How to Get Oil-Based Paint Off Skin (with items you already have at home)
Easily remove spray paint, oil based paint and stain from your hands with this natural cleaner made with household ingredients! This is a full tutorial with a video on how to get spray paint off your skin and hands using supplies you already have at home.
Are you a messy painter? No matter how careful I am, I seem to always get paint or stain on my hands. This isn’t usually a problem because water-based paint is easy enough to wash off your skin with some soap and warm water. Except, of course, when that paint is oil-based. Spray paint and stains are oil-based and will not remove with only soap and water. The water will simply glide off the paint (and your hands) no matter how much you scrub.
But, I have a trick on how to get spray paint off your skin using water and two ingredients you already have at home. Best of all is that it’s natural and it actually works to remove oil-based products like spray paint, stain, polyurethane and oil-based paint from your skin.
Ingredients to Clean Oil-Based Paint from Skin
- Oil (any type works – vegetable, canola, olive)
- Dish soap
Yep, that’s right. All you need to clean up oil-based paint from your skin is two items that you probably already have sitting in your kitchen: dish soap and oil!
Steps on How to Get Spray Paint Off Your Hands
Before putting your hand under the water, use a paper towel or scrap towel to wipe off any excess paint that might still be wet. A little pressure usually removes some of the paint. This will save you a lot of scrubbing in the next step.
Then, pour a little oil and then dish soap into your hands, and lather them up. Rub the paint that’s on your skin and it should start to wash off. Sometimes, it helps to use your fingernails to scratch off the initial layer, or I’ve found a nail brush also works well to help remove it.
Usually, it takes two to three rounds of oil, soap, water and some scrubbing to remove most of the paint. For skin that is covered with a lot of paint, you’ll have to continue this process a few more times.
The final step to get spray paint off skin is just to take a clean cloth and wipe off any remaining residue that might be left after washing.
How to Wash Oil-Based Paint and Stain from Brushes
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As for cleaning oil-based paint from brushes, I set aside one old glass jar (pickles, applesauce – one with a wide mouth) for cleaning my brushes. I pour about two inches of mineral spirits or paint thinner into the jar (enough to cover the paint on the brush).
Simply swish the brush around, and then wipe the brush with a towel. Often, I will cap off the jar and use it again for my next oil-based project. I usually use the same stuff 3-4 times, and then I dispose of it.
I collect my used mineral spirits/paint thinner in a larger jug in the garage, and then when we go to the hazardous waste facility once a year to dispose of our other household products that should never go into landfills, I bring that jug with me. Auto repair shops and even some hardware stores will also take your used paint thinner, sometimes for a small fee.
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I’m all about taking old pieces an bringing them back to life (which is why I tend to need to use this cleaning trick quite often). I’ve written a full post comparing all the different types of paint to use on furniture and my personal preference on the best type of paint to use on furniture.
You can find that post and a few of my other favorite furniture painting posts below.
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Post by Jenny Leads
Jenny is the voice behind Refresh Living. She has a passion for helping people to create a home they love without spending a lot of money.
I actually collect my used mineral spirits/paint thinner in a larger jug in the garage, and then when we go to the hazardous waste facility once a year to dispose of our other household products that should never go into landfills, I bring that jug with me. Auto repair shops and even some hardware stores will also take your used paint thinner, sometimes for a small fee.
The olive oil did not get paint off my skin.
Hmmm, sorry it didn’t work for you. Did you mix the olive oil and dishsoap? I find that I need both for it to work properly.
My husband says thank you it worked for him. His hands were completely covered in black paint along wirh the bathroom white sink. He did what you said and it had cleaned it all up. Thank you from me too.
Awesome! So glad to hear it worked for you. Always nice to use what you already have on hand for those messy situations!
My son touched an outdoor trash bin that had been painted the day before, and the black paint was still wet. It got all over his hands. Without turpentine handy, I turned to Google and found your handy, natural method. It worked!!!! Thanks so much!
I’m so glad to hear it worked! Unfortunately, it does waste quite a bit of cooking oil, but with some scrubbing, it should do the trick. Thanks for letting me know it helped.
brilliant tip, worked, quickly and easily
Great – I’m so glad it worked for you!
That’s works really good my hands were solid brown I did it and there white again
Thanks to sharing the guide, please keep sharing with us.
I was painting my swamp cooler and got some paint on my left eye lid.
The dish soap and oil worked for me. Using a wash cloth with the oil and dish soap then rinsing out my eye. Thank you!!! Dan
I’m so glad it worked for you!
Thank you, this worked with just one round of vegetable oil and dish soap to get paint off hands as we also didn’t have any turps! My partner was really sceptical when I suggested it but it worked perfectly.
I am SO glad to hear that! I hasn’t failed me yet!