How to Get Spray Foam off Your Hands

Co-authored by Josh Goldenberg and Nihal Shetty

Last Updated: May 16, 2022 References

Using spray foam insulation or sealant and accidentally got some on your hands? Spray foams are meant to be tough to remove, especially after they’ve dried—thankfully, however, they’ll fall off your skin on their own in a few days. But if you don’t want to wait that long, you can speed up this process with a few simple tricks. We’ll walk you through them in this complete guide on how to get spray foam off hands.

1

Acetone

If the spray foam hasn’t dried, acetone can remove its stickiness. Dip a rag in acetone or nail polish remover and gently rub at the spray foam. Doing this before the foam has dried keeps it from attaching to your skin.^{[1]
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- Avoid pouring acetone directly onto your skin, since this can cause irritation.^{[2]
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- Acetone will evaporate by itself very rapidly, but you can wash it off with water if you prefer. It can, however, dry out your skin, so apply a moisturizer after using it.
- Acetone also works great for spray glue, not just spray foam. With a few drops of acetone, you can get any glue or other spray adhesives off your hands easily.

2

Baby Powder

Baby powder gets rid of spray foam while being gentle on skin. Pour a generous amount of baby powder on both the front and the backs of your hands, enough so that there’s a decent layer of powder all over. Rub your hands together for 15 seconds, then rinse them off. Repeat this process 3-4 times—although you may not be able to get everything off at once, your hands should be noticeably more free of the spray foam.^{[3]
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- Although this method works best if the spray foam or insulation is still a little wet, it can also help you get dried foam insulation off your hands.

3

Water and Dish Soap

Water and dish soap can loosen up dried spray foam. Fill a pair of rubber gloves halfway full will a mixture of water and several drops of dish soap. Put the gloves on your hands, tape them around your wrists, and leave them on for a couple of hours. When you remove them, the spray foam may have loosened up enough to be scrubbed off.^{[4]
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- If you have spray glue or adhesive on your hands, washing your hands with water and dish soap thoroughly should be enough to remove the glue. You may have to wash your hands several times before it’s all off.

4

Baking Soda and Oil

Baking soda and oil dislodge dried spray foam from your hands. Lather your hands in oil—any moisturizing or cooking oil, like canola, is totally fine—then sprinkle a heavy coating of baking soda on your hands. Rub the mixture together, then let it sit for a few minutes. Wash your hands with warm water to remove the spray foam.^{[5]
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5

Pumice Stone

A pumice stone can scrape off the toughest dried spray foam. Use gentle strokes to scrub the spray foam on your hands, and lighten up on the pressure if the skin of your hand experiences any pain. When you’ve loosened up the spray foam, wash your hands with warm water and soap to get it off your skin.^{[6]
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- If you don’t have a pumice stone, you can use a nail file instead.

6

Exfoliating Soap

Exfoliating soap gently removes dried spray foam from your hands. This kind of soap includes small exfoliating beads that scrub away dead skin cells and any reside leftover from the foam. Best of all, you can use exfoliating soap in your daily life, so it doesn’t have to sit in the closet after you finally get the spray foam off.^{[7]
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7

Petroleum Jelly

Petroleum jelly can soften up dried foam. Apply a thick layer of petroleum jelly onto your hands, then slip your hands into a pair of disposable gloves or wrap them in plastic. Let your hands rest for an hour, then remove the gloves or plastic, and wash them with warm soap and water. Much of the spray foam should wash off along with the petroleum jelly.^{[8]
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- Instead of petroleum jelly, you can also use lanolin, which works the same way.

8

Isopropyl Alcohol

91% isopropyl alcohol is a disinfectant that breaks up dried spray foam. Fill a deep dish with 91% isopropyl alcohol and place your hands in it for no longer than 10 minutes. Then, remove your hands and wipe off the spray foam with a clean rag or towel.^{[9]
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- Be sure not to leave your hands in the alcohol for longer than 10 minutes. The alcohol can enter your skin and cause irritation.

9

Gasoline

Gasoline dissolves all kinds of sticky material, including spray foam. Dip a rag in gasoline, then rub it onto your hands. Afterwards, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. The spray foam should be much easier to remove with a bit of light scrubbing.^{[10]
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- Remember that gasoline is extremely flammable. Be sure to use it in a well-ventilated area, very far from any open flames or heat sources.
- Gasoline works best if the spray foam is still wet and sticky.
- After using gasoline, be sure to scrub your hands with enough soap and water to remove all of it from your skin.

10

Time and Patience

Within a week, the spray foam will naturally fall or peel off. Don’t worry about spray foam too much if you have some on your hands—although it’s annoying, it’s also harmless. Regularly wash your hands or do the dishes for a few days, and the dried foam will come off on its own.^{[11]
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Warnings

Avoid using commercial solvents, like WD-40, to get spray foam off your hands. Lacquer thinners may also cause irritation. These chemicals can be absorbed into your skin.^{[12]
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DermNet NZ
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