How to Clean Epoxy From Your Hands

Every boat owner needs to learn the best way to clean epoxy from their hands. Because no matter how careful you are, how much you mask and wear gloves, the “goop” ends up somewhere you won’t want it. Fortunately, another boat owner suggested white vinegar. It’s easy, cheap, and works better than any other method.

Cleaning Epoxy – The Old Way

For years, Dave and I used acetone to clean uncured or partially cured epoxy and sealants off our hands . . . and legs, faces, goggles, tools, and whatever else we managed to get it on. But acetone was harsh, fairly flammable, and relatively expensive.

When I wrote about filling in our head thru-hulls, reader Helen Murdoch gave us a great tip. Vinegar. Cheap white vinegar that I buy by the gallon.

Not only is it cheap, non-toxic, and a lot less harsh than acetone, it’s also non-flammable. It may sting a cut slightly, or dry your skin to a minor extent, but it’s nowhere near as hard on you as acetone. And the “stink” is a lot less too.

But here’s the real winner: it works better.

How to Clean Epoxy Off Your Hands With White Vinegar

We used the simplest method to clean our hands, just sloshing it on. In fact, I think that’s part of why it worked better. Since it was cheap and non-toxic, we used more.

It works best if you clean up before the resin dries. But if you can’t do that, this four-step method will work even when epoxy or other products have dried on.

Step 1 – Soak a rag with white vinegar.

You can use a paper towel, but since it’s nontoxic, why not use a clean cloth or rag? Liberally pour vinegar over a cloth until it’s quite wet.

Step 2 – Apply the vinegar-soaked rag to the dried resin.

Lay the cloth over the spots on your hand covered in dried epoxy. Make sure you get full contact so the vinegar can soften the stain. Let it sit for about five minutes. This is also a good excuse to take a break after doing boat chores on a hot day.

Step 3 – Rub resistant epoxy with the damp rag.

Rub over sticky spots with the vinegar-soaked rag. By now, the vinegar will have done its job, and you can peel stubborn spots off with your fingernails or a nail brush.

Step 4 – Wash your hands with soap.

Wash your hands with dish soap, paying special attention to areas where the epoxy remained the longest. The vinegar doesn’t harm your skin if you don’t wash it, but this final step allows you to find any epoxy you may have missed. It also keeps you from smelling so much like a salad.

Yet Another Way to Use Vinegar on a Boat

From marking your anchor chain to cleaning up spills, vinegar has endless uses on a boat. It became our number-one clean-up solvent for epoxy, silicone, and sealants of any type. The only time we used acetone was when we needed a solvent that dried quickly and completely, such as when prepping a surface to apply epoxy or a sealant.

I hope you’ll try this gentler method to clean epoxy from your hands after your next boat project. It’s just one more DIY tip that makes boat life easier and more affordable. For more ideas, subscribe to The Boat Galley newsletter to get weekly encouragement and advice from cruisers for cruisers.

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