In this article, we will discuss the various uses of acetone in cleaning today. Here, you will learn about how you can use it to clean almost any kind of surface you want. Keep reading!
Acetone is a very powerful solvent that is used in cleaning today. It can easily dissolve paint, glue and other stains, making it easier for these things to be cleaned from the surface. Cleaning with acetone is one of the best ways to eliminate tough stains that have lasted for quite some time.
Over the years, acetone has been used for many purposes. Even today, it is among the primary ingredient found in nail polish removers. You can hardly come across a home without acetone-based nail polish removers.
In the absence of other cleaners, acetone can be used as a very powerful DIY cleaner to remove dirt, stains, and grime from many surfaces at home. When used for this purpose, the solvent delivers outstanding results.
Why You Should Use Acetone For Cleaning Surfaces
Are there any benefits to using acetone as a DIY cleaner at home? Why should a person consider using it to clean surfaces? You asked.
The truth is there are many benefits to using acetone in cleaning. So many of them that it will take a while to talk about all of them.
Here are some of the uses of acetone in daily life as it related to cleaning.
- It Is Very Effective
Due to the effectiveness of acetone, many people use it in degreasing surfaces and removing stubborn stains. When used to clean household equipment and other surfaces, the results are always great.
- It Is Inexpensive And Easy To Obtain
Acetone is one of those cleaning supplies that you can easily come by. The fact that it is also very affordable in the markets is also one of the reasons the cleaning solvent is found in most homes today.
You can even get it less than $10 online on Amazon.
- It Is water Soluble And Safer To Use
By water-soluble here, I mean acetone easily dissolves in water. Though being a chemical, acetone is toxic. But its toxicity is very low compared to other chemicals that are used for cleaning out there. It is far safer to use than lots of commercial cleaners in the market today.
How To Use Acetone To Clean During HouseKeeping
As we have just discussed, using acetone for home cleaning comes with many advantages.
To help you get started on that, we have explained the procedures involved in cleaning surfaces with acetone. You will find them below.
- Removing Paint Stains
Do you have paint stains on your car, walls, and windows that have refused to be removed despite your efforts?
You can get rid of them all using acetone. The solvent easily dissolves any kind of paint. That is the major reason it is commonly used in industrial cleaning.
To clean off paint spots with acetone, simply apply the chemical on a rag or any other applicator of your choice and use it to dab the stains. Once you are done with that, leave it that way for a few minutes before wiping the paint spots.
Within this period, the acetone will work on the paint stains, dissolving them all. You can then wipe them away from the wall, window or wherever you have them.
- Degreasing Surfaces
When it comes to breaking down grease or oil, acetone is known to be highly effective.
It can break down any type of grease, making it easier for such to be cleaned. If you are having any surface with grease on it that you will like to clean, acetone is one of the best chemicals you can use for that.
To do that, apply acetone on the affected areas and leave it to work on the grease for a few minutes. After that, wipe the surface with a clean cloth. Microfiber cloth, for instance, will do a very good job there.
- Remove Ink Stains
Ink stains can be very tough to remove.
If not handled properly, the stains can become permanent on any surface the ink spilled on. To get rid of them easily, dab the spots with acetone using a soft cloth. Wipe the surface after that and the stains will be gone.
If the stains are on your fabrics, ensure you dilute the acetone before using it. That will help prevent any damages to the clothing. Since acetone is a very strong chemical, it can have a very serious effect on fabrics.
- Dissolve And Get Rid Of Super Glue And Sticker Residue
Did you mistakenly spill superglue on objects and don’t know how to get rid of the glue? Are you finding it difficult to remove the cap of the superglue because it has been glued to the bottle?
Acetone can be very helpful here. Simply apply the solution to the surface where the adhesive is and watch it dissolve almost instantly. For the cap that has refused to open due to adhesive, just apply a little of the acetone solution around it and watch happens. The solution will dissolve the adhesive completely, making it much easier for you to open the container as soon as possible.
As for cleaning sticker gunk or residue, the procedure is almost the same. Just apply the acetone on the objects where your sticker has left a residue, especially on your windows, car doors and others.
- Get Rid Of Melted Plastic Bag
It is not uncommon to accidentally melt a plastic bag onto the oven or other surfaces in the kitchen. This can also happen while ironing your clothes. Especially when something is distracting your mind.
To get rid of such a melted plastic bag, allow the appliance to cool down after unplugging it. After that, dab the affected area with acetone using a soft cloth. The reason for using a soft cloth here is to avoid scratching the surface of the appliance in the process of cleaning it.
Let it sit for a few minutes (like 15 minutes) and then wipe the appliance with another soft damp cloth. Not only will the melted plastic bag be gone, other stains and spills on the affected area will also be gone with it.
After that, allow the pressing iron, oven or whatever appliance it is, to dry before using it again. That’s how to remove melted plastic with acetone.
- Cleaning The Kitchen Floor And Utensils
Acetone can be used in cleaning the kitchen floor to remove various stains and marks from it.
To do this, apply acetone on the stained areas of the floor. You can use a soft cloth or a cotton ball for this. After that, clean the floor the same way you normally do use warm water and soap.
While doing this, it is important you first check if acetone has no negative effect on your type of floor. If it does, it is either you wipe it immediately after applying it on the stains or avoid using it completely.
Apart from using acetone to clean kitchen floors, you can also use it to clean things like your plates and cups. The chemical is very effective in removing coffee and tea stains, giving your cups and plates a brand new look.
To get the perfect result with this, ensure that all the spots and marks you want to get rid of on your ceramic plates and cups are well dabbed with the solvent.
After that, you can go on to clean the items the same way you normally do with water and soap and leave them to dry.
- Acetone Cleaning for Metal
As it removes dirt and grease completely, acetone is a popular choice when it comes to cleaning metal surfaces to be welded or painted.
Avoid using water to clean metallic items as this predisposes them to rust. Instead, use acetone as it dries out quickly leaving a dry and cleaner surface behind.
Acetone Cleaning: What To Bear In Mind
The following are some of the things to bear in mind when using acetone to clean surfaces at home:
- Acetone is a chemical that should be used with caution. Though it is low in toxicity, it is still necessary to handle it with caution. As you would do with other chemicals. When cleaning with acetone cleaners, put on your protective gear to avoid any form of absorption, consumption or inhalation of the chemical.
- Avoid using it to clean plastic materials. Acetone is so powerful that it can easily melt them. It is best to use chemical cleaners that are acetone-free to clean such materials.
- If you are unsure about how acetone will react on the material you want to clean it with, first test it on a very small portion of the material. Especially the part that won’t be easily noticed by others if anything goes wrong with it.
- When applying this, ensure that the area is well ventilated.
- Do not apply it directly to fabrics that are capable of dissolving.
In Summary
Cleaning with acetone is undoubtedly one of the best ways to get rid of stubborn stains and specks of dirt from numerous materials. The compound is also very effective when it comes to degumming and degreasing surfaces. It removes paint and other stains from glasses with ease.
Are you searching for how to clean any type of surface using acetone? Do you want to learn about the many types of materials that you can clean using acetone?
I hope you find the information here helpful.
