Anyone who has ever stained wood knows that the process can be a bit messy. If you’re not careful, the stain can end up on your skin, clothes, and furniture.
Getting the stain off of your skin can be a challenge, but with the right techniques, it’s not too difficult. In this blog post, we’ll teach you how to get wood stains off skin quickly and easily.
Read on to find out more!
How to Get Wood Stain off Skin
To remove wood stain off skin, use rubbing or isopropyl alcohol vinegar and acetone if the stain is oil based. Water based stain is easier to remove, so use dish soap and water. Rub the stained skin until the stain is gone. Then, rinse it off with lukewarm water and soap.
Wood Stain Formulas: How to Know What Type of Stain Is on Your Skin
Knowing the kind of stain you have on your skin will help you determine the best remedy for getting it off. Here, we look at the two main wood stain formulas and how to determine if they are on your skin.
Water-Based Wood Stain
Water-based stain is one of the two standard formulas available. Usually, you can tell if the product is water-based by reading the label on its original container.
If this option is not practically feasible for some reason, you can rub the stain with a cotton ball wet with a bit of rubbing alcohol. Check to see if the wet cotton ball gets a stain on it. If it does, the chances are that you have a water-based wood stain on you.
Oil-Based Wood Stain
Start by checking the label on the product’s original container to see if it is oil-based. Otherwise, put a few drops of water on the stained area to test if the wood stain is oil-based. The test result is positive if the water beads—confirming it is an oil-based stain.
After determining the type of stain you have on you, the next thing is to find the best way to get it off your skin. This next section will discuss the various methods you can use to get a wood stain off your body, starting with the three most effective ones.
Now, check out our article on How to get polyurethane off hands
How to Get Oil-Based Stain off Skin Using Mineral Spirit
Mineral spirit is a common organic solvent we use in many applications at home. As such, you likely already have some at home. If not, you should quickly get some in a hardware store near you.
You can use the mineral spirits to remove wood stains from your skin.
Supplies for getting stain off skin
- Mineral spirit
- A metal bowl
- White clean cloth
- Warm water faucet
Getting Oil-Based Stain off Your Skin Step by Step
Before we proceed, is wood stain harmful?
Once you have all these items together, proceed to the stain removal by following these steps.
Step 1: Put some mineral spirits in a small metal bowl. Ensure the bowl is not coated in paint or varnish. Notice that mineral spirits emit toxic fumes and are highly flammable, so you must be careful when using some.
Step 2: Wet a clean, white clean cloth with the mineral spirits in the bowl and use it to gently blot the stained area, covering the entire stain with the solvent. Using a white cloth makes it easier to tell if the stain is coming off as it picks the color.
Step 3: Rub the stained area lightly with the damp cloth to let the mineral spirits remove ink stains. Consider rubbing from the outside of the wood stain and work toward the middle.
The damp cloth may get stained in the section you are using. Consider switching to a clean part of the cloth or using a new one altogether when this happens. Do this rubbing until your skin is clean, flushing the stained area with lukewarm water from time to time while rubbing.
You want to rinse the mineral spirits off your skin as frequently as possible while rubbing the stain. The spirits are made of chemicals that can cause severe skin irritation or burns on the skin if left to stay on for too long.
Step 4: Give your skin a thorough final rinse with warm water after the stain removal. You may also use soap and water to wash off the mineral spirits from your affected skin unless the area is sensitive and feels irritated already.
Step 5: Apply a moisturizing lotion or cream on the cleaned area to prevent any potential damage and skin irritation.
Related: How To Get Permanent Marker Off Wood
How to Remove Water Based Wood Stain off Skin Using Rubbing Alcohol or Acetone
The process of removing water-based wood stains from your skin is ideally the same as discussed above, except you will use rubbing alcohol, paint thinner, or acetone nail polish remover instead of mineral spirits or mineral oil.
Tools and Materials to get stain off hands
- Rubbing alcohol or acetone nail polish removers
- Clean white cloth
- Soap
- Warm water faucet
Removing Water-Based Wood Stain From Skin Step by Step
Step 1: Start by putting some acetone or rubbing alcohol in a small metal bowl. Acetone nail polish remover works quicker to remove stain from the skin, but it can be harsh on your skin. And, the easiest and cheapest way to get acetone is to buy acetone-based nail polish remover from a beauty shop near you.
Rubbing alcohol will not be as harsh on your skin, but it can be a relatively slower and less efficient way of removing stain.
