Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by Andres Matheu. Andres Matheu is the Owner of Hömm Certified Painting Systems, an Interior and Exterior Residential painting business based in the Washington, DC Metro area. Andres specializes in interior and exterior residential painting, color consultations, cabinet refinishing, wallpaper removal, and epoxy flooring among other services. An EPA Lead-safe Certified Firm, Hömm Certified Painting Systems has been awarded the Best of Houzz 2019 Service, Angie's List Super Service Award 2019, and Northern Virginia Magazine's 2018 Best Home Experts (painters) award.
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When working on projects that require the use of spray paint, it can be tough to avoid getting some on your skin. Paint thinners and chemical solvents may effectively remove spray paint, but they can also cause severe skin irritation and damage. Instead of relying on these heavy-duty fixes, you should turn to your own cupboards and look for something a little gentler yet just as effective. Remove spray paint by applying oil to your skin and then washing it off. You can also make a homemade paint remover with just a few common ingredients.
Steps
Rub olive oil or vegetable oil onto your skin. Hold your hands over a sink and pour a generous amount of olive or vegetable oil into your palms. Rub your hands together thoroughly and focus on working away at the paint. Turn on the water with your elbow and continue rubbing your hands underneath the running water. If the paint isn’t coming off, squirt some hand soap into your palm and continue rubbing.- To avoid making a mess, it may be best to do this in the shower if the spray paint is anywhere other than your hands and/or arms.
Use purification essential oil instead of vegetable oil. Get a purification essential oil, which is a blend of multiple oils typically used to eliminate odor. Drop a few drops of the oil blend directly onto your skin where the spray paint is. Massage the oil into the painted skin, and you should notice the paint starting to thin. Continue rubbing until the paint is gone.[1]- Be careful not to touch your eyes when your hands have essential oils on them, as this may cause stinging and irritation.
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Try spraying cooking spray on your skin as an alternative. Get a generic cooking spray and spray it all over the painted area of your skin. Rub the affected area and the paint should come right off. Rinse your hands in the sink to get the oil and any remaining paint off.[2]
Lather with dish soap. After thoroughly rubbing oil into your skin, squirt some grease-cutting liquid dish soap, such as Dawn, into your hands. As you lather, focus on rubbing the soap on any skin that still has paint on it.[3]- If you were using a water-based paint, soap and water is probably all you'll need to get the paint off of your skin.[4]
Rinse the soap off of your skin. Once your skin is covered in suds, turn on the sink and place your hands under. Rub your hands together while you rinse the soap off completely. Then pat your skin dry with a hand towel.- If you’ve gotten spray paint somewhere other than your hands or arms, rinse the soap off in the shower.
Repeat the process if any paint remains. Take a close look at your skin after you’re done rinsing. If you still see traces of spray paint on your skin, reapply the oil and then wash your skin with dish soap again.[5]
Mix coconut oil, baking soda, and lemon oil together. Measure out ½ cup (118.3 mL) of baking soda and ½ cup (118.3 mL) of coconut oil and put them in a bowl. Add in 6 drops of lemon essential oil and mix everything together with a spoon until it has a smooth, paste-like consistency.[6]
Rub and scrub the mixture onto your skin underneath running water. Turn on the sink or shower and scoop out some of the mixture. Place your hands underneath the water and start rubbing at the painted areas of skin.[7]- If you have spray paint on your fingernails, scrub the paint off with a new toothbrush.
Wash off the mixture. Rinse off as much of the mixture as you can, and then wash the skin with a hand or body soap to get it off entirely. After rinsing the soap off, pat your skin dry with a hand towel. This should leave your skin paint-free and soft.
Expert Q&A
- QuestionWhat takes spray paint off of skin?
Andres MatheuAndres Matheu is the Owner of Hömm Certified Painting Systems, an Interior and Exterior Residential painting business based in the Washington, DC Metro area. Andres specializes in interior and exterior residential painting, color consultations, cabinet refinishing, wallpaper removal, and epoxy flooring among other services. An EPA Lead-safe Certified Firm, Hömm Certified Painting Systems has been awarded the Best of Houzz 2019 Service, Angie's List Super Service Award 2019, and Northern Virginia Magazine's 2018 Best Home Experts (painters) award.
Commercial PainterIf it's water-based paint, all you need to use is soap and water. If it's oil-based, you can use a special product that's friendlier to your skin than solvents. If you do have to use a solvent in an emergency, apply it, then rinse it off immediately. - QuestionHow long does it take to get spray paint off of skin?
Community AnswerAlthough it is not very good for your skin, nail polish remover will take the spray paint off almost immediately. - QuestionI got spray paint on my foot yesterday and it is still there. Is this bad?Community AnswerNo. It will come off eventually.
Things You'll Need
Removing the Paint with Oils
- Oil (olive, vegetable, essential, or cooking spray)
- Water
- Liquid dish soap
- Hand towel
Using a Homemade Paint Remover
- Coconut oil
- Baking soda
- Lemon oil
- Water
- Toothbrush
- Soap
- Hand towel
Tips
- You can buy commercial cleaners that are specifically formulated for removing oil paint from skin.[8]Thanks
References
- ↑ https://www.thehappierhomemaker.com/how-to-remove-spray-paint-from-skin/
- ↑ https://shareably.net/d-g-uses-cooking-spray/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aeGYrrsOlQ&feature=youtu.be&t=1m38s
- ↑ Andres Matheu. Commercial Painter. Expert Interview. 28 July 2020.
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aeGYrrsOlQ&feature=youtu.be&t=2m7s
- ↑ https://www.mom4real.com/homemade-goo-gone-sticker-and-gunk-remover/
- ↑ https://www.mom4real.com/how-to-remove-spray-paint-from-your-skin-no-chemicals/
- ↑ Andres Matheu. Commercial Painter. Expert Interview. 28 July 2020.
- ↑ Andres Matheu. Commercial Painter. Expert Interview. 28 July 2020.
About This Article
If you accidentally get spray paint on your skin, don’t worry. You can safely remove it using gentle household ingredients. One simple method is to pour a little vegetable oil or olive oil on the paint stain, then rub the oil into your skin. Hold the stained portion of your skin under running water and keep rubbing the area until the paint comes loose and rinses away. If oil alone isn’t enough, add a squirt of hand soap. The soap should help loosen the remaining paint and wash away the excess oil. You can also use an essential oil blend to remove spray paint, but be careful. Undiluted essential oils can be irritating, so mix a few drops of the essential oil with a carrier oil, such as olive or jojoba oil, before putting it on your skin. You can also mix the essential oils into your favorite lotion or conditioner. Massage the oil blend into your skin until the paint begins to thin out and rub away. If you don’t have cooking oil or essential oil, you can use cooking spray instead. Whichever type of oil you use, wash your hands with soap and water when you’re done to remove the oil and any remaining spray paint residue. You may need to repeat the process a few times to get all the paint off. For extra-stubborn paint stains, mix up a skin-safe homemade paint remover. Combine half a cup (90 g) of baking soda with half a cup (118.3 mL) of coconut oil in a bowl, then add 6 drops of lemon essential oil. Mix the ingredients together with a spoon to create a smooth paste. Gently scrub the mixture into your paint-stained skin under running water until the paint rubs away. Follow up by washing your skin with soap and water, then pat the area dry with a clean towel. If you want to learn how to make your own paint remover, keep reading the article!
Reader Success Stories
"I applied olive oil with a cotton ball to remove oil-based spray paint from around my eyes. I looked like a raccoon! I had been painting some school lockers. I had on glasses, a mask and face shield, but still got paint around my eyes. Thanks for helping!"..." more
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