When it comes to cleaning up after crafting, resin can be tricky to remove, especially if it's not properly cleaned right after use. Cleaning tools and cups from both epoxy resin and UV resin has its own specifics. Below you will learn how to clean effectively and safely.
Why can’t we clean resin with water?
Epoxy resin in its uncured state should not come into contact with water because water negatively affects its curing. This applies not only to casting but also to cleaning. Water will never effectively remove resin; instead, it will help create a thin milky or transparent surface on the item being wiped, which won’t cure due to contact with water and will remain sticky. Cleaning in this way would permanently damage your tools. Therefore, other methods and special cleaning agents are used.
Where to pour leftover resin?
Have you finished casting, and before cleaning your tools, you need to figure out how to deal with the mixed resin left in the cup? Remember, the leftover mixed resin belongs only in a resin mold; never pour it down the drain. Resin will harden there and irreparably damage your plumbing. If you don’t have a mold ready for leftovers, you can let it harden in the cup. Just be careful that the resin in the cup doesn’t exceed the maximum casting height of your specific resin. For example, if your resin can be poured up to 5 mm and you leave it at 2 cm, an exothermic reaction will occur.
What can you use to clean tools and cups from resin?
- Paper towels or napkins
Wipe away larger amounts of resin with a paper towel or napkin. You can clean cups and wipe metal, plastic, or silicone tools this way. - Cleaning alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) or denatured alcohol
Both alcohol and denatured alcohol are effective solvents that can dissolve resin without damaging tools or cups. Apply one or the other to a paper towel and wipe the surface until clean. This cleaning method also works for wiping other surfaces where resin has dripped. - Wet wipes
Baby or cleaning wet wipes are also useful when working with resin. Wipe tools or cups with them, leaving almost no residue behind. Finish cleaning with alcohol or denatured alcohol.
Do you need to clean cups or containers?
Every creator has different preferences. However, most creative people don’t clean cups and let the resin harden in them. Depending on the material of the cup, they either pop the hardened resin out or leave it in the cup.
- Hardened resin can be popped out of plastic and silicone containers. If there are still small pieces left in the cups, remove them with a piece of tape.
- In paper and some plastic cups, especially those from yogurt, resin hardens and adheres firmly to the cup walls, and there’s no need to pop it out. You can mix resin in the cup again next time.
What to do with hardened resin on metal tools?
Did you set aside a tool like tweezers after crafting and forget to clean it? Don’t worry; you can still fix this. One option is to scrape off hardened resin with a utility knife. If that doesn’t work, heat the tweezers with a hairdryer or heat gun. The resin will soften and be easier to remove with a knife.
Safety precautions
Don’t forget basic safety precautions. Always wear protective gloves, appropriate respiratory protection, and ideally protective goggles when using cleaning agents to avoid contact with skin or eyes. Alcohol is flammable, so work in a well-ventilated area, far from open flames. When using a hairdryer or heat gun on a metal object, remember that it will become hot, so don’t touch it unless you’re wearing heat-resistant protective gloves. When removing resin with a utility knife, always cut away from yourself, not toward yourself, and wear protective gloves and goggles.
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