How to Remove Polyurethane from Hands

Polyurethane is a substance widely used in various home appliances. Sometimes it can be in the varnish of your furniture or paints or anything. They are beneficial plastic substances for better performing appliances.

However, the trouble begins when you get polyurethane stuck on your hands. As they are a chemical substance, they can be harmful to your skin. This is why you will need to get rid of any polyurethane from your hands. And only washing your hands won’t do the job.

That’s why here we will tell you about how to get polyurethane off hands. The steps are very easy to follow through, and you can get everything at your home. Let’s get started then.

Table of Contents

What You Will Need for Removing Polyurethane from Hands

To remove polyurethane from your hands, you will need the following items:

Mineral spirits: Mineral Spirits are petroleum-based substances that can remove oily items. They are commonly used for painting. Mineral spirits are the secret to removing polyurethane. If you're looking for the best mineral spirits, head over to Amazon. They have a huge selection and different brands to choose from!

Soap: To clear off the mineral spirits, you will need some soap. Mineral spirits can become harmful if they aren’t washed properly.

Warm water: Warm water is beneficial for removing any sticky substance from your skin.

Baby oil or any moisturizer: Baby oil helps to remove polyurethane stains from hands.

Lotion: Too much washing of your hands will lead them to dry out quickly. To give your hands some moisture, you will need to use lotion at the end of the process.

Now, let’s check out how you can remove polyurethane from your hands.

Remove Polyurethane from Hands (Step by Step Guide)

There are several ways you can remove polyurethane from your hands. But here, we only discuss the best way to remove polyurethane from hands. This method uses mineral spirits as the primary element for removing polyurethane.

Step-1: Apply mineral spirits

First of all, get to an empty ventilated area with no risk of flames. Now, take some mineral spirits and rub them on your hands. Be careful not to put too many mineral spirits as they can be very harmful to your skin. You can use a shop rag to have control over the mineral spirits you use.

Related: How Much Paint Do I Need? Know It with This Paint Estimator!

Step-2: Wash your hands

Right after you cover all the areas of polyurethane with mineral spirits, start washing your hands with soap water. Make sure the water you use is warm. Also, use a dish soap so that it can break the stickiness of the polyurethane. Keep rinsing your hands until you feel the stickiness going away; once you are done, dry your hands.

Step-3: Try additional methods

In most cases, the polyurethane should come off in the second step. But it doesn’t come off; you can proceed to this step. Take some baby oil or moisturizer and rub them onto your hands. You can also use peanut butter if you want. Rub your hands properly with the moisturizing element. And then wash your hands with soap and warm water once again.

Step-4: Use lotion

Then dry your hands, and you will feel no stickiness. This means the polyurethane has worn off. However, due to too much washing of hands, your hands might feel a bit dry. For that, you can use a lotion or any other moisturizer. So why not get your hands on some high-quality lotion or moisturizer? You can find it here!

This is an effortless way to remove polyurethane from hands. Don't forget to check out Amazon for a variety of options when it comes time to choose the best polyurethane remover!

Watch out the below video to gather more information about removing polyurethane from hands:

Remove Polyurethane from Hands without Mineral Spirits

You can remove polyurethane stains easily without the use of mineral spirits. Use the following ways-

You can use some vegetable oil or peanut butter to get rid of polyurethane from your hands.

Also, you can go for paint thinner. You might be wondering how to remove polyurethane from your hands. Look no further than the paint thinner! You can get it on Amazon and will help you clean up that pesky residue in seconds

For bioproducts, you can try out a soy-based polyurethane stripper.

Denatured alcohol also works wonders for removing polyurethane substances. It is the perfect way to remove polyurethane from hands, and you can find it on Amazon. There are several different options for selecting your desired type!

After using any of the above, you have to wash your hands with soap and warm water.

Dry your hands to check if they are still sticky or not.

Finally, put some lotion or moisturizer to finish it off with a smooth coating on your hands.

So, these are the ways you can remove polyurethane from your hands without using mineral spirits. However, the easiest and best way to remove it is through mineral spirits.

8 Tips for Avoiding Polyurethane on Your Hands in the Future

Polyurethane can give great results in your project, but it is not a friendly product. It has the ability to stick and never let go. That makes it a good material for tough jobs like coating an Adirondack chair for outdoor use, wood finish repairs, etc. If you allow polyurethane to dry on your hands or clothing there is no easy way to remove it.

