How to get spray paint off your face

Q: Is spray paint hard to get off skin?

If you accidentally get spray paint on your skin, dont worry. You can safely remove it using gentle household ingredients. One simple method is to pour a little vegetable oil or olive oil on the paint stain, then rub the oil into your skin.

These are the two quickest and easiest ways to get spray paint off your fingers, hands or any other skin using products you already have in your home.

Do you sometimes need to get spray paint off of your skin? It seems like every time I do a spray painting project, even if it’s something quick, I get a little bit on my fingers. Or a lot on my fingers.

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These are the two quickest and easiest ways to get spray paint off your fingers, hands or any other skin using products you already have in your home.
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Things You'll Need
References
About This Article
Reader Success Stories
Did this article help you?
How do you get dry spray paint off skin?
What happens if you spray paint your face?
Is spray paint hard to get off skin?
How do you get spray paint overspray off your skin?

You too?

So annoying, right??

And it doesn’t just rinse off in a jiffy like regular paint either, does it? Noooooo. It just can’t be that easy!

But wait!

Yes it can!

I used to scrub and scrub and scrub or just wait a few days for the paint to wear off when I ended up with hands (Or legs if it was shorts season and I was really getting into it!) that looked like this picture below.

So there are two things that you can do to solve this quickly!

Nail polish remover! It works! I have to admit that I’m not really too excited about putting nail polish remover all over my skin, but for the odd drip or drop it really is the fastest way to get that paint off!
If you have a little bit more spray paint mess to deal with, the second best method to get rid of it is non-stick cooking spray! Just spray it on, rub it in, and then wash it away with soap and water. It really melts the paint right off!

Another quick tip using cooking spray to clean up from The Creek Line House: The Cooking Spray in the Tub Trick

So there you have it! That’s how to clean spray paint off of your skin! Even if you have really rough-looking DIYer hands like I do, at least they can be clean! 🙂

The next time you get spray paint on your hands, I hope this makes your world just a little bit less frustrating!

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When working on projects that require the use of spray paint, it can be tough to avoid getting some on your skin. Paint thinners and chemical solvents may effectively remove spray paint, but they can also cause severe skin irritation and damage. Instead of relying on these heavy-duty fixes, you should turn to your own cupboards and look for something a little gentler yet just as effective. Remove spray paint by applying oil to your skin and then washing it off. You can also make a homemade paint remover with just a few common ingredients.

1
Rub olive oil or vegetable oil onto your skin. Hold your hands over a sink and pour a generous amount of olive or vegetable oil into your palms. Rub your hands together thoroughly and focus on working away at the paint. Turn on the water with your elbow and continue rubbing your hands underneath the running water. If the paint isn’t coming off, squirt some hand soap into your palm and continue rubbing.[1]
- To avoid making a mess, it may be best to do this in the shower if the spray paint is anywhere other than your hands and/or arms.
2
Use purification essential oil instead of vegetable oil. Get a purification essential oil, which is a blend of multiple oils typically used to eliminate odor. Drop a few drops of the oil blend directly onto your skin where the spray paint is. Massage the oil into the painted skin, and you should notice the paint starting to thin. Continue rubbing until the paint is gone.[2]
- Be careful not to touch your eyes when your hands have essential oils on them, as this may cause stinging and irritation.
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3
Try spraying cooking spray on your skin as an alternative. Get a generic cooking spray and spray it all over the painted area of your skin. Rub the affected area and the paint should come right off. Rinse your hands in the sink to get the oil and any remaining paint off.[3]
4
Lather with dish soap. After thoroughly rubbing oil into your skin, squirt some grease-cutting liquid dish soap, such as Dawn, into your hands. As you lather, focus on rubbing the soap on any skin that still has paint on it.[4]
- If you were using a water-based paint, soap and water is probably all you'll need to get the paint off of your skin.[5]
5
Rinse the soap off of your skin. Once your skin is covered in suds, turn on the sink and place your hands under. Rub your hands together while you rinse the soap off completely. Then pat your skin dry with a hand towel.
- If you’ve gotten spray paint somewhere other than your hands or arms, rinse the soap off in the shower.
6
Repeat the process if any paint remains. Take a close look at your skin after you’re done rinsing. If you still see traces of spray paint on your skin, reapply the oil and then wash your skin with dish soap again.[6]

1

Mix coconut oil, baking soda, and lemon oil together. Measure out ½ cup (118.3 mL) of baking soda and ½ cup (118.3 mL) of coconut oil and put them in a bowl. Add in 6 drops of lemon essential oil and mix everything together with a spoon until it has a smooth, paste-like consistency.[7]
2
Rub and scrub the mixture onto your skin underneath running water. Turn on the sink or shower and scoop out some of the mixture. Place your hands underneath the water and start rubbing at the painted areas of skin.[8]
- If you have spray paint on your fingernails, scrub the paint off with a new toothbrush.
3
Wash off the mixture. Rinse off as much of the mixture as you can, and then wash the skin with a hand or body soap to get it off entirely. After rinsing the soap off, pat your skin dry with a hand towel. This should leave your skin paint-free and soft.

