How To Get Wood Stain Off Hands (3 Easy Ways To Do It!)
There are few things as satisfying as giving worn-out wooden furniture a crisp new finish. Unfortunately, we all know it can be a fairly messy endeavor. Even if you’re usually pretty persnickety about your wood staining use, it’s likely that you will end up with it on your hands. This can be a mess, especially if you have an event that night. So, how do you get this stain off your hands safely?
The best way to get the wood stain off your hands is to use rubbing alcohol or acetone. Pour your choice of solvent onto a washcloth and scrub the stain off your hands. Afterward, wash your hands with hand soap and water. Rubbing Alcohol and acetone are the two safest solvents for your skin.
As someone who hates having their skin dyed various colors, I totally understand why you might want to get this gunk off your hands immediately. Hopefully, these cleaning tips will help.
The Most Reliable Way To Remove Wood Stain Off Skin
Removing wood stain off your skin is going to be a lot like removing marker streaks from wood: you will need to scrub away the stain. There’s no getting around it. The question is, how can you make the most of your scrubbing without having to deal with chapped hands? Here’s the easiest way to do it:
- Start off by pouring some olive oil in a bowl, and dip your hands in the bowl. Let them soak for two to five minutes, depending on the severity of the stain and your skin’s natural dryness. The oil will help loosen up the bonds of the stain from your skin.
- Grab a cloth you don’t mind throwing away, and start scrubbing vigorously. Any cloth will work, but I’ve found that having a rougher cloth can be better for the abrasion aspect of scrubbing away the grime. Continue to scrub until the majority of the wood stain has vanished from your hands.
- Once you’ve gotten rid of the stain, head to the sink and wash your hands with dish soap. A couple of drops will usually be enough to get rid of most of the oiliness. Once you’re done, just rinse your hands in water and you should be good to go.
Can You Just Use Oil To Remove Wood Stain?
Oil alone can be enough to get rid of the wood stain, assuming that the stain color is light enough. Oil acts as a natural, non-toxic paint thinner to a certain extent. To remove wood stain from your hands using just oil alone, soak your hands in oil for 10 to 15 minutes, then use a paper towel to wipe off the mess afterward.
It’s worth noting that most wood stains, particularly those that are dark, will still need scrubbing as well as a dish soap washing session. So, don’t try this immediately as a go-to. If you want to get rid of the wood stain, stick to the tried-and-true method above.
How Effective Is This Method?
For the most part, this method should be able to get rid of almost any stain that’s remained on your hands as long as you scrub long enough. With that said, you might see a mild residue for the rest of the day if you’re unlucky.
Using Makeup Wipes To Remove Wood Stain From Your Skin
If you find yourself unable to get rid of the wood stain through oil, you have other options that might be able to work. One of the better options that you can choose to use can be found at your local makeup store. Wondering what it is? If you guessed it was makeup remover, you’re right. We suggest getting makeup remover wipes, simply because they’re easier to use.
When using the makeup remover, you’ll still need to scrub away at the stain. We suggest using multiple wipes, with at least one wipe side having an exfoliating side. This will give you the scrubbing power you need in order to get rid of some of the more sticky tints.
How Effective Are Using Makeup Wipes For Removing Wood Stains?
This seems to be fairly hit or miss. Some makeup wipes seem to magically lift up the stain, while others involve a ton of scrubbing with minimal results. If you have high-quality wipes, it’s worth a shot.
Using Washing Ash To Remove Wood Stain From Your Skin
If you are a more “classic” woodworker, then you probably already know that wood ash, also known as washing ash, soda ash, or sodium carbonate, is a good cleaner. Using this to remove that stain from your skin is pretty easy:
- Start off by mixing three parts water to one part washing soda power. Stir gently to make sure that you’ve got an even mixture.
- Grab a cloth and dunk it in the mixture. You want to saturate it, so don’t be stingy with it. Let it soak in!
- Use the cloth the scrub away the stain. The washing ash should be more than enough to get rid of most wood stain tints on the skin. If you also got it on other things, you can give this mixture a try there, too.
On a similar note, if you don’t have washing ash, you can get similar results by making a thick paste of baking soda and water.
How Effective Is Washing Ash For Removing Wood Stain On Skin?
It’s really effective. In fact, it’s a close second to the best method we mentioned up top!
Using White Vinegar To Remove Wood Stain From Your Skin
White vinegar strikes again! As one of the best carpet stain removers and all-around cleaners out there, it’s not surprising that it also happens to be pretty good at removing stains from skin, too. Though you can dip a washcloth in regular kitchen vinegar and get good results, it’s often better to dilute it with water.
How Effective Is Vinegar In Removing Wood Stain?
In terms of effectiveness, using vinegar is fairly decent at removing wood stain, even on actual wood—if it’s left there long enough. However, this is not a solution you really should consider using if you have dry or problematic skin. Vinegar’s high acidity can be harsh on the skin and can have a drying effect.
If you intend on using this trick, make sure to have some moisturizer handy afterward. You’re going to need it, especially if you have chapped hands already. It’s also worth noting that vinegar can cause manicures to go bad.
Related Questions
How do you get excess dried wood stain off?
If your wood stain has dried on an object, get a rag and soak it in mineral spirits (not paint thinner!). Then, use the rag to scrub down the affected item gently. You should see the wood stain re-wet itself and then lift off the stained area. You can also use a scraper to get rid of the stain if it’s on a glass surface.
Can all stains be removed?
Contrary to popular belief, there are some stains that are not capable of being removed. The longer a stain sits in the material, the less likely it is to be entirely removable. Moreover, some stains actually bind directly to the material, making it a literal part of the item that’s been stained.Though rare, there are occasions where you could theoretically remove a stain, but doing so would cause permanent damage to the item in question. It just doesn’t make sense to pursue that kind of difficult removal.
Can acetone remove dark wood stains?
Acetone, much like paint thinner or wood stain remover, contains chemicals that are excellent for removing the pigments and dye that make wood stain so effective. To use acetone, make sure your room is well ventilated and apply the acetone directly to the stain.It’s worth noting that extremely dark wood stains may not be capable of being lifted with acetone alone. With these types of stains, you will also have to sand down the affected area in order to get a “clean slate” look.
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Ossiana Tepfenhart is an expert writer, focusing on interior design and general home tips. Writing is her life, and it's what she does best. Her interests include art and real estate investments.
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