If you have ever worked with wood stain, you may know how difficult it is to remove from skin and fabric. In this article, we will visit a few ways you can remove different kinds of wood stain from your skin as well as how to prevent it from happening in the first place.
Prevention is the Best Solution
When the whole purpose of a chemical is to stain something, it is not supposed to come out easily. Unfortunately, this means that mistakes can be costly, and actually trying to remove it can be incredibly difficult.
When working with wood stain and other tough chemicals, it is important to wear equipment that will protect you. This kind of equipment is called PPE, or personal protective equipment. While it varies based on the activity at hand, PPE includes all kinds of clothing that can be worn to prevent injury or discomfort from what you are doing. In the case of wood staining, PPE is pretty straightforward. The goal is to prevent any of the stain from getting on you, so long-sleeve shirts, gloves, pants, and face-coverings you don’t mind getting dirty are items that can stop the stain from reaching your bare skin.
Different Solvents for Different Stains
Because there are different kinds of stains, there are also different solutions to use for each. Most stains can be broken down into two major groups. One is the oil-based wood stain and the other is the water-based wood stain (in liquid or gel form).
The first step to removing either of them from your skin is to identify which one is on you. If for some reason there is no label to tell you what kind of stain it is or the label is not readable, there are a couple of other ways to find out. For oil-based wood stains, drop some water onto the surface you stained and see if it beads up. If it does, then you know it is oil-based. For water-based wood stains, get a cotton ball, dip it in some rubbing alcohol, and rub it on your skin where the stain is. If the stain comes off onto the cotton ball, then you have a water-based wood stain.
For oil-based wood stains, mineral spirits are the best solution to use to get the stain off of your skin. You will need the mineral spirits themselves, a metal bowl, a white rag or cloth, and warm water from a faucet or hose. Start by pouring the mineral spirits into the metal bowl. This chemical has toxic fumes, so be careful when you use it. Then, grab the cloth and dip it into the solution. After that, apply it to the spot that is stained and rub. Due to the nature of the chemical, make sure to periodically wash the mineral spirits off with warm water. If you don’t, you can end up with skin irritation or burns.
Getting rid of water-based wood stains will follow the same procedure, but the chemicals will change. For this kind of stain, it is best to use acetone or nail polish remover. You can also use rubbing alcohol, but it is typically less effective. As mentioned before, you get the same materials, dip the rag in the acetone or rubbing alcohol, and rub away. Don’t forget to rinse the skin with water frequently to prevent the chemicals from further damaging your skin.
Universal Methods and Tips
While those chemicals can be used specifically for those stains and provide the best results, there are other ways to remove the stain if it is more convenient to do so. Some more common items that can be used to remove wood stain include soap and laundry detergent, natural oils, makeup wipes, washing ash, and vinegar.
Once you find the solution that works best for you and use it to remove the stain from your skin, it can leave your skin in a worn state. It is recommended to use lotion or moisturizing cream to help your skin repair itself from any damage the stain or chemicals may have done to it.
Stain the Wood and Not Your Skin
While it is good to know how to remove the stain from your skin, the best thing you can do is prevent it from happening in the first place. Once you are all geared up, stain away and be careful not to stain anything you don’t want to remove it from.
