Is Acetone Safe on Glass and Mirrors?

Is Acetone Safe on Glass and Mirrors?

Most of us must have heard of this substance called acetone or used it in some field. It is a versatile substance that you can find it in many compounds such as nail polish remover and paint remover. In addition, your body makes this chemical as well, when burning stored fats.

Acetone can be used to remove deposits that build up on glass and mirrors, and return them to their new condition. Acetone can be also used to polish and clean countertops, floors, remove stains from furniture or remove super glue stains.

In this article, we’ll deliver a complete review based on our experience, on how safe acetone can be on glass and mirrors, also we discuss the usage of acetone on certain types of countertops that we tested. But first things first, let’s discover what is acetone exactly.

What Is Acetone?

Acetone is an organic compound with the chemical formula C3H6O, it is also known by the chemical names Dimethyl Ketone and Propanone.

Acetone is a flammable liquid, commonly used in everything from paint and plastics to detergents and rubber cement, and the FDA has approved it as an adhesive additive. It is an organic solvent that dissolves other liquids (you may have seen it advertised as a “green solvent” or natural cleaner), usually made from isopropyl alcohol.

Acetone can be used to clean glassware or as a nail polish remover, wiping the last week’s manicure straight off your nails or to remove hard stains from your floor or countertop. Although sometimes acetone can be unsafe, in contrary it can damage the finish or some parts of the affected material.

Is Acetone Safe on Glass?

Acetone is a very safe substance to be used on glass, as it wont damage glass components. On the other hand, acetone can damage glass coatings (if the glass is silvered for example).

You need to keep in consideration that acetone can leave some residues and stains after evaporation if the cleaned glass is contaminated with some other materials. So you want to make sure that you wipe the cleaned glass using a wet cloth, to keep the glass shiny.

However, you can dilute acetone to lower concentrations by mixing it with water, then apply it on glass so you can avoid acetone stains and residues.

In case you ended up with acetone residues and stains on your glass surface, you can apply dishwashing solution to the stain and gently rub it using a soft cloth.

Is Acetone Safe on mirrors?

As long as your mirror is made of glass, it’s completely safe to use acetone on it. On the other hand, if your mirror is coated or silvered, it might get damaged.

Acrylic mirrors can be easily damaged by acetone, as acetone is a strong solvent which can eat through the plastic in acrylic mirrors. On the other hand you can use soapy water which proved that it’s the most effective option to clean acrylic mirrors.

Keep in mind that you might