If you DIY as much as I do, you have probably worked with wood stain before. The inevitability of getting wood stain on your hands is hard to avoid, but I have the perfect hack. Read on to learn how to remove wood stain from your hands.
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Getting stain on your hands and under your fingernails is unsightly and annoying. The worst part is that it is so hard to get off. Stain is a chemical that is formulated to specifically dye wood which is a sturdy, but porous material. Skin is also very porous, so imagine how long stain can hang around.
It would eventually get washed off over time from hand watching and the natural exfoliation, but who wants that?? Here’s how I get wood stain off my hands.
Related: How To Get Spray Paint Off Hands
The Secret To Remove Stain From Hands
Are you ready for it? The big secret to removing wood stains from your hands is…..Drum Roll Please!
COCONUT OIL!
It’s obviously harder to remove stain once it has dried on your hands, so if drips or leaks onto skin, work quickly. However, if stain dries on your hands, never fear, it is easy to get off with coconut oil.
How To Remove Stain With Coconut Oil
I picked up this tip from Instagram a while back when I used to make signs with my Cricut. Stain just seems to get everywhere, even when using gloves, but let’s face it, I was always lazy.
A lot of the time, I didn’t use gloves, and just dealt with the consequences of scrubbing my hands until I learned about coconut oil.
Coconut oil, and any other cooking oil, can naturally break down the pigments in wood stain that are left on your skin. I just take a teaspoon sized amount in my hands and massage the coconut oil into my hands, concentrating on the spots with the wood stain.
The oil starts to gently remove the stain while nourishing my skin and hands. After about 5 minutes, all of the stain is removed from my skin and I can rinse it off. Now the oil leaves behind some oily residue, so you’ll then need to wash with soap and water to remove the remainder of the coconut oil.
Afterwards, your hands are free of wood stain, and my skin always feel so smooth and moisturized after using the coconut oil.
Other Methods For Removing Wood Stain From Hands
There are lots of other methods for how to remove wood stain from your hands. Here are some of the other options:
- Rubbing Alchohol & Acetone
- Soap & Water
- Other Cooking Oils like Avocado or Olive
- Makeup Remover
- Dish Soap, Laundry Detergent & Water
- Scrubby from Dixie Bell (You can find this online or a lot of times in antique stores)
- Washing Soda
Other Stain Projects
Here are some other projects that involve stain that you may want to check out!
Final Thoughts
There are lots of ways to remove wood stain from skin. The method you choose is a personal choice. I love the coconut oil route because it doesn’t use harsh chemicals, it is quick, and it is still good for my skin. If you also get stain on your skin a lot, try these out!
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