Spray paint is almost always oil-based, so you need to use other products made from this substance to get rid of it from your skin. Paint thinners and chemical solvents can cause severe skin irritation and damage, so instead of aiming for these dodgy remedies, you should open your cupboard and look for something more gentle, but just as effective. Here are some suggestions.
Steps
Method 1 of 7: Cooking Oil or Spray
Step 1. Choose the oil
Vegetable oil is believed to work best, so you may want to try cooking oils, such as olive and coconut, and non-cooking oils, such as baby oils. Butter and margarine are also known to remove this kind of paint.
- Oil is one of the most effective remedies for removing spray paint from the skin. The vast majority of these products are in fact oil-based. This means that water has no power over them, as oil and water do not mix or bond with each other. Instead, other oils and oily products can stick to the paint and take it away.
- If possible, you should avoid corrosive oils, such as turpentine. These products are aggressive and can very easily irritate the skin, especially when used on sensitive areas. If you must use turpentine, use it only on areas where the skin is most resistant, such as the hands or feet. Never use harsh oils on your face or neck.
Step 2. Spray or rub the oil onto the spray paint
If you work with cooking spray, you can spray it directly onto the paint covered leather. As for the other oils, you can dip a cotton ball or pad or other clean cloth in some oil and rub it into the paint.
- You could also pour the other oils into a spray bottle and spray them on your skin like you would with cooking spray.
- When you apply the oil with a cloth or cotton swab, rub it well into your skin. When you apply the oil in a spray, make a light splash on your fingers as well and rub the oily spot with your oil-coated fingers.
Step 3. Rinse and repeat
To avoid confusing or creating additional stains in the sink or bathtub, it is recommended that you rinse the oil and paint under plenty of running water while they are still damp. If necessary, use soap to help remove them from the skin.
You may not be able to get rid of all the paint after the first try. If there is still some left, repeat the process as often as possible to get rid of it
Method 2 of 7: Moisturizing Lotion or Cream
Step 1. Apply a pinch of lotion to the paint
Choose a full-bodied lotion or cream and squeeze a generous amount onto the stained skin with spray paint.
- A baby lotion is often recommended. Any lotion will actually help, but baby lotion contains few chemicals, fragrances, or dyes (or anything like that), so it's gentler and suitable for areas of skin that may be sensitive or prone to irritation.
- Lotions, hand and foot creams, and other similar moisturizing products usually contain oil, which can bind to that of spray paints to remove them from the skin.
Step 2. Thoroughly rub the lotion into the skin
After applying some, scrub your skin, limiting yourself to the areas covered by the paint. Use your hands to spread the lotion, with firm but non-abrasive pressure.
Prevents the lotion from spreading on the non-stained parts of the skin. There is a chance that the paint removed and absorbed by the lotion spreads over the previously unstained areas of the skin in this manner
Step 3. Leave it on before cleaning up
Allow the lotion to work on the skin for a minute or two before wiping it off with a paper towel.
- By allowing the lotion to work, you give it the ability to penetrate deeper into the pores, intervening better in the skin and coming into contact with more spray paint.
- You could also use a clean cloth instead of paper towels.
Step 4. Repeat as needed
Depending on the amount of spray paint that has gotten onto your hands and the depth of absorption by the skin, one application may not be enough. If you notice some changes but paint remains, repeat this method again until what remains of the stain is gone.
Method 3 of 7: Vaseline
Step 1. Coat the paint-covered leather with petroleum jelly
Rub a generous amount into the paint that has stained the leather using your fingers and applying firm pressure.
- Keep petroleum jelly restricted to the paint contaminated area. If you let it spread beyond this area and onto clean skin, you run the risk of spreading the paint over previously unaffected skin, thus causing a larger patch.
- Vaseline is an oily product, so it is often effective against spray paints, which are also largely oil-based.
- You could also use the other petroleum jelly-based beauty products. Vicks Vaporub and petroleum jelly products mixed with lotions and creams can even be more effective thanks to the added oils and chemicals they contain.
Step 2. Clean up with a paper towel
Simultaneously removes paint and petroleum jelly by wiping the skin with a clean paper towel and working with uniform and decisive strokes. Continue until you have completely removed them.
You could also use a clean cloth, but remember that it may end up permanently stained by the paint
Step 3. Repeat if necessary
If you notice any changes but see that there is some spray paint left on the skin, repeat the process until you have completely removed it.
