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How To Remove Spray Foam Insulation From Skin

By  Rachel Steffan

Things Needed

  • Paper towel or disposable cloth

  • Nail polish remover or other acetone source

  • Soap

  • Hand lotion or lanolin

  • Pumice stone

  • Petroleum jelly

  • Plastic glove or cling film

Tip

Wear gloves and long-sleeved clothing while applying spray foam to avoid skin contact.

Warning

Don't try to wash off uncured spray foam insulation with water. Water makes the foam cure faster.

Spray foam insulation is an effective means of increasing your home's energy efficiency. However, it's very easy to spray the foam onto your skin. Spray foam adheres to skin very quickly, and while it doesn't generally cause any harm in small amounts, it can be very irritating to deal with. You can remove uncured spray foam from your skin without too much trouble, but once it cures, you can't get it off with solvents or other chemicals.

Removing Uncured Spray Foam from Skin

Step 1

Wipe excess spray foam insulation from the skin while the foam is still wet. Use a paper towel or disposable cloth and throw it away.

Step 2

Wipe the area with acetone. Nail polish remover is a common household acetone source, but check the ingredients because not all nail polish remover contains acetone.

Step 3

Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water. Moisturize with hand lotion or lanolin to replace oils lost after acetone use.

Removing Cured Spray Foam from Skin

Step 1

Rub the dried foam with a pumice stone to wear as much of the foam away as possible. Wash hands with soap and warm water.

Step 2

Apply lanolin or petroleum jelly generously to the affected area. Cover the area with a plastic glove or plastic cling film for an hour or two.

Step 3

Remove the plastic covering and wash the area with soap and warm water. Repeat the lanolin or petroleum jelly application if needed

References

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