Almost everyone has had paints and varnishes, lime, and mounting foam get on their clothes during independent repair work. If paint or other familiar substances get on their clothes, almost everyone knows how to remove them, but very few people know how to clean mounting foam from clothes. Although in fact, there are several ways to effectively and quickly remove it both fresh and after drying.
What can be used to remove
To avoid throwing away clothes after they have been sprayed with polyurethane foam, you should familiarize yourself with the substances that can be used to remove stains.
Cleaning agent for mounting gun
The easiest way to remove foam from clothing is with the same product that is usually used to clean mounting guns. It will help to tidy up the clothing and extend its service life. Even if the foam has already dried, it is possible to return the clothing to its original condition without damaging the material. In this case, you need to do the following:
- remove dried substance from the surface of the item with a sharp object (e.g. a knife, a nail file);
- conduct a reaction test between the material and the cleaner to ensure that the paint and item will not fade after cleaning;
- wet the stained area with an anti-foam solution
- a piece of cloth soaked in the product should be applied to the contaminated area and left for a while;
- after softening the crust, use a brush or the abrasive part of a dish sponge to remove the dried mounting foam;
- wash the item in a washing machine or by hand with plenty of detergent.
It is necessary to work in medical or household gloves to protect the skin of the hands from the chemical substance. Gloves will protect against allergic reactions. In addition, it is quite difficult to wash your hands after contact with chemicals.
Solvents
It is possible to use a regular solvent, which is used to dilute the paint. Usually, "White Spirit" or acetone is used. If you don’t have anything at hand that can remove stains from things, and you need to urgently scrub them off before they dry, nail polish remover containing acetone will come to the rescue. Well, then, using a brush, you need to remove the remaining foam and wash the clothes. Before carrying out the procedure, you need to test the reaction of the fabric with the cleaning agent. It is best not to wait until the foam dries to a crust.
Aerosol cleaner
An effective method for getting rid of traces of the assembly mixture is to use an aerosol cleaner. It is sold in specialized stores. Application instructions:
- shake the can;
- spray onto the area with traces of sealant;
- leave for about 25 minutes;
- wash under running water, but not cold;
- wash very well.
If the dirt cannot be cleaned, the procedure should be repeated.
Dimexide
The substance is a medicinal substance and is used for external use. In our case, it is perfect for washing off polyurethane foam from clothes. To get rid of stains, you need to do the following:
- wet the area with the substance with the solution;
- apply a cotton pad soaked in dimexide to the material;
- wait until the hardened stains become soft;
- brush off any remaining dirt;
- wash the item.
Application of temperatures
The foam composition is destroyed quite quickly under the influence of high temperatures. In case of contamination of fabrics with the assembly composition, they should be exposed to bright sunlight. This method is not considered the most effective, as it takes a lot of time.
Exposure to low temperatures is possible. Contaminated clothing should be frozen, and then the mounting foam can be removed with a sharp object. Then the remains should be wetted with acetone and the remains should be removed.
The nuances of cleaning fresh and dried foam
Experienced specialists who are engaged in construction or repairs know very well how to remove construction foam quickly and effectively if it gets on any surface. They advise buying a special cleaner right away, since with such work, contamination will appear quite often.
It is clear that fresh mounting foam is much faster and easier to clean from the material than the one that has turned into a crust, although the problem is also solved with some effort. A special product will cope with this task best. Moreover, it can be purchased immediately in the store together with the foam, its price is low.
As soon as the clothes get dirty, you need to start cleaning them without delay:
- First of all, the foam cap is removed from the surface to prevent it from penetrating into the fabric fibers and drying out. A spatula or knife is used for this purpose;
- a cotton pad is soaked in the cleaner, a cloth or rag is also quite suitable. Without wasting time, you need to start blotting the area with stains. The faster the process goes, the more likely it is that there will be no marks left, and the clothes will remain completely intact;
- then follow with a thorough wash using plenty of powder or laundry soap;
- After washing, the product must be rinsed very well.
If the cleaning agent for the mounting foam was not purchased in a timely manner, then you will have to use other methods.
Unlike working with a special cleaner, removing foam from clothes using improvised substances requires much more time and effort. The second nuance is that they can simply dissolve the paint on the material or completely discolor the area of the fabric. If dried mounting foam is rubbed off very intensively, the fibers of the material may be damaged. To be sure, it is necessary to test the interaction of the two components. The substance is applied to an inconspicuous area, on the back side of the product, and after a while it becomes clear whether it is suitable for the event of removing the sealant.
If the fabric color remains the same and its structure is not damaged, then you can start cleaning the product without any problems. The stages of getting rid of stains are absolutely the same in all cases. The final stage is very important - washing and rinsing.
Rules for working with toxic substances
Having decided how to clean clothes, it is important to remember that any actions with toxic substances at home require compliance with certain safety rules. It is imperative to wear gloves before work, preferably rubber, but you can also use gloves made of other materials, as long as they do not allow the toxic substance to get on the skin. When some substances containing chemical elements get on them, allergic reactions or inflammatory processes may occur.
It is necessary to avoid contact of the toxic preparation with the eyes. If this happens, it is necessary to immediately rinse them with plenty of running water.
The most dangerous is the entry of toxins into the respiratory tract and poisoning with their vapors. Therefore, the removal of construction foam from clothing should be carried out in a well-ventilated room. If poisoning occurs, it is necessary to take urgent measures. First, open all the windows if they were closed before starting work, or go out into the fresh air.
If toxins somehow get into the gastrointestinal tract, the first thing you need to do is wash your stomach with a two percent solution of baking soda. It is not recommended to use solvents, acetone, cleaners and other substances that are flammable near an open fire, as they can quickly ignite and start a fire.
It is recommended to store toxic preparations in tightly sealed containers, away from heating devices, especially open ones. Do not allow containers to break. In no case should these solutions be within the reach of children.
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