How To Clean Hand Sanitizer From Wood
Hand sanitizer is a must in most offices and school buildings. It’s in lockers, bathrooms, classrooms, and cafeterias because it’s one of the best ways to stop the transmission of germs that can cause illness. That’s why hand sanitizer is so important. When you don’t have access to hand sanitizer, you need to know how to clean hand sanitizer from wood.
Wood surfaces may not appear as though they are porous, but they are especially susceptible to alcohol stains if they are left untreated. Wood is a natural material that comes from trees which means it has small holes within it called pores. These pores are what make wood so absorbent and why it has the ability to stain so easily when exposed to liquids like alcohol.
How Hand Sanitizer is Made
Hand sanitizer is a chemical solution that is intended to stop the germs that cause illness. When it comes into contact with skin or porous surfaces it is absorbed quickly. This happens for a reason. Hand sanitizer is made with ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol. These are solvents that are highly effective at killing bacteria, viruses, and other germs. Ethyl alcohol is found in alcoholic beverages like wine and beer. Ethyl alcohol is also found in common household products like paint remover and hand sanitizer. Isopropyl alcohol is used in things like rubbing alcohol, hand sanitizer, and antiseptics.
How to Clean Hand Sanitizer from Wood
Cleaning hand sanitizer from wood is a fairly simple process. Although it can be difficult to remove, bleach will work to lift the stain. If you are dealing with a large stain, you may want to consider removing the surface finish from the area and refinishing it. This will allow you to get to the stain and remove it from the wood completely. If you just have a small stain, you can clean it and keep the finish on the wood, just follow these tips.
Step 1: Scrape the residual hand sanitizer off of the wood.
Hand sanitizer is sticky and adheres to whatever it comes into contact with. You’ll want to get as much of the hand sanitizer off of your wood as you can before cleaning. Scrape the surface with a razor blade or a paint scraper to remove any hand sanitizer that is stuck to the wood.
Step 2: Mix together a solution of 2 tbsp. of bleach with 1 gallon of water.
The bleach will help to lift the stain of the wood. You can use a rag or a sponge to apply the mixture to the wood. Work the solution into the stain and allow it to sit for a few minutes before wiping the surface clean with a rag.
Step 3: Wipe down the wood with the bleach mixture.
You can use the same solution you mixed to clean the wood earlier. The bleach will help to lift the stain from the wood. Wipe the bleach solution over the stain and allow it to sit for a few minutes before wiping the surface clean with a rag.
Step 4: Rinse off your wood and allow it to dry before using again.
Once the surface is completely dry, you can use it again. You may need to sand or re-stain the area if the stain is difficult to remove completely.
Conclusion
Hand sanitizer is an important part of staying healthy in a public setting like a school or an office. When you don’t have access to hand sanitizer, you can clean it from wood using bleach. Hand sanitizer is made with ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol. Bleach is a great way to clean up after hand sanitizer spills on wood surfaces.
