# Spilled Tool Magic Need Help Removing it from myself **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 10, 2014, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spilled-tool-magic-need-help-removing-it-from-myself/685797 "2014-04-10T15:09:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Qwisp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qwisp/32/397_2.png) [@Qwisp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwisp)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spilled-tool-magic-need-help-removing-it-from-myself/685797/1 "2014-04-10T15:09:14Z")
I was sitting at my desk in my shorts when I dropped an open container of tool magic. I was able to quickly catch it with my legs, but it spilled between my thighs. It is used to coat tools with a rubbery coat on the tips, so they won’t mar your work. Normally you can peal it off when it dries. However because I was able to quickly use the jar to scoop most of it back in the jar there is a too thin of layer on my legs to peel off. The container says to run under water. I’m like a duck now, the water runs right off me!! I went on the website and emailed the company. No response yet. It has petroleum distillates,heptane,xylene,methyl ethyl ketone and ethylbenzine in the ingredients. My choices for removing it as I see it are acetone or gasoline. I don’t have anything else that I know of in the house. I don’t want to try either without advice. Why irritate my skin any more than needed? Will either of these work or maybe some other common product? If not do I have to run out and buy something? ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spilled-tool-magic-need-help-removing-it-from-myself/685797/2 "2014-04-10T15:22:45Z")
Nail polish remover (acetone) shouldn’t irritate your skin, other than the rubbing action. Just make sure what you get from the store is acetone and not the non-acetone stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Qwisp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qwisp/32/397_2.png) [@Qwisp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwisp)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spilled-tool-magic-need-help-removing-it-from-myself/685797/3 "2014-04-10T15:48:09Z")
The acetone isn’t doing much. The amount of rubbing it’s taking to work is really irritating my skin. I was hoping there would be something that would dissolve it a bit better. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spilled-tool-magic-need-help-removing-it-from-myself/685797/4 "2014-04-10T16:01:46Z")
When I do plumbing work I always seem to get PVC pipe glue on myself. I don’t bother trying to get it off. It eventually sheds along with the surface epithelial cells. ---
**Author:** ![jerez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c68b51/32.png) [@jerez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerez)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spilled-tool-magic-need-help-removing-it-from-myself/685797/5 "2014-04-10T16:10:47Z")
IIRC, ice is supposed to help in getting chewing gum out of hair because it makes the gum brittle. Couldn’t hurt to try. ---
**Author:** ![Inter\_Alia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@Inter\_Alia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inter_Alia)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spilled-tool-magic-need-help-removing-it-from-myself/685797/6 "2014-04-10T16:25:17Z")
What about [Goo Gone](http://googone.com/GG-Browse-Products/Goo-Gone-8oz)? ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spilled-tool-magic-need-help-removing-it-from-myself/685797/7 "2014-04-10T16:28:37Z")
you could always apply more so that it’s thick enough to peel it. often dissolving something for removal just spreads it, contaminating new area. some of the chemicals involved are gone as it goes from liquid in the bottle to dry. what is left may no longer be a problem. irritating the skin by rubbing or chemicals may be more of a problem than the stuff itself. if the label has instructions for removal from skin then follow that. if it has a website then go there. lots of stuff like that, if not being an obvious hurt, i might just leave until it wears off on its own. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spilled-tool-magic-need-help-removing-it-from-myself/685797/8 "2014-04-10T16:33:53Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > you could always apply more so that it’s thick enough to peel it. . . The pain from pulling out body hairs might be a consideration, depending on circumstances. One circumstance being whether the stuff can hold on to a hair strongly enough to pull it out. If it can’t, then no problem. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spilled-tool-magic-need-help-removing-it-from-myself/685797/9 "2014-04-10T17:25:53Z")
> [@Qwisp](#): > > The acetone isn’t doing much. The amount of rubbing it’s taking to work is really irritating my skin. I was hoping there would be something that would dissolve it a bit better. I find that with nail polish at least, the trick is to soak it and let it sit before trying to rub. Perhaps saturate a paper towel and hold it on the spot for like 5 mins before wiping. ---
