So, as you can see...I've been spray painting. And...I stink at it. I usually end up getting more on myself than on the piece I am painting, and in this case, I sat my hand down right where I was supposed to be spraying because I wasn't paying attention. What a mess! So...here I am covered in black spray paint, even my wedding band is covered, and I am in a panic. We have no nail polish remover in our house right now, which I heard works to help get spray paint off of skin, and I really don't love using chemicals on my skin any way, so I decided to try something else. Two days ago, I posted my recipe for Goo Gone / Sticker and Gunk Remover, and since I am desparate to get the spray paint not only off of my hands, but my ring too, I decided to give it a try! This is how I remove spray paint from my skin with no chemicals...
I rubbed it all over my hand and started rubbing my hands together under water...and IT WORKED! Holy cow, y'all! You have no idea how happy this makes me!
Now, I had to scrub a little with an old toothbrush to loosen up the paint around my fingernails, but only a little bit. That spray paint came right off!
Not only did the spray paint come off, but my hands are baby soft and smell like the beach!
So...what's in this crazy spray paint and well, sticker removing concoction? It's simply a mixture of ½ cup of coconut oil (I've heard you can use olive oil or vegetable oil) and ½ cup of baking soda. Mix them together well, and put your new hand scrub in container for emergencies like this one!
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cliff says
Baby oil onto skin wsh cloth wet hot water, soap-rub hands to cover w/baby oil wash with soapy warm water does it for me, same on face.
Johanna says
I *accidentally* found an easier way - BUTTER. Yup! You heard me, plain ol', in your fridge butter. You won't even really need your scrub brush either.
Was eating corn on the cob after a spray paint fiasco, when I noticed the paint streaming down my arms. Took a paper towel and some of the butter and ran to the bathroom and tada, it all came off.
Next painting project, I used butter to clean up - so it was NOT just a fluke - Worked for something else hard to get off too but I can't remember what it was now.
I was amazed. Couldn't believe it! It WORKS!
Just plain ole' BUTTER!
Mindi says
This is great to know! I use vegetable oil and it works great, but I think adding the baking soda would be a great addition, Thanks!
Vaishali says
Superb recipe to remove spray paint from hands!
Jacqie says
This worked so perfectly for my toddler who got into the paint! Thank you!!
Marcy says
Thank you! I used it and it worked like a charm!
andrew says
i'm not the mom, but i have 6 kids to one beautiful lady, so perhaps i'm allowed to comment. I'm also a high school chemistry teacher and i hate to tell you but your title is incorrect. EVERYTHING is chemicals including you, Baking soda is more correctly called sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO3) or sodium bicarbonate. coconut oil is a mixture of fatty acids of differing carbon chain length including:
Caprylic saturated C8 9%
Decanoic saturated C10 10%
Lauric saturated C12 52%
Myristic saturated C14 19%
Palmitic saturated C16 11%
Oleic monounsaturated 8%
and while words like "acetone" (nail polish remover) appear uncomfortable to you, were you aware that it is a chemical present in the exhaled breath of those that go on low to no-carb diets like the atkins diet?
Since paint is primarily a solute in a non-polar solvent, almost any oily (non-polar) solvent will have some ability to shift it, especially before its fully gured.
so excuse my rant, but as a teacher, i've made it my mission to push back the barriers of ignorance or dispel misconceptions wherever i find them.
Lia says
Thanks teacher, glad to learn!
mary says
I'm glad to learn too, but seriously?! This teacher sounds like he just likes to hear himself talk.
Jason says
I'm sure she knows that people aren't made of anything. I also commend her for doing her research. I don't think she needed any help from a teacher reading from a book.
Mario says
For sure!
Dirk says
I was going to comment along the same lines.
