List of homemade recipes and chemical compositions that can be used to remove polyurethane foam from doors
When installing doors, polyurethane foam is used for sealing purposes, ensuring high-quality filling of cavities due to good adhesion to surfaces.
The foam is blown out using a special gun. And even with the most careful work, there is a risk of foam getting on the door itself.
How to remove polyurethane foam from wooden, glass, and plastic doors? Special medications and home remedies will help eliminate it.
Content
How to clean fresh?
The polyurethane foam used during installation has a viscous consistency at the time of application and has the ability to expand, filling holes and gaps. When exposed to air, the material begins to harden..
If flakes of polyurethane foam get on the door itself, you can remove them before they harden. But at the joints it is advisable not to touch the sealant so as not to disrupt its insulating ability.
The bulk of fresh polyurethane foam that fell on the door can be removed with a plastic spatula or wooden scraper. It is necessary to make clear, sharp movements with the tool, without smearing the composition over an even larger area.
The solvent will help remove the remaining sealant. The most harmless way is to use a rag soaked in vegetable oil. But you can use other means. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the material of the door itself.
In most situations, the following drugs are suitable:
- white spirit technical liquid;
- acetone-containing compounds;
- table vinegar;
- purchased polyurethane foam cleaners.
Fresh foam should not be washed with water, since contact with any wet surface accelerates adhesion and hardening.
How to remove using improvised means?
When removing sealing material that has fallen on the door, home recipes in most cases are no less effective than special cleaning preparations. In order for any solvent to work, it is necessary to prepare the surface - cut off the bulk of the foam sealant.
And only after that they move on to wiping off the mark.
Dimexide
Dimexide purchased at the pharmacy is a product that can be used as a solvent.
It is used in its pure form according to the following algorithm:
- Apply Dimexide to a sponge or rag and thoroughly saturate the stain.
- Leave the composition on the door for just a couple of minutes.
- Wipe off the softened mass with a rag, helping yourself with a plastic scraper.
Removing polyurethane foam from a door using Dimexide - in the video:
White Spirit
White spirit solvent is suitable for combating various types of contaminants, acting as a solvent. The product is applied to the stained area and left for 30-60 seconds. The softened foam is wiped off with a rag.
Vegetable oil
Vegetable oil helps quickly remove fresh dirt. But with dried foam the effect is much weaker.
There is no point in trying to wash off a thick layer of foam sealant - oil will not be able to soften it, so cutting off the main drop is mandatory.
It is convenient to use a rag to apply the composition to a vertical surface. After a few minutes you need to try to pry off the sealant with a scraper.
Vinegar
Table vinegar can be used as a solvent due to the presence of acid.. It is used undiluted. Apply the vinegar with a napkin and give it time to work. When the mass becomes soft, it is peeled off.
Top 3 special drugs
Manufacturers of polyurethane foam and other types of sealants also produce cleaning products. Using special products allows you to clean the mounting gun and remove dirt that accidentally gets on the surface of the door.
Soudal PU Remover
This product is sold in a small container and is suitable for cleaning various surfaces from foam residues.
The set includes:
- the product itself is in a jar;
- putty knife;
- brush.
It is convenient to apply and distribute the product with a brush, and to remove the remaining foam with a plastic spatula. There is also a limitation - Soudal should not be used as a remover on:
- brass,
- copper,
- zinc metal surfaces.
Cost - about 600 rubles per 100 ml.
Penosil Cured PU-Foam Remover
The purifier is highly effective product available in an aerosol can. The solvent is intended for removing hardened polyurethane foam from:
- doors,
- door frames,
- windows, etc.
Using Penosil allows you to remove dirt from accidental staining during installation.This is a one-component, easy-to-use product. The manufacturer also has a separate cleaner for removing uncured foam. Price – from 300 rubles.
Profflex
Profflex is designed to remove uncured polyurethane foam and clean the gun itself. The drug is suitable for processing:
- doors and windows,
- slopes,
- clothes, etc.
Cleaning of mounting structures is carried out using an adapter sprayer. The cost for 0.5 liters is about 120 rubles.
Features of cleaning various materials
The foam remaining after installation is not difficult to remove from the door, if you take into account the characteristics of the material from which it is made. If several types of materials are used, the nuances of processing each should be taken into account.
Metal
Metal doors from polyurethane foam can be cleaned using special solvents, Dimexide or any other means. The selected product is applied for a quarter of an hour, after which it is removed with napkins or rags.
Wood, MDF
It is most convenient to clean varnished wooden doors from foam marks not immediately, but wait until the sealant begins to harden. When the foam becomes rubber-like in consistency, the mark can be removed by prying up the edge.
If the mark still remains on the surface, it will have to be modified with a cleaner, pharmaceutical Dimexide or another solvent.
Eco-veneer
Eco-veneer is a composite material in its composition, which contains wood shavings and a synthetic component.
It is not worth cleaning such a door with Dimexide, as there is a risk of damaging the structure of the door itself.
Since the material has a fairly high resistance to mechanical stress, it a cleaning solution using baking soda and a damp sponge can be used. White spirit is also suitable.
Wiping dirt off eco-veneer may require effort, since the material has a textured, uneven surface.
Glass
Glass inserts are most often found on interior doors. Like other surfaces, glass can become dirty with fresh foam. If splashes are noticed immediately, they can be easily removed with an oily rag.
It is better to apply vegetable oil to the stain for a quarter of an hour. - so the effect will be higher. After this, greasy stains from the glass can be easily removed with a soap solution and any means for cleaning mirrors and glass.
Plastic
Foam from plastic doors can be removed with a table bite. It is applied to the stain and tinder. Special foam cleaners will also help clean the surface.
4 prohibitions
When cleaning doors from polyurethane foam, The following prohibitions must be taken into account:
You should not carry out work with bare hands. The solvents used easily come into contact with the skin, and the foam itself can also stick to it.- It is not advisable to cut dried foam down to the very base with a knife, as this increases the risk of damage to the door material.
- Solvents should not be left on the surface to be treated longer than recommended by the manufacturer, as this may damage the door itself.
- You should not try to wash off fresh foam with water, as this will only make it harden faster.
5 useful tips
When removing traces of foam The following advice from experts involved in door installation will help:
- If you don't have a plastic scraper at hand to remove any remaining foam, you can use an old bank card.
- Before applying the solvent to the center of the door, it is advisable to test the product on an inconspicuous area. Solvents may give different results on different types of surfaces.
- Before applying polyurethane foam, you must make sure that there are products available that can be used as sealant solvents.
- When choosing a special stain remover, it is better to give preference to products from the same company that produces the polyurethane foam used when installing the door.
- Not all special foam cleaners have the same effect. Among them there are those that are aimed at eliminating fresh composition and those that are intended for hardened ones.
You will find useful tips and recommendations on how to remove polyurethane foam from various surfaces and objects. here.
Conclusion
It is possible to remove polyurethane foam from doors at any stage of its hardening. When starting to clean the surface, it is necessary to take into account both the characteristics of the door material and the nuances of using the selected products. If you strictly follow the rules and do not use force, foam can be eliminated even in very difficult cases.
