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In safe hands

How to get epoxy off skin easily

Person scrubbing hands with soap and warm water in copper-coloured sink basin.

Spills happen, so it’s best to know how to get epoxy off skin before you start using this powerful adhesive. Read on to learn the best ways to remove epoxy.

In this article

Epoxy on skin: What you need to know

When you’re working with glue, the occasional spill is inevitable. That’s why it’s always a good idea to wear gloves, especially when you’re using strong adhesives like epoxy. But what should you do if, despite your best efforts, you end up with epoxy on your hands?

Required materials

Info box: What about removing epoxy from other surfaces? Ideally, get rid of it while it’s still wet using a universal solvent. Once the epoxy has hardened it will need to be removed mechanically.  

This powerful adhesive can irritate the skin, causing inflammation or contact dermatitis. But while epoxy on skin isn’t ideal, it’s not a disaster either, so don’t panic! Just make sure you act quickly and remove epoxy from skin before it cures. In the following sections we’ll show you how to get epoxy resin off skin, as well as epoxy paint.

Person applying a liquid from a bottle to remove adhesive residue from hands over sink.
To get epoxy off your skin you can use vinegar

How to get epoxy resin off skin

If you’ve spilled an epoxy resin on your skin, such as Pattex Power Epoxy, clean it up quickly, before it cures. You can do this by using natural ingredients. These methods shouldn’t cause further irritation, and there’s more good news – you probably already have all these things at home. So, if you end up with epoxy on your skin, you don’t need to rush out to the shops – simply head to the kitchen!

Try one of these methods:

Soap and water – To remove epoxy from skin, try this as your first approach. Dampen a cloth with warm soapy water and rub the epoxy until it’s all gone.

Vinegar If you still have some epoxy on your skin after trying the soap and water method, it’s time to get out the vinegar. Use a paper towel or cotton ball soaked in vinegar to gently rub the affected area. You can also try adding baking soda to the epoxy. The resin should then become soft enough to peel off.

Citrus-based hand cleaners – A citrus-based waterless hand cleaner can also be used to remove epoxy from skin. Simply pour some of the cleaner onto a cloth and gently scrub the epoxy, then rinse it under warm water. Afterwards, wash your skin and use some soothing lotion.

So, that’s how to remove epoxy from skin – now you know! 

Close-up of hands using cotton swab for precise cleaning of epoxy residue
To address how to get epoxy off your skin, use a cotton ball or bud for those tricky spots

How to get epoxy paint off skin

We’ve covered epoxy resin, but you may be wondering how to get epoxy paint off skin.

The standard advice for epoxy paint removal is to use a strong solvent such as acetone, paint thinner, or methylated spirits. However, while these chemicals are very effective at removing epoxy, ideally, you should avoid using them on your skin as they may cause irritation.

To remove epoxy paint from your skin, simply wash the affected area with soap and water – that should be enough!

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