How to wash the mounting foam?

Foam as sealant is very popular today, because it is able to penetrate even the smallest gaps and seals construction joints. This material has excellent heat and sound insulation properties, however, if the substance enters into surrounding objects, then it is very difficult to remove. In this article we will tell you how to wash polyurethane foam from various surfaces.

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Necessary tools and materials

Before choosing a solvent for mounting foam, it is necessary to find out the composition of the substance and determine the chemical agents that will help it to be completely removed from wooden, metal or plastic surfaces. This building material consists of a polymeric substance - polyurethane foam, which is famous for its excellent adhesive properties and an increased level of adhesion.

To effectively flush foam, you may need the following products:

• Special cleaners, which are divided by manufacturers into solvents for polymerized and yet finally non-cured foam. You can buy such a tool in every construction or hardware store.

Important! Try to buy a cleaning agent and the sealant itself from one manufacturer. The fact is that each composition of polyurethane has its own secret ingredient, and therefore the “native” remedy can be much more effective than other solvents.

• A brush with a metal pile, a scraper or a knife. Such devices will help you get rid of hard pieces of hardened foam.
• Dimexide is a medical product that can be freely bought at any pharmacy. It is not surprising, but it is the perfect solvent for polyurethane foam. This medical solution is quite aggressive, and therefore it should be used exclusively in protective clothing and rubber gloves.
• Vegetable oil - this tool is in almost every kitchen and is able to wipe the mounting foam from laminate, plastic, wood, linoleum, and even from the skin of hands.
• Direct sunlight has a destructive effect on the structure of polypropylene.

Important! It is much easier to remove traces of fresh and not having polymerized building material. To clean such stains, any solvent is perfect - acetone, a special tool for removing foam, White Spirit, “Cosmofen 10” and “solvent 646”.

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Removing fresh sealant

If you notice contamination in time and decide not to delay to wipe the mounting foam from the plastic window, then gently wipe off the sealant with a cloth moistened with solvent. Such a procedure will take you no more than a few minutes and will take virtually no effort.

However, far from every coating can be safely treated with solvents. In order not to damage the surface of the paint or laminate, try the action of the selected cleaner, applying it to a small, and most importantly - inconspicuous area. The solvent, safe for the material, does not leave whitish marks on the painted surface and does not damage the top coat of varnish.

Important! If you choose between cleaning fresh dirt and scraping the already polymerized foam, then it is naturally better to give preference to the first option.However, if you did not notice the foam getting on the floor surface or if you could not find a suitable solvent, do not despair. Below you will find ways to wash mounting foamif she already thoroughly grabbed.

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Removing cured sealant

There are several quite effective ways to remove the sealing mass that has had time to harden and polymerize, which can be divided into two main categories:

1. Mechanical methods.
2. Chemicals

The most effective is the combination of both of these methods to achieve the highest quality result. If you want to clean the dried-in mounting foam with high quality and without any problems, then use one of the following cleaning methods.

Method 1 - Blade and Sunflower Oil

To get rid of traces of sealant, you can use such simple devices as a sharp blade, such as a razor or clerical knife, and sunflower oil. Use these devices according to the following algorithm:

1. With the help of several blades, carefully cut as large pieces of the hardened mass as possible.

Important! Try to cut off the polymerized substance under the very root, because it will be easier to soften and remove its residues.

2. Carefully treat the remaining sealant particles with sunflower oil or a solvent.
3. Wait 15-20 minutes - during this period of time the polymer product should soften, which contributes to its easier removal.
4. Wipe the substance off the surfaces with a kitchen sponge, using alternately hard and soft sides.
5. After completely removing the sealant with a soap solution, wipe the surface, which will make the traces of the former contamination as invisible as possible.

Important! According to the same principle, you can use the medicine "Dimexidum", which is intended for the treatment of joints, skin diseases and is freely sold in any pharmacy.

Method 2 - Blade and Sandpaper

If you need to wash the mounting foam from surfaces that will be subjected to further processing, such as painting, then you can use exclusively mechanical cleaning methods. Perfectly scraping traces of foam with a blade and sandpaper, which are used in the following way:

1. Cut off traces of polyurethane foam that has already polymerized with a blade as much as possible.
2. Treat any residual dirt with sandpaper.
3. Wipe cleaned area with a cloth dampened in soapy water.

Important! This method can be used to clean all surfaces that are not afraid of scratches. Most often, mechanical cleaning is used to prepare walls or floors for further painting or opening with varnish.

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How to wipe the mounting foam from your hands?

If you carry out repair work yourself and are interested in the question of how to wipe the mounting foam from your hands, then you should not forget that it is best to clean fresh, not yet polymerised foam. For such cleaning, acetone or any other solvent is suitable.

It is much more difficult to get rid of the foam if it has already managed to dry on your skin. To solve this problem, you will have to be patient and adhere to the following recommendations:

1. Steam your hands by dropping them into a container filled with hot water. For the proper effect, you need to hold them in water for about half an hour.
2. Apply a generous layer of nourishing cream to your skin. For this, night cream for hands and face or regular oil is suitable.
3. Remove the mounting foam from your hands with a pen.

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Stock footage

In this article, we shared with you the main ways how to wash polyurethane foam from surfaces where its presence was undesirable.We sincerely hope that now in your home there will be no undesirable consequences of installation work and the house will delight you with its beauty and attractiveness for a long time.