If you are working with spray foam insulation, you should be prepared to clean up any messes that are made. That spray foam products can easily get away from you and land on the different surfaces inside and outside of the home. Be prepared to clean the over-spray off of any surface that it may land on. Here, you will learn what products and techniques to use to remove the over-spray from different surface types.
Create a Cleaning Kit
Having everything you need in one cleaning kit will help to expedite the cleaning process. The contents of the kit should include:
- Glass cleaner
- Paper towels
- Straight / Flat razor
- Plastic razor / Putty knife
- Acetone
- Mineral spirits
- Plastic grocery bags (for trash)
- Masking tape
- General household cleaner
Wood Surfaces
Wood surfaces can be the most daunting to clean. You must be very gentle so that you don't damage the wood as you work to remove the foam.
- Use the putty knife to carefully scrape the foam off of the surface, keeping the knife completely level with the surface to prevent gouging.
- Apply mineral spirits to a paper towel and place it on the foam. Leave the towel in place for 15 or 20 minutes so that it can soften the foam. If the foam is on the wall, use a little masking tape to tape the paper towel in place.
- Use the putty knife to scrape the softened foam off of the surface.
- Clean with quality wood cleaning products.
Vinyl Surfaces
Window and door frames, vinyl siding and vinyl flooring are a bit easier to clean as they are less likely to get damaged while you clean them.
- Use the plastic razor to scrape the foam from the surface keeping the razor aligned with the surface to avoid gouging it.
- Apply a little bit of acetone to a paper towel and wipe the surface. You may need to reapply the acetone to the towel a few times and replace the towel before the acetone has worked to remove the foam.
- Clean the area with a general household cleaner to remove the residue and prevent discoloration.
Glass Surfaces
Glass surfaces are the easiest to get clean and are least likely to get damaged during the cleaning process.
- Use a flat razor to shave the foam off of the glass.
- Clean the glass to a streak-free shine with glass cleaner.
Being prepared for the cleaning that may be required after a spray foam job will help you protect the materials around the home that could be exposed to accidental over-spray.