How to Remove Acetone Residue in Less Than 5 Minutes

Acetone is a solvent that can save you a lot of time and effort. It’s the perfect option for any stain that refuses to leave your sight. However, the problem that some of us encounter with this product is the residue it leaves behind. Now we will discuss how to remove acetone residue with everyday products. The residues you see aren’t caused by acetone in itself, but rather its contents of impurities.

Right now, what matters the most is to learn how to remove acetone residue. And to do this, we’ve brought you some simple tips you can do yourself. However, before you tackle the residue, we highly recommend testing your chosen product on a remote part of the surface.

How to Remove Acetone Residue with Everyday Products

Rubbing alcohol

Dab the acetone residue with a cotton ball dipped in rubbing alcohol. After soaking the residue, let it sit for a few minutes before wiping it away.

You can repeat this operation a few times more since rubbing alcohol is safe for most surfaces. But, as we’ve mentioned above, it’s always best to test it on an inconspicuous part of the surface.

If the residue refuses to come off with rubbing alcohol, try isopropyl alcohol instead. These products are not the same; isopropyl alcohol is pure alcohol (100%), whereas rubbing alcohol contains 70% isopropyl alcohol.

If you choose to use isopropyl alcohol, we recommend checking out this fantastic guide by EHS. It’s a must-read as it will provide you with the precautions you need to take when dealing with this product.

Dishwashing Liquid

This technique is straightforward, and you probably already have all you need at home.

In a bowl, add 1/4 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid to each cup of warm water. Dip a sponge or a cloth into the solution and rub the residue.

Lastly, rinse the surface to ensure nothing is left behind.

Dry Cleaning Solvent

If DIY techniques aren’t your strong suit, a commercial product such as a dry cleaning solvent can turn the situation around.

I know that you’ll have to take a drive or a walk to your local grocery store to obtain it, but I can assure you that it’s worthwhile.

Once you’ve got dry cleaning solvent on hand, apply it to a clean white cloth and blot the residue until it’s lifted off the surface. Repeat this procedure a couple more times to get rid of all the residue.

Things You Should Know about Acetone

1. Acetone isn’t always to blame for the residues. Sometimes this problem occurs due to the surface being dissolved in acetone. And it only became visible as residue when the acetone had evaporated. Keep in mind that acetone is a powerful solvent that can dissolve both polar and nonpolar substances.
2. Some types of plastic cannot withstand acetone due to its powerful chemical composition. As a result, using it on such a surface is more prone to soften, smear, or even dissolve that surface. For example, acetone can easily dissolve polystyrene.
3. The best way to protect yourself when dealing with acetone is to wear rubber gloves. Working with this product while bare-handed can cause the skin to become red, dry, or cracked.
4. An acetone-based nail polish remover is also a great product for tough stains. However, owing to additional ingredients, nail polish removers can also leave behind residues.

Use one of the aforementioned removal methods soon after applying the product to make sure the surface is residue-free.

Read also: How to Remove Orange Mold in Shower and Bathroom

Conclusion

So there you have it, a list of practical approaches to removing acetone residue. To avoid this problem in the future, make sure to use one of these techniques right after cleaning with acetone.

We hope you’ve learned something from this tiny list of cleaning tips. It’s always a pleasure to read your comments, so make sure to leave us one below sharing with us your thoughts regarding these techniques.