Removing foam particles from clothes depends heavily on whether the foam is wet and uncured or dry and cured. Tackling wet foam immediately is much easier; cured foam requires more effort and potentially the use of solvents like acetone.
Treating Uncured Foam
If you get polyurethane spray foam on your clothes before it cures, act quickly.
- Scrape Immediately: Gently scrape off as much of the wet foam as possible using a dull knife or a piece of cardboard. Avoid spreading it further into the fabric fibers.
- Use Acetone: According to the reference, Acetone is a solvent that dissolves uncured polyurethane foam and can be used to clean up foam before it cures. Apply a small amount of acetone to a clean rag and blot the affected area. Work from the outside of the stain inwards to prevent spreading.
- Test First: Before applying acetone directly, test it on an inconspicuous area of the garment (like an inside seam) to ensure it doesn't damage, discolor, or dissolve the fabric. Acetone can be harsh on certain materials like acetate or rayon.
- Rinse and Wash: After removing the foam residue with acetone, thoroughly rinse the area under cold water. Then, wash the garment as usual according to its care label instructions.
Treating Cured Foam
Once polyurethane foam has cured and hardened on clothing, it is significantly more difficult to remove. Physical removal and solvents are typically required.
- Physical Removal: Once the foam has cured, you can start by trying to physically remove as much as possible. Gently rub or scrape the hardened foam with a dry rag or a brush with stiff bristles. This can break off brittle pieces.
- Apply Acetone: If it has cured, rub down the spray foam with a dry rag and carefully apply acetone to the affected area to remove the residue. Use a rag or cotton ball dampened with acetone.
- Blotting and Scraping: Apply the acetone and let it sit for a few minutes to soften the cured foam. Then, gently try to scrape or blot the softened foam away. You may need to repeat this process multiple times.
- Caution with Fabrics: Again, always test acetone on a hidden area of the fabric first. If acetone damages the fabric, do not use it. For delicate fabrics or if acetone is not suitable, professional dry cleaning might be your only option, though even dry cleaners may struggle with cured foam.
- Final Wash: After successfully removing the residue, wash the garment according to its care instructions to eliminate any remaining chemical traces.
Important Considerations:
- Different types of foam exist (e.g., craft foam, upholstery foam, spray foam). Polyurethane spray foam is particularly difficult to remove once cured, and acetone is a common method for this specific type. Other foams may require different cleaning agents or methods.
- Always prioritize garment safety by testing cleaning solutions on a hidden area first.
- Ventilate the area well when using solvents like acetone.
Removing cured foam is often challenging, and success can depend on the fabric type and how deeply the foam has penetrated the fibers. Patience and repeat applications of the solvent may be necessary.
