have made it into a paste. Or you simply run the oil on your hand and sprinkle a lot of baking soda on your hands. Rub both hands vigorously and watch the spray foam fall off.
You can use any available oil, but vegetables, canola, and olive oils are always great for this kind of thing. Also, you can use sea salt or granulated sugar if you don’t have baking soda.
Wear Gloves & Soak Your Hands
Soaking your hands in gloves with warm water and soap also works. But you must apply a generous amount of soap and keep your hand soaked for as long as possible. The logic is to get the spray foam to soften and break away from your hands, which takes a lot of time to materialize. You can achieve the same thing with a bowl of soapy water, too.
So if you are probably in a hurry, you shouldn’t try this method as you must keep your hands in the glove till the foam starts to fall off. Think of it like a manicure process, just that you don’t have any machine to help you speed up the process this time.
Use Vinegar for the Last of the Spray Foam
If you want to use vinegar to remove spray foam, all you need to do is soak your hand in vinegar and watch the spray foam fall off. The amount of vinegar you’ll need depends on the quantity of spray foam you have on your hands.
Be sure to exercise patience if your spray foam has been on your hands for a bit. Add sea salt, lemon, or baking soda to your vinegar for faster action. You can repeat the process till all the spray foams fall off.
Wash your hands with warm water and soap after you complete the process. Apply oil and let your hands relax from spray foaming activities.
That's How to Get Spray Foam Off Hands With Minimal Effort
Spray foam is a great insulating agent, and it’s best to wear protective gloves and overalls when applying it to your walls. This is because getting it off your hands might be tricky because of some of its properties.
Always try to clean your hands off immediately after you complete your spraying process, and soak your hands in a dissolver to remove any remaining particles, so you aren't having someone else type "how to get spray foam off hands" into a search engine for you.