Here are some tips that help avoid getting polyurethane on you:

Wear rubber gloves when applying the material with a brush or roller (the kind that comes in contact with the skin are best).
Apply from a container away from your body and work toward it. Remember that polyurethane is still wet and sticky for a long time even when you first apply it.
Wipe any spills on your clothes before they dry so they don't stick to the fabric. When you are done, change clothes immediately or at least wash them separately until they are no longer tacky from the polyurethane.
Work in well-ventilated areas and keep pets far from where you're working. Pets enjoy chewing shoes, furniture, etc., and can get very sick if chronically exposed to polyurethane fumes or ingesting small amounts of material.
Add ventilation to your workshop if needed by installing an exhaust fan or opening windows while working with this product.
Put polyurethane in sealed containers when not in use as it will dry out and become unusable.
Use polyurethane thickener with water-based products to reduce yellowing over time. You can find this at your local hardware or building supply store.
Keep a container of mineral spirits (paint thinner) for clean up immediately after working with polyurethane. Run mineral spirits on dried spills before they set up completely so you can wipe them away easily before they create too much of a surface bond with whatever material the spill is on. Let cleaned up materials dry before reusing them or putting them into storage.

How to Get Oil based Polyurethane Off Hands?

Oil-based polyurethane should be followed up with a soap or citrus solution.

The first thing to do is wash the hands thoroughly, then apply rubbing alcohol to them. The goal here is to remove all traces of oil from your skin so that it doesn't interfere when you apply the chemical cleaner.

After washing and saturating the hands in rubbing alcohol, rub dishwashing soap on them and rinse off once again. Now splash some water on them and dip your fingers into a cup of white vinegar for a full ten seconds (then shake off the excess). Finally, dab dry with an absorbent towel like you would after any other cleaning job.

How to Remove Polyurethane from Skin?

If you are wanting to remove polyurethane from your skin, the best products for this are acetone-based products. Acetone is also known as nail polish remover, and it can be found in drugstores and hardware stores. A mixture of 50% isopropyl alcohol or household rubbing alcohol with 50% water can also work well for those willing to go through the rigors of a home remedy.

Exfoliating first before removing the polyurethane should help remove any excess surface oils that could make removing it harder. Objects like toothbrushes, cotton cloths, sponges, cosmetic pads or even an old stocking can all be used to rub the product off.

How to Get Polyurethane to Dry?

There are various ways to get polyurethane to dry all of which should result in different drying times depending on how fast you want it to dry. Here's a few methods you can try:

Apply the polyurethane in thin, even coats.
Keep the surface wet with a spray bottle containing water and Polycrylic Aftercoat.
When you are finishing up one coat, spray a little on top of it before starting the next coat to maintain a completely wet finish.
Cover all the surfaces as quickly as possible; this will cut down on drying time because there will be less air to dry out that open spot.
You should also use two or three light coats instead of one thick layer while applying polyurethane because this will help keep it hydrated longer. Remember, if you wait too long between basecoats then your first coat might already be dry

Will Paint Thinner Remove Polyurethane?

Removing polyurethane substances from your skin is a common problem for painters. If you’re not careful, it can lead to rashes and other serious problems.

However, paint thinners work well in removing such substances! Most paints are made of polyurethane so anything used as a solvent or thinner will also be effective against these types of coatings!

Although this may seem like the most practical solution at first glance, remember that using solvents on your skin isn't always safe and might even cause more trouble than good down the line.

Related: How to Sand Latex Paint?

Will Mineral Spirits Remove Polyurethane?

Forget acetone or other harsh chemicals; mineral spirits are the least harmful and most effective way to remove polyurethane from your skin. A little bit of spirit on hand can be used directly against any patch of dry, sticky residue left behind by a coat of finish.

Mineral spirits are eco-friendly and nonflammable so they won't hurt you if spilled onto sensitive areas like eyes! Just apply some on hands, give it time with gentle rubbing motions for the wet mixture to work its magic before rinsing off completely clean without worry about harming yourself in the process.

Can a Soy-based Stripper Remove Polyurethane?

Soy-based polyurethane strippers are the safest and best way to remove sticky polyurethane from your skin. This is because they’re made of bio-materials that won't harm you, unlike conventional products derived from petrochemicals which might be harmful if used on human bodies.

Will denatured alcohol remove polyurethane?

Yes, denatured alcohol works best in removing polyurethane substances. It is a popular choice and it can remove finishes from almost anything. However, this isn't the safest option for skin so you should use with caution!

Final Words

Well, now you know how to remove polyurethane from your hands. As you can see, the best way is to use mineral spirits along with some other elements. If you were working with your home decoration or renovation, knowing this procedure may come in handy for you. But using preemptive measures is always a better option in such cases. Try out using gloves whenever you are working with polyurethane.

I hope this helps you in getting any information you needed on polyurethane removal. You can also use similar methods for removing polyurethane from other objects as well.