Method 4 of 7: Make-up remover
Step 1. Soak a swab or cotton pad in make-up remover
Just a small piece of cotton is enough to dip into your favorite eye makeup remover or other product you use to remove makeup.
- You could also use solvent to remove the nail polish. Acetone-based ones are particularly effective, but harsh and abrasive, so you shouldn't use them if you have sensitive skin or if the paint has stained your face or neck.
- You could also use a cotton cloth, but disposable pads are preferable.
- If you have makeup remover wipes, you can use them instead of liquid makeup remover and cotton.
- The makeup remover is designed to remove stubborn makeup products and excess oil from the skin, so it can be effective against spray paint.
Step 2. Rub the paint with the cotton
Carefully wipe the pad soaked in make-up remover over the skin covered with spray paint. Apply firm but not aggressive pressure.
Most paints should lift up and land directly on the cotton pad. You can rinse the leather once you're done, but all the paint has probably already been removed and finished on the cotton
Step 3. Repeat if necessary
If you have stubborn paint on your skin, you might want to try another method or repeat this for a few more times. After soaking disposable cotton pads with makeup remover, most (if not all) of the spray paint will be gone.
Method 5 of 7: Baby Wipes
Step 1. Fold the wipe to create a small square
Fold it in half horizontally or vertically and then again in half, always horizontally or vertically. You should have a square wipe.
- By folding the wipe, you get extra layers, making it more resistant to tearing and breaking.
- Having a thicker wipe also allows you to exert more force than a thin wipe.
- This method is not necessarily the most effective, but most baby wipes contain detergents that are gentle on the skin, but still capable of cleaning, so they can also counteract spray paint.
Step 2. Rub the paint to remove it
Apply firm, even pressure to rub the folded wipe back and forth across the skin, swiping all areas of the stain as you go.
Once one side of the wipe is completely covered in paint and cannot be reused, unfold it and turn it over to use a new, clean side. Keep unfolding and folding the wipe like this until it's all covered in paint
Step 3. Repeat if necessary
If you've gotten a lot of spray paint on your skin, a baby wipe probably won't do. You can repeat this method as often as you like anyway, until the paint is gone.
Method 6 of 7: Physical Removal
Step 1. Choose an object with a clean plastic end, such as an old credit card or the handle of a disposable razor
- If you are using a credit card that is still valid, be sure not to use the part that is near the magnetic strip, as it could be damaged, making it unusable.
- If you are using a disposable razor, make sure the handle has a sharp, defined end.
- Don't use anything that could cut your skin, and avoid glass or metal objects. Strong plastic will work best for this method.
Step 2. Scratch the end of this object into the paint
Hold the skin taut with one hand and use the other to gently scrape the paint off the skin, starting at one end of the stain and continuing towards the other end.
Keep in mind that this method will work best if the spray paint has already dried on the skin. It may not be as useful if you are working with damp or sticky spray paint
Step 3. Rinse and repeat
Rinse the paint chips thoroughly under running water and wipe them with a clean paper towel to dry. If you notice that there is some extra paint left on your skin, you can try repeating this process.
For paint that has been absorbed too much into the skin, however, this may not work. Physical strength does not lift the paint from the deeply stained skin and only takes care of what is on the surface
Method 7 of 7: Pumice soap
Step 1. Moisten the skin
Sprinkle some water on the paint-covered skin or rinse it under the tap to moisten it.
Water alone has no effect on the paint, because most spray paints are oil-based and do not bind or mix with water. The water will allow the soap to lather, maximizing its usefulness and preventing the abrasive pumice from damaging the skin
Step 2. Apply the soap to the pumice
Use liquid or a stick to exfoliate the spray paint on your skin. If you use a stick, you can scrub the skin directly with soap. If you use liquid scrub, scrub with a special nylon pad.
- Pumice soap is usually used to remove automotive grease and oil from the skin. It is highly abrasive and not recommended for sensitive skin.
- For sensitive areas, you can try an exfoliating facial cleanser instead. It's not as abrasive as pumice soap, but it will still help exfoliate and remove dead skin stained from paint.
Step 3. Rinse and repeat
Rinse the skin under running water to remove all traces of soap and paint. If there is still any trace of the stain left, you can repeat the procedure, but do it carefully. An abrasive product such as pumice soap can cause skin damage if you overuse it.