Step 2: Soak a white rag or cloth in the bowl of acetone nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol and blot the stained area with it.
Step 3: Rub the stained skin with the soaked rag starting from the outside toward the center of the stain. Do this until the stain has come off.
If you are working on a large stained area, you may need a bigger rag or more than one towel. In any case, ensure the towels or rags are white to let you see how the stain comes off.
Step 4: Next, wash your skin with soap and water, then rinse it off thoroughly with lukewarm water to remove all traces of the acetone or rubbing alcohol.
If the acetone or alcohol has left your skin with some irritation, consider skipping the soap and just rinse your skin thoroughly with warm water. You can use the soap later when your skin has had some time to rest.
Step 5: Apply some moisturizing lotion or cream to soothe and repair the skin after cleaning it to help prevent skin damage or irritation.
How to Remove Wood Stain on Skin Using Soap and Water
The specific formulas aside, you should remove any wood stain from your skin with this universal method. It is also the common method used to remove paint from hair.
Tools and Materials to remove stain from hands
- Liquid dish soap
- Laundry detergent
- Warm water
- Bowl
- Clean white towel
- Lukewarm water faucet
- Skin moisturizer
How to remove wood stain from skin step by step
Follow these steps to remove wood stain on your skin.
Step 1: Mix laundry detergent, dish soap, and warm water in a relatively large bowl. Stir the mixture with your hand slowly to minimize the suds. For a more pronounced, stubborn stain, consider using more soap and detergent.
If you are removing the wood stain from your face, do not include scented laundry detergent. Instead, use only unscented dish soap and water to create the cleaning solution. The same rule should apply if you have sensitive skin regardless of which part of your body is stained.
Step 2: Scoop the soapy solution with a soft-bristled brush or towel and use it to scrub the stain out. Keep the brush or towel soaked with the soapy solution as you rub by continuously dipping it in the mixture.
Keep dipping the tool in the mixture and rubbing until all the stain has come off.
Step 3: Rinse the skin thoroughly with warm water and dry it. Then moisturize it with your desired lotion or cream to help repair any damage the scrubbing might have caused.
Take note! This method should be effective on fresh wood stains that have just recently gotten on your skin. As such, it is good to act sooner rather than later when you get a stain on your skin to avoid using harsher chemicals on your skin.
Read Also: How to Get Ink Out of Wood
Bonus Methods for Getting Stain off Hands
You can also remove wood stains off your skin using some products that you likely already have in your pantry. Let’s break this down below.
1. How to Get Wood Stain off Skin Using Natural Oil
Natural oils such as canola oil, coconut oil, vegetable oil, and olive oil have the potency to break down the pigments and dyes in wood stain. This property makes them suitable for use in removing oil stains from wood or even skin.
These natural oils can be advantageous because they are non-toxic and will not cause any irritation or damage to your skin.
Step to Follow to Remove Wood Stain From Your Skin with Natural Oils:
Step 1: Apply the olive oil on the stained area and let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes, then wipe it off with a paper towel.
Step 2: Wash off the olive oil and stain residue with dish soap and water.
How Effective is the Method?
This method can remove wood stain provided you scrub the stained area long enough with soap and water after soaking in the oil for at least 10 minutes. For more stubborn stains, a bit of residue might linger on your skin for the rest of the day.
2. How to Remove Wood Stain From Your Skin Using Makeup Wipes
Makeup remover is a more effective way to remove stain from the skin than natural oil. Even better, consider going for makeup remover wipes as they are way easier to use.
Step 1: Rub the makeup remover on the affected skin. You may want to use multiple wipes to get the stain out.
Step 2: Once all the stain has come out, rinse the cleaned skin with water and soap.
Step 3: Apply skin moisturizer as a precaution to avoid any irritation that the scrubbing action might cause.
How Effective is the Method?
High-quality makeup wipes tend to work more effectively than natural oils, so they may be a better option for lifting the stain off the skin.
Unfortunately, some makeup wipes offer little success even with several moments of scrubbing.
3. How to Get Stain off Skin Using Washing Ash
If you have carried out some woodwork, you might be familiar with wood ash, also called soda ash, washing soda ash, or washing ash. Washing ash can be an effective way to remove wood stain from your skin.
Steps to Follow when removing wood stain from hands
Step 1: Mix one part washing soda with three parts water, stirring gently to create an even solution.
Step 2: Dunk a clean rag into the mixture and scrub away the stain with it. Keep saturating the rag with the washing ash solution and running the stain until the stain is gone.
