Masking fluid accident [B]Help please[/B]

[Thinktank]

Hi,
Awhile back I came back from England where I had purchased a bottle of masking fluid to use with watercolors. When I packed my stuf I made sure it was out the way but the jerks in baggage still managed to break the bottle open. So here my bag is stinking like masking fluid, all green and rubbery and there’s nothing I can do about it but check the bag back in and get it back home. I figured since the nature of masking fluid is to dry up and peel off things easily that it’d be no problem, but thin applications of masking fluid are much different from an entire bottle’s quantity… it was thick I mean really thick! and I couldn’t get one of my zipper compartments down… I finally just broke the zipper to get the stuff out of the bag, but I can’t think of anything I can use that might “dissolve” masking fluid to make my bag useable again. Can any chemical experts out there help me with this? What breaks up masking fluid? Or should I just throw my bag out? :(… thanks

[femtosecond]

Googling for “masking fluid” gave this: http://www.winsornewton.com/Main/Sitesections/EncycloSctn/Techniques/TipsTech98/WCmediums.html

If spilt by accident, wash item immediately in soapy water. Once dry, the latex can only be removed by picking at it. There are unfortunately no solvents available.

[Duck_Duck_Goose]

Well, Googling under “remove dried latex”:

http://www.tipking.com/Tips/publish/tip_607.shtml

Latex paint is easy to remove if it has not been allowed to dry as it is water based and will wash out with water. However in this case the paint has dried. What you will need to do is soak the item for 2-3 hours in a solution of warm water and detergent. The brush the stain gently with a tooth brush.

You may need to repeat this process if necessary.

So it’s not dissolving the latex as such–the warm water and detergent are just loosening the bond between the latex and the fabric, making it easier to pick the latex out.

There are other hits which mention, again, that hot, soapy water will remove (read: “loosen so you can scrub off”) dried latex. So there’s nothing magic about “detergent”, just basically soap or detergent.

What is the bag made out of? Is it fabric of some kind? Canvas? Cotton? Polyester?

Here’s a hit from a boatbuilding site that mentions:
http://www.marlinmag.com/MAR_Main/1,3022,3-1-1-16286-280-334,00.html

The best product I have found to remove the tape’s adhesive is Goof Off. It is not a marine product but rather a latex paint remover meant to remove dried latex paint splatters, called “goofs.” It is available at most home centers and paint stores in the painting sundries department.

And:
http://www.parkscorp.com/parkspaint.html

Wipe-It-Off!
Wipes away annoying household stains and spills. Universal remover for dried latex paint, tar, crayons, magic markers, ballpoint ink, glue, grease, oil, lipstick, shoe polish, even chewing gum! Child resistant spout. Methylene chloride free. Originally formulated to remove dried latex paint spatters on varnished woodwork without destroying the underlying finish, it was discovered that Wipe-It-Off! works on virtually every type of stain, spill or splatter on just about every type of material: wood, metal, glass, brick, concrete, vinyl, fiberglass, carpeting, rubber and most fabrics. Flammable. For best results, read and follow instructions and cautions on the container.

So look and see whether it says “do not use on luggage” before you start pouring.

[TheKitchenFairey]

Goo Gone will soften and dissolve dried masking fluid. Let it sit.:smack:

[johnpost]

zombie or no

it has sit.

[Musicat]

So, Thinktank, has your problem been solved, twelve years later?

(Thinktank still posts here, so it’s not a totally unreasonable question.)