How to remove sealant from hands?

“If your profession involves the use of various types of sealant, it will have happened to you at least once that a portion of this material has ended up on the skin of your hands. The truth is that removing this substance with soap and water alone is often a real feat, subjecting the skin to repeated rubbing and subsequent irritation. To avoid this, Nettuno has studied 3+1 valuable allies in removing sealant from the skin:

• La Rossa in Gel, a professional hand-washing gel with mineral microgranules derived from pumice for a gentle yet effective abrasive action;
• Manipulite Cremagel, the universal hand-washing gel that contains solvents of natural origin and skin-softening Ideal for removing technical soiling, including sealant;
• Nettungel Orange gel, recommended for those working with sealant, but also with other resistant soils such as paints, sealants, glues, resins, oils, rust and enamels.

You don’t have the chance to rinse your hands, but at the same time some residual dirt is left on the skin? Choose Sendy Wipes, hand wet wipes with extra-strong cleaning power, effective even if sealant is present.

Would you like some more information? Read the in-depth article below.”

Silicone is a polymer, i.e. a substance created by combining several molecules, specifically silicon, oxygen and other organic components. Its chemical structure makes it a particularly resistant, elastic and versatile substance that is widely used by those working in the construction and window and door industry, as well as by carpenters, shipbuilders, bodyworkers, electricians and car electricians.

It is usually used as a sealant, as a protective and filling element, inside joints and gaskets, or as an elastic glue that guarantees long-lasting, airtight seals. Due to its ease of use, it is not only used by professionals, but also by private individuals in small DIY jobs.

It has excellent malleability and adhesion to porous surfaces, but – those who have used it know this well – it also tends to stick tenaciously to the skin. Despite the use of the most appropriate protective systems, the possibility of this substance coming into contact with hands cannot be excluded. Washing it off immediately with running water is a good way to prevent it from adhering to the skin, but this is not always possible and, moreover, the chemical structure of sealant makes it particularly resistant to normal washing with soap.

If your job brings you into contact with this material, how can you work safely and always have perfectly clean hands?

 

Use appropriate PPE before starting the work shift

The best way to avoid getting sealant on your hands at the end of your shift is to use appropriate PPE, such as gloves designed specifically for the professional application of this substance. A good pair of gloves can protect you from both sealant and other potentially skin-aggressive substances, with which it is advisable not to have prolonged contact.

Wearing gloves for long hours, however, can create macerative effects on the skin, which it is essential to minimise and keep under control with the most appropriate strategies, in order to avoid damage to the skin of the hands and prevent the proliferation of pathogens on their surface. An excellent tactic to avoid this risk is to spread barrier creams on the skin, such as Nettuno’s Protexins Plus, which creates a protective layer on the skin against watery substances.

Being insoluble in water, the film created by Protexins Plus lasts for a long time (up to 3-4 hours) and enables you to reduce the typical skin maceration created by occlusive work clothes. You can apply it before your shift on dry skin and then remove it by simply wetting your hands with warm water, soaping them and rinsing them thoroughly.

 

Choose the hand-washing product that suits you

It may happen that personal protective equipment fails to fully protect the skin from sealant, but it also happens that professionals who find themselves handling this elastic material are tempted to refine it with their fingers, to achieve a more precise effect. The result is to end up with sealant on the skin. Removing it with just soap and water is very difficult and would require rubbing and abrasion, which is certainly not healthy for the skin.

This is why Nettuno, which has always been close to the needs of workers, has formulated cleaning products that remove sealant from hands effectively and effortlessly. In fact, our catalogue of hand care products also includes hand cleansers for special dirt, such as paints, glues, inks or, indeed, sealants.

Among Nettuno’s best-performing products of this kind is undoubtedly Rossa in Gel, a professional hand-washing gel that makes use of mineral microgranules derived from pumice for a gentle abrasive action, even on the toughest dirt. It is also enriched with sericin, a silk derivative with emollient properties, and a delicate sandalwood patchouli scent.

Equally tolerated by the skin but effective on dirt is Manipulite Cremagel, the universal handwash gel that always features microgranules derived from pumice, but also citrus peel, solvents of natural origin and skin-softening substances. Ideal for removing technical dirt, it is extremely effective in removing sealant residues from the hands: simply apply, rub in and rinse with running water.

The fragrant Nettungel Orange gel is another of Nettuno’s handwash products recommended for those working with sealant, but also with other technical soils such as paints, sealants, glues, resins, oils, rust and enamels. Giving the product an intensive cleaning action are its mineral microgranules and gentle solvents of natural origin, while citrus and olive oil extracts give Nettungel Orange a pleasant emollient effect.

 

Experience the convenience of wipes

When you need to remove all traces of dirt from your hands, but don’t have a sink with running water and soap at your disposal, you can rely on the cleaning power of Sendy Wipes, handwipes with extra-strong cleaning power.

These are special TNT wet wipes that can be used without rinsing and are perfect for removing professional soiling such as lubricants, resins, grease, enamel, graphite, paint, sealants and silicone. One side of the wipes is abrasive and facilitates the cleaning effect, while the other side is more gentle and completes the cleaning of the hands. Also making the product effective and well-tolerated are an antibacterial agent, a solvent of natural origin and emollients that leave the skin pleasantly soft after cleaning.

To take advantage of the cleaning action of the Sendy Wipes, simply rub them into your hands until the dirt is completely emulsified. Convenient and incredibly practical to use, you can take them with you wherever you go to benefit from the cleaning quality of Nettuno products.

 

Browse our online catalogue and discover all the products designed by our expert researchers for your specific profession. Or contact us for information and professional advice on skin care in your professional context!