Step 3: Wash off the soapy water residue with soap and water, and dry it.
Read: How to get wood stain out of carpet
How Effective is the Method
This is one of the more effective methods for removing wood stain from the skin.
How to Get Wood Stain off Skin Using Home Remedies
Some of the things you need to remove wood stain from the skin are already with you at home.
1. Removing Wood Stain on Your Skin Using White Vinegar
The first home remedy for removing wood stains off your skin is white lemon juice vinegar. Since vinegar is a natural paint remover, using it is always a breeze. Here are the steps to follow:
Step 1: Soak a clean rag with plain white vinegar and blot the stain with generous amounts of the vinegar.
Step 2: Rub the wet rag on the stained skin until it is clean.
Step 3: Wash away the vinegar and stain residue on the skin surface with soap and water.
2. How to get wood stain off hands using baking soda
Baking soda works like soda ash in removing wood stains. To use baking soda to clean the skin, follow these steps:
Step 1: Pour one part of water into a bowl and add baking soda into it. Mix well to create an even-textured paste.
Step 2: Use a soft-bristled brush or toothbrush to apply the paste to the affected area. Rub gently until the stain comes off.
Step 3: Wash the area with soap and water to remove any residue.
3. Removing Varnish Stain From Your Skin Using Peanut Butter
Varnish or stain does not play too well with peanut butter. Follow these steps to remove varnish stains from your skin.
Step 1: Apply peanut butter on the affected area with your hands. The paste contains acids that break down and disintegrate varnish stains.
Allow the peanut butter to stay on for about 10 minutes for it to perform its magic.
Step 2: Then, you can wash the area with soap and water, scrubbing well till all the residue and tint is gone.
Other Related Post: How to Get Dried Wood Stain Off Concrete
How to Prevent Wood Stain From Getting On Your Skin
Prevention is always the better way to deal with any situation that would require a solution afterward.
Here are a few tried and tested ways to keep stains from getting on your skin while wood staining.
- Wear gloves each time you handle wood stains. If you are gentle and careful enough, rubber gloves will keep the tint from reaching your body.
- Wear protective goggles. Wood stains contain chemicals that can be dangerous to have anywhere near your eyes. Wearing eye protection can go a long way in preventing eye injury.
- Put on long-sleeved clothing. While gloves can only cover so much of your arms, long-sleeved clothing will take over where the gloves stop, increasing your protection.
- Wear a protective face mask. Covering your face protects your facial skin from coming in contact with wood stains while you work with them. We highly recommend it.
Important Read: How Long Does Stain Last
FAQs
How Do You Get the Excess Dried Wood Stain Off?
Get rid of excess wood stains by rubbing the stained surface with a rag dampened in mineral spirits. You can also apply another coat of stain, let it stay on for a few minutes, then rub it off with a dry cloth to remove the excess.
Is Wood Stain on Skin Dangerous?
Yes, wood stains can be neurotoxic or carcinogenic because they contain chemicals as part of the ingredients. Hence to avoid risks, promptly wipe off any stain from your skin, wash the area thoroughly, and seek medical attention if irritation occurs. Also, dispose of excess stains. Here is a detailed guide on how to get rid of old stains to help you.
Can Solvents Safely Remove Stains From Your Skin?
Yes, solvents such as mineral spirits, paint thinner, acetone, and rubbing alcohol can do an excellent job of removing stains from your skin.
However, such solvents should not stay on the skin for too long. For instance, mineral spirits and paint thinner are designed to strip off paint from wood and other surfaces and can cause severe skin burns and irritation if you don’t wash them off quickly.
Recommended Reading: How to get spray paint off your hands
How to Get Wood Stain off a Brush
To get the stain off the brush, use a rag to dry it, squeeze some soap onto its bristles and work the dish soap in using a wire brush. Next, rinse the soaked brush with hot water while combing it, then shake it thoroughly to remove the water and let it dry.
How to remove stain from wood deck
To remove stain from wooden deck, apply a thick coat of the deck finish remover over the stained deck boards. Let the stripper work for about 15 to 30 minutes. Then scrub the loose stain using a firm-bristled brush or pressure wash it off your deck.
What Removes Stain From Skin?
As you’ve already seen, soap and water can remove stains from the skin. Also, you can remove such tints with household products such as soda ash paste, washing ash solution, or natural oils. However, more stubborn wood stains will require using makeup remover wipes or more potent solvents such as mineral spirits, paint thinner, acetone, and rubbing alcohol to remove.