Silicone putty can be a great tool for home improvement projects, such as filling cracks on exterior walls or waterproofing a backyard shed. Its sticky and filling properties make it an excellent water resistant sealant. Unfortunately, these same characteristics can make it difficult to remove the product from the hands after finishing the job. Since fingers often allow the putty to spread faster and easier, stains can become a frequent nuisance during large-scale projects. To learn how to remove this goo quickly and with minimal effort, read on.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Remove Wet Putty with Plastic
Step 1. Remove as much of the putty as possible before it dries
This substance can be quite sticky, so the more you can remove it initially, the easier it will be to have completely clean hands in the long run. As soon as it gets dirty, grab a tissue or paper towel and wipe it off immediately. Throw away your handkerchief or towel immediately to avoid accidentally spilling the product.
Don't use a fabric towel (especially one you like). Once the silicone has dried, it will be very difficult to remove it. In addition, it is waterproof, so while it does not spoil the appearance of the towel, it could damage its absorbent function
Step 2. Rub your hands with a plastic bag
Once you've gotten rid of the excess putty, get a cheap plastic bag (like those from the supermarket). Rub your hands with the bag, using it as if it were a towel. If the silicone hasn't dried yet, it should grab onto the bag faster than your hands, removing a good deal of the remaining putty. Although this trick is unconventional, some sources expert on the subject believe it to be effective.
If you don't have a supermarket bag on hand, most cheap plastic bags (like garbage bags, for example) should work
Step 3. Rinse
If the putty hasn't dried yet, you should be able to remove a large portion of it with a paper towel or plastic bag. To get rid of the last traces, rinse with water. As you do this, periodically scrub your hands with a sponge, paper towel, or light abrasive. As stated earlier, try not to use the best towels you have for this process.
If you want, you can use soap. However, it is unclear whether it can have a significant effect in removal
Step 4. Dry your hands and repeat if necessary
Next, dry them with a cloth or paper towel. Examine them carefully, looking for any putty left. Be careful - even a small amount can annoy once it dries. If you notice any silicone residue, you need to repeat the above steps as needed until you have removed it or it becomes evident that you will not be able to remove it that easily.
Step 5. Act now
When used for its original purpose, silicone caulk can take some time to dry completely, about 24 hours for a standard dose. However, when it is smeared thinly or tiny drops fall on the hands, drying can be much faster. Therefore, prompt action is necessary when trying to remove the product from the skin. The sooner you try to remove it, the less effort you will have to try to remove it once it is dry, which would be much more difficult.
In order not to severely soil your hands when applying the putty, it is important to be able to clean them right away, so it can be quite helpful to keep the products on hand during the procedure. Having a clean plastic bag and some paper towels next to you as you work can make all the difference. In fact, the chances of having completely clean hands at the end of the project will be greater, while preventing the annoying inconvenience of finding yourself with dry silicone encrusted on the skin
Step 6. If the dry silicone doesn't go away, give a home remedy a try
Have you tried the tips above and couldn't get the putty off your hands? He probably had time to get annoyed. Unfortunately, since it has strong adhesive properties and is essentially waterproof, paper towels, plastic bags and water will not be of much help in removing it. In this case, you should try one of the several home remedies aimed at removing dry silicone putty listed below. While these methods haven't been tested conclusively, many online sources recommend them.
Method 2 of 2: Remove the Silicone Putty with a Home Remedy
Step 1. Try acetone
When trying to remove dry silicone from your hands, one of the most common tips online is to use acetone. This organic chemical, frequently found in nail polish removers, is able to dissolve some types of plastics (such as acrylic polish, for example) with ease. Its ability to dissolve or weaken silicone mastic is less certain. However, many sources on the web attest to its usefulness.