**Author:** ![Qwisp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qwisp/32/397_2.png) [@Qwisp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwisp)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spilled-tool-magic-need-help-removing-it-from-myself/685797/10 "2014-04-10T17:47:03Z")
I tried everything suggested except the goo gone (because I don’t have any in the house) and applying more. The website was no help. And the container said to flush with water if it got on the skin. Well I did that with my hands, but it was too late on my legs, it had already dried. I think I will try applying more to a small patch to see if that facilitates the removal. It could be worse… Usually I just glue myself to stuff, at least This can be covered up with pants until I get rid of it. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spilled-tool-magic-need-help-removing-it-from-myself/685797/11 "2014-04-10T18:04:37Z")
if it isn’t hurting you just leave it. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spilled-tool-magic-need-help-removing-it-from-myself/685797/12 "2014-04-10T18:05:36Z")
I would suggest applying time to it, in other words, leave it alone. If you keep applying various chemicals in an effort to remove the stuff you may cause more damage. Your skin under the stuff will keep growing, it is always growing, and in a few days you should be able to peel the rubber stuff off, like dead skin from a sunburn. Take a hot shower. The other consideration you should think about is that many of the solvents you keep trying are not real safe on bare skin, they will pass right through your skin and into your tissues and blood. You don’t want to poison yourself by throwing everything at it. The skin on your inner thighs is very thin. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spilled-tool-magic-need-help-removing-it-from-myself/685797/13 "2014-04-10T18:09:23Z")
Tool magic for a guy’s special tool. Thats Priceless. I wouldn’t peel it off. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Qwisp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qwisp/32/397_2.png) [@Qwisp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwisp)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spilled-tool-magic-need-help-removing-it-from-myself/685797/14 "2014-04-10T18:15:13Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > you could always apply more so that it’s thick enough to peel it. This actually is working. The stuff already on my leg should prevent any more chemicals leaching through. > [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > I would suggest applying time to it, in other words, leave it alone. > > If you keep applying various chemicals in an effort to remove the stuff you may cause more damage. Your skin under the stuff will keep growing, it is always growing, and in a few days you should be able to peel the rubber stuff off, like dead skin from a sunburn. Take a hot shower. > > The other consideration you should think about is that many of the solvents you keep trying are not real safe on bare skin, they will pass right through your skin and into your tissues and blood. You don’t want to poison yourself by throwing everything at it. The skin on your inner thighs is very thin. I know you are right, but I keep picking at it. It’s bothering me. ---
**Author:** ![Qwisp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qwisp/32/397_2.png) [@Qwisp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwisp)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spilled-tool-magic-need-help-removing-it-from-myself/685797/15 "2014-04-10T18:16:43Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Tool magic for a guy’s special tool. Thats Priceless. I wouldn’t peel it off. :eek: Instant condom!! Just try to get it off after you get it off! I can only imagine. Ow Ow Ow ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spilled-tool-magic-need-help-removing-it-from-myself/685797/16 "2014-04-10T18:23:38Z")
I’d try lacquer thinner. lacquer thinner is the solvent carpenters use to clean up spilled contact cement. I had a new formica top installed and there were several areas where it had to be cleaned. It doesn’t hurt your skin. I use lacquer thinner at least three or four times a year. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spilled-tool-magic-need-help-removing-it-from-myself/685797/17 "2014-04-10T23:04:20Z")
I came home one day from my new summer job at the state highway department covered in automotive paint and a good bit of tar. Baby oil took it right off. I say this for those who may get painty-oily-greasy-tarry stuff on themselves from time to time. It might work with your stuff since it says it has petroleum distillates in it. ---
**Author:** ![Qwisp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qwisp/32/397_2.png) [@Qwisp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwisp)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spilled-tool-magic-need-help-removing-it-from-myself/685797/18 "2014-04-11T04:21:48Z")
I’ve managed to get most of it off,but my legs are red. It also looks like I’ve got a hickey now on my inner thigh :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spilled-tool-magic-need-help-removing-it-from-myself/685797/19 "2014-04-11T18:57:10Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > I came home one day from my new summer job at the state highway department covered in automotive paint and a good bit of tar. Baby oil took it right off. I say this for those who may get painty-oily-greasy-tarry stuff on themselves from time to time. It might work with your stuff since it says it has petroleum distillates in it. I was going to recommend this as well. I used it to remove roofing tar from my hands because it’s all I could find in the house. The thought train was something like “I need mineral sprirts, bur we appear to be out. Hmmm, baby oil, AKA mineral oil. Mineral spirits, mineral oil - worth a shot!” Worked like a charm! Of course, now I can’t imagine putting that stuff on a baby’s butt :eek: