How to Get Spray Paint off Your Hands

Co-authored by James Guth

Last Updated: March 5, 2024

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Spray paint can be really useful, but it can also be really messy. It almost seems like it’s impossible not to get a little on your hands whenever you use it. Not to worry. Spray paint doesn’t have to be a huge pain to get off of your skin. Here's a list of different things you can use to remove spray paint that you probably already have lying around the house.

1

Dish soap

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Work up a good lather and massage the soap into your skin. Add a few drops of a standard dish soap to your hands. Rub your hands together to help will lift and trap the paint particles so they’ll be easy to rinse off.
- Dawn is a classic example, but you can really use any dish soap that’s designed to wash away grease and oil.

2

Olive oil

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Lightly rub the oil into your skin to make the paint easier to remove. 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. You could use coconut, avocado, or even soybean oil to help loosen the paint.

3

Mayonnaise

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Spread a nice dollop of the condiment onto your paint-covered hands and rub your hands together to work it into your skin. Leave the mayo on your skin for 2 minutes, then rinse it off with soap and water.^{[1]
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4

Coffee grounds

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Take some dish soap and add a few drops to your hands. Work it into a nice lather, then add a scoop of coffee grounds to the mix. Rub your hands together to break up and lift the paint from your skin. Then, wash the soap and coffee away with hot water.^{[2]
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5

Nail polish remover

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If there’s paint that continues to cling to your skin after you’ve scrubbed your hands, add some nail polish remover to a cotton ball and dab the paint directly. Then, try rinsing off the paint with hot water.^{[3]
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6

Rubbing alcohol

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If you don’t have acetone, or you don’t want to use nail polish remover, choose rubbing alcohol instead. Soak a cotton ball with the rubbing alcohol and dab it directly onto the paint. Rinse away the paint after it’s been saturated in the rubbing alcohol.^{[4]
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7

Coconut oil and baking soda

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Use this homemade gunk remover to scrub off the spray paint. Combine ¹⁄₂ cup (120 mL) of coconut oil and ¹⁄₂ cup (120 mL) of baking soda in a container. Mix it together well and spread it over your hands. Rub your hands together like you’re working soap into a lather to massage the oil into your skin and loosen up the paint.^{[5]
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- If you don’t have coconut oil, no worries. You can use olive oil or vegetable oil instead.

8

Paint thinner

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Rub the paint thinner all over your paint-covered skin. If your hands are just covered with really stubborn, stuck-on paint, rub paint thinner over the painted areas. The paint thinner will break down the paint particles and make the paint easier to remove.^{[6]
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- Make sure you’re in a well-ventilated room to avoid breathing in the paint thinner fumes.

9

Toothbrush

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Scrub off stubborn bits of paint after you wash your hands. Smaller areas, such as around your fingertips, under your fingernails, and in the creases of your hands, can be especially difficult to get paint off of. Take a clean toothbrush and scrub the paint off manually once you’ve washed it off from the rest of your hands.
- Soaking the toothbrush in warm water can make the bristles a little softer and gentler.
- You can also use a toothbrush to scrub any stubborn spots of paint off of your hands.

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How do I get spray paint off my hands without chemicals?

James Guth
Painting Specialist
James Guth is the co-owner and founder of Chesapeake Painting Services LLC. With over 20 years of experience, James specializes in exterior and interior painting, drywall, powerwashing, wallpaper, staining, sealing, and carpentry. James holds a BS in Economics and Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Towson University

James Guth

Painting Specialist

Expert Answer

I would recommend rubbing baby oil onto your hands. It should lift the paint off your skin.

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Tips

Once you manage to get the paint off, apply a moisturizing lotion to help rehydrate and soothe your skin.^{[7]
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Try to wash off the paint as soon as you can. Once it dries and sets in, the paint can be more difficult to remove.

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Wash your hands as many times as it takes to get the paint off of them.

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