To implement this method, moisten the corner of a paper towel with pure acetone or a nail polish remover containing this substance. Gently wet the hand points covered with silicone putty. Do not pour it on your hands: it is a waste, not to mention that it can generate harmful and unpleasant vapors. If you choose a nail polish remover, read the ingredient list before using it to make sure it contains acetone
Step 2. Try using a hair dryer (with caution)
Like many other synthetic compounds, when heated progressively, the silicone eventually weakens. Thanks to this property, some sources recommend using a hair dryer in order to dissolve the product on the hands. Turn it on and direct it to the affected areas, allowing the silicone to gradually warm up. Once it has warmed up, try scrubbing it with a sponge or other light abrasive to remove it.
If you want to try this method, make sure you start with the lowest possible hair dryer temperature. Gradually increase it according to your needs and turn it off immediately if the heat becomes intense or bothers you. It's not worth burning yourself - eventually the silicone residues will fall off on their own
Step 3. Try an abrasive
Another way to remove silicone from your hands is to simply scrub it well until it is completely removed. However, this method carries a caveat. Silicone is quite hard. In fact, for most purposes, it is tougher than leather. Therefore, you must be extremely careful while using an abrasive to remove it, so as to avoid scratching the skin. Use only light abrasive products, not aggressive ones such as steel wool. Stop scrubbing well before risking an injury. Remember: eventually the silicone will fall off on its own, so there's no point in hurting yourself trying to get rid of it. Here are some appropriate items you might try to use:
- Kitchen sponges.
- Fine-grit sandpaper (if you're careful).
- Pumice stone.
Step 4. Try white spirit
Like acetone, white spirit or turpentine is sometimes recommended to weaken stubborn silicone putty. Again, the actual usefulness is subject to doubt, although some home care sites recommend it. If you have white spirit handy, try applying a light dose to dry silicone with a paper towel soaked in the product. Continue with the abrasion once the white spirit begins to weaken the silicone. If you don't have it, you can usually find it at the hardware store at a low cost (it usually costs no more than 10 euros for 4 liters).
While white spirit is usually not dangerous to the touch, be sure to wash thoroughly after coming into contact with it. Direct contact of several hours, or longer, can cause severe chemical burns
Step 5. When none of the methods seem to work, wait
Particularly stubborn silicone mastic stains can sometimes take root on hands despite various attempts to remove them. In these cases, the best solution is to wait for it to fall on its own, instead of irritating your hands to take it off. Dead cells naturally detach almost constantly. Once the skin underneath the dry silicone is dead, it will eventually fall off, taking the product with it.
The human body usually takes about 27 days to completely eliminate and replenish an entire layer of skin. Silicone that has dried on your hands will probably take less time to fall off (about a week)
Step 6. Do not use aggressive solvents
To get rid of silicone putty from your hands, follow the safe methods described in this article. Don't take any chances by trying potentially harmful remedies. For example, while acetone and white spirit are generally safe for short-term use on the hands, other more aggressive chemicals can cause serious problems. Many harmful or caustic solvents can be harmful if touched, inhaled or ingested, so you need to stay away from them. Here are some of the chemicals you should definitely avoid to get rid of silicone from your hands:
- Bleach.
- Product for exhaust pipes.
- Paint thinner.
- Sodium hydroxide.
- Strong acids or bases.
Step 7. Do not scratch or dig the putty. Never use a sharp tool or harsh abrasive product to remove the silicone putty by force. While it may be tempting to use a knife or metal scouring pad to scrape off or cut the annoying silicone, you risk injuring yourself with these methods. Also, you are not absolutely sure if they are effective in combating the rubbery and sticky texture of silicone. While this tip is obvious to most people, it is good to remember it for safety reasons.
Advice
- Use eucalyptus essential oil. Pour it liberally on a paper towel, rub it well on the skin and then wash it off with soapy water.
- Powdered laundry detergent is just as effective.
- Try removing it with a window cleaner, then wipe it with a paper towel. If necessary, repeat.
- Lightly spray a product to prevent weeds on your hands; scrub it gently, then wash your skin well with liquid soap and warm water.