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Question
What takes spray paint off of skin?

Andres Matheu is the Owner of Hömm Certified Painting Systems, an Interior and Exterior Residential painting business based in the Washington, DC Metro area. Andres specializes in interior and exterior residential painting, color consultations, cabinet refinishing, wallpaper removal, and epoxy flooring among other services. An EPA Lead-safe Certified Firm, Hömm Certified Painting Systems has been awarded the Best of Houzz 2019 Service, Angie's List Super Service Award 2019, and Northern Virginia Magazine's 2018 Best Home Experts (painters) award.

Commercial Painter
Expert Answer

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If it's water-based paint, all you need to use is soap and water. If it's oil-based, you can use a special product that's friendlier to your skin than solvents. If you do have to use a solvent in an emergency, apply it, then rinse it off immediately.
Question

How long does it take to get spray paint off of skin?

Although it is not very good for your skin, nail polish remover will take the spray paint off almost immediately.
Question
I got spray paint on my foot yesterday and it is still there. Is this bad?

No. It will come off eventually.

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VideoRead Video Transcript

Things You'll Need

Oil (olive, vegetable, essential, or cooking spray)
Water
Liquid dish soap
Hand towel

Coconut oil
Baking soda
Lemon oil
Water
Toothbrush
Soap
Hand towel

You can buy commercial cleaners that are specifically formulated for removing oil paint from skin.[9]
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Avoid using solvents like alcohol or paint thinner on your skin.[10]
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References

↑ Andres Matheu. Commercial Painter. Expert Interview. 28 July 2020.

About This Article

Article SummaryX

If you accidentally get spray paint on your skin, don’t worry. You can safely remove it using gentle household ingredients. One simple method is to pour a little vegetable oil or olive oil on the paint stain, then rub the oil into your skin. Hold the stained portion of your skin under running water and keep rubbing the area until the paint comes loose and rinses away. If oil alone isn’t enough, add a squirt of hand soap. The soap should help loosen the remaining paint and wash away the excess oil. You can also use an essential oil blend to remove spray paint, but be careful. Undiluted essential oils can be irritating, so mix a few drops of the essential oil with a carrier oil, such as olive or jojoba oil, before putting it on your skin. You can also mix the essential oils into your favorite lotion or conditioner. Massage the oil blend into your skin until the paint begins to thin out and rub away. If you don’t have cooking oil or essential oil, you can use cooking spray instead. Whichever type of oil you use, wash your hands with soap and water when you’re done to remove the oil and any remaining spray paint residue. You may need to repeat the process a few times to get all the paint off. For extra-stubborn paint stains, mix up a skin-safe homemade paint remover. Combine half a cup (90 g) of baking soda with half a cup (118.3 mL) of coconut oil in a bowl, then add 6 drops of lemon essential oil. Mix the ingredients together with a spoon to create a smooth paste. Gently scrub the mixture into your paint-stained skin under running water until the paint rubs away. Follow up by washing your skin with soap and water, then pat the area dry with a clean towel. If you want to learn how to make your own paint remover, keep reading the article!

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Reader Success Stories

"Got paint on my feet when I was spray painting. I used the Pam spray and then used Dawn and it was perfect. Thank..." more

Did this article help you?

How do you get dry spray paint off skin?

Olive oil Once the spray paint dries, it can be difficult to remove. Natural oils such as olive or vegetable oil can help break up the particles in the paint that cause it to stick to your skin. Cover your hands with oil and rub it into your skin to start loosening the paint. Any natural oil will be effective.

What happens if you spray paint your face?

Simply getting spray paint on your skin can cause irritation and burns, and if done over a long time can lead to asthma and lung cancer (in the rarest case). Inhalation can cause headaches, dizziness, and irritation of the respiratory tract, et al.

Is spray paint hard to get off skin?

If you accidentally get spray paint on your skin, don't worry. You can safely remove it using gentle household ingredients. One simple method is to pour a little vegetable oil or olive oil on the paint stain, then rub the oil into your skin.

How do you get spray paint overspray off your skin?

Dampen the Skin and Scrub For water-based spray paint, dampen your skin and gently scrub the area with a nail brush and a mild dish soap. If you don't have a nail brush, a soft-bristled toothbrush or pumice stone should work.