Wood varnish is one of the most difficult substances to remove from leather. Even if you take precautions, such as wearing gloves and keeping your skin covered, you may still get stained while you are working. If the paint hasn't dried yet, you may be able to remove the stain with soap and water. If not, you will have to use a chemical product and be very careful to avoid damaging the skin. Removing wood paint from leather is possible, but you have to be careful, meticulous and you have to use the right products.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Remove Paint with Soap
Step 1. Prepare a cleaning solution with warm water, dish soap and laundry soap
Pour the detergent and soap into the water, then mix slowly to prevent too much foam. If you have paint on your face, use only dish soap (unscented), without adding laundry soap.
- The proportion of hot water, dish soap and laundry soap depends on the extent of the stain and the degree of sensitivity of the skin.
- If you don't have particularly sensitive skin or the stain is particularly difficult to remove, use a fairly generous amount of laundry soap.
- If you have sensitive skin, it is best to use only dish soap. Also try to dilute it a lot.
Step 2. Rub the mixture onto the stain using a rag or toothbrush
Dip the fabric or bristles into the cleaning solution and then rub it into the stained skin. Wet the rag or toothbrush again and repeat until the stain disappears.
- Use this method only if you immediately notice that you are stained and the paint has not yet dried on the skin. Try to intervene in a timely manner to avoid having to use more aggressive products.
- If you use a rag to scrub the stain, the fabric will gradually absorb the paint. Use a clean section of the rag every time the fabric gets stained.
Step 3. Apply a moisturizer to clean skin
When you have managed to remove the paint stain, rinse the skin thoroughly with cold or lukewarm water; then apply a moisturizer to repair the damage caused by soap and rubbing.
Method 2 of 3: Remove the Oil-Based Paint
Step 1. Determine if the wood paint is oil based
By reading the directions on the can, you should be able to figure out if it is an oil-based product. Alternatively, you can pour a few drops of water onto the painted wood. If the water is dispersed in the form of very small droplets, it means that the paint is oil-based.
Step 2. Pour some white spirit into a metal bowl
You can buy white spirit at any hardware store. Sometimes the generic wording of paint thinner is shown on the label; be careful because not all paint thinners are white spirit based. Make sure the container you intend to pour the white spirit into is not painted or enameled.
Always proceed with caution when using white spirit, as it is highly flammable and its vapors are toxic
Step 3. Dip a white rag in white spirit
It will be easier to tell if the stain has disappeared using a clean white rag. If the section of fabric you are using begins to color, move on to another section or take a clean rag.
Step 4. Rub white spirit on the stained skin
First dab the rag soaked in white spirit on the stain to absorb the excess paint, then start scrubbing gently. Start at the edges of the stain and work your way to the center to avoid spreading the stain. Continue tapping and scrubbing until you are able to remove the paint from the skin.
If the rag gets stained, the method works. Use a clean section of fabric to continue absorbing the paint
Step 5. Rinse your skin often with lukewarm water
White spirit has the function of removing paint stains from hard surfaces such as wood and metal. It can severely irritate the skin or cause burns if you don't wash it off quickly, so rinse your skin frequently while.
Step 6. Rinse the skin very carefully using warm water after removing the stain
Take your time to make sure you have removed even the smallest trace of white spirit from your skin to prevent burns and irritation. If your skin is not particularly sensitive and does not seem irritated, you can also use soap and then perform a final thorough rinse with clean water.
When finished, apply a moisturizer to repair damage caused by white spirit and rubbing
Method 3 of 3: Remove the Water-based Paint
Step 1. Determine if what you are using is a water based paint
If you have the original tin, you should be able to find out by reading the directions on the label. If not, wipe the stain with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol; if the cotton gets stained, it is probably a water-based paint.
Step 2. Pour some alcohol or acetone into a metal bowl
Both products can help you remove the paint stain from the leather, but you have to be careful because they are very aggressive substances. Of the two, alcohol is the least harmful, but it acts slower and is less effective than acetone.
Acetone is a solvent and is the basis of most of the products used to remove nail polish. Buying acetone-based nail polish remover is the easiest and cheapest solution if you want to use acetone to remove paint stains from your skin
Step 3. Dip a white rag in alcohol or acetone
Use a clean, white rag to easily see if the method works. Start from one corner of the rag and switch sections whenever the one you are using gets dirty.
Step 4. Rub the dampened rag over the stain
First, pat it on the skin to absorb the excess paint, then rub it gently on the stain. Start at the edges and work your way to the center to avoid spreading the paint further. Continue blotting and scrubbing with the rag until you are able to remove the stain.
When the section of fabric you are using becomes dirty, switch to a clean section of the rag. If the stain is particularly large or difficult to remove, have other clean rags on hand
Step 5. Wash your skin with soap and water
Rinse the part with lukewarm water, lather it to remove residual alcohol or acetone and finally rinse the skin thoroughly using hot water.
- If alcohol or acetone has irritated your skin, rinse it thoroughly with warm water. Don't use soap until your skin has had time to heal and repair itself.
- Apply a moisturizer to clean skin to prevent irritation and damage.
Advice
- Removing wood paint from leather is really complicated. You will likely need to use irritants; if the skin becomes red or inflamed, try waiting a couple of days before trying to remove the paint again.
- The best thing to do is to take all necessary precautions to avoid staining. Wear rubber gloves and keep your body covered when painting the wood.
Warnings
- Many of the chemicals listed in the article are flammable, toxic or otherwise dangerous. Read the labels very carefully and be aware of the risks you run by applying them to your skin.
- Call 911 right away if you need to inhale or ingest any of these chemicals.
- There are products specifically formulated to remove paint from wood, but they are not suitable for use on the body. If you are trying to remove a particularly stubborn stain of paint, you can try using a wood stain remover; first, however, read carefully the warnings and precautions for use and use only a few drops.
- Never mix chemicals unless you are sure of the result. You can mix dish soap with laundry soap, but never any of the other chemicals listed.