One step further, What happen when you combine oils and alkali (in this case Na CO2)? Congratulations you made soap. but your soap is pretty cool because it is a mild detergent that will retain a lot of it's oil characteristics that would make it very well suited to remove a " Since paint is primarily a solute in a non-polar solvent, almost any oily (non-polar) solvent will have some ability to shift it, especially before its fully cured." (Thank you Andrew). And as was pointed out, I will leave your hands and skin feeling good too.
Same way you get Lye Soap. Fat or oil saponified (turned into soap) with Lye (sodium hydroxide).
Joanna, I want to thank you for the butter suggestion, it worked very well. (Here comes the science) Because of the high fatty acid content. Fatty acids are long chains of carbons (8 to 50ish carbons long) with a polar end (much like a soap) except instead of an Alkali end, it has and acidic end.
Kristee says
Thank you so much!! This saved my 4 year olds hands and my sanity!!!
LuLu says
This worked awesome!!! I did not have any coconut oil so I use vegetable oil and it worked very well. I even cleaned my diamond Ring and that also came out beautiful
RETA GREEN says
thank you so much! i consider myself queen of spray paint, as never a week goes by that i am not painting something!so you can imagine , how messy i get.always trying somethin,g soooo latest being, original dawn dish soap on one of the sponges with the scrubber side, ouchy! soooooo, thanks a bunch!
Betsey says
My husband was skeptical when I started mixing this up but was so surprised that it worked. Thanks!
Jessica says
So glad you got to prove him wrong ;)
Emma says
Thank you so so much! I thought my nails and rings were ruined. You saved the day!!!
Jessica says
I'm so happy I could help! xoxo Jess
Randy Mohr says
Wow! This worked for me! I had red enamel paint stains all over my hands and figured I'd better go buy some turpentine, but your mixture (I substituted vegetable oil) and liquid hand soap removed 99% of the stains! Gotta love the internet! Thanks!
Janet Sosnowski says
I am a believer in internet tips again. Thank you. This works just as you explained AND you weren't trying to sell anything. I was picturing the congregation on Sunday when I was scheduled to serve the Chalice with dark gray spray paint on my hand.
Jessica says
Janet, your comment made me smile so big! Glad I could help! Blessings, Jess
Shenika says
Thanks! Can not wait to make this! I spray paint all the time.
Kristen says
I never, ever comment on people's blogs, ever. But I just had to say we have the exact same wedding ring! So unusual. And thanks for the tip! God bless you.
Jessica says
How funny is that? God bless you too, Kristen! xoxo, Jess
Vicki says
Thank you so much! Worked like a charm to get spray paint off my hands!! :D
Iva says
Excellent! Works perfectly. Thank you.
Leesa says
Can I use the baking soda on my face with the coconut oil I think I have over spray on my face
Jessica says
Absolutely! I use it as a softening exfoliate at least once per week!
Carol says
A little tea tree oil and soap works amazing as well!
Maryann says
I spray painted my feet last night. I cannot believe it worked and was so fast and easy. I always have baking soda and coconut oil on hand. I got a spa pedicure last week. Unlike paint removers and acetone. My pedicure polish is intact. Thank you so much!!!!
Michelle says
You saved my life today! Lol I was covered in spray paint from the wind outside and this concoction worked perfect!!! My feet and hands were covered and this took seconds to remove. I used orange essential oil because I ran out of lemon and worked perfect!!!! Thanks so much!!!!!
Jessica says
I'm so happy it helped you!
Darlene says
Thank you so much!!! This worked wonderfully!!
Ryan says
Thank you so much! It worked
Shauna says
Thank you!!! I can't believe how well this worked—and my hands are soft now too.
Lisa says
WOW - this is GREAT!!! I LOVE this & it ACTUALLY WORKED!!! NO CHEMICALS!!!
Moriah says
My hands were so raw from the scrubbing... soooo happy you posted this! It even salvaged my manicure. =D
Stacey Lallithan says
Just used your recipe. Worked in a matter of seconds. Thank you. I had bright red sticky spray paint all over my fingers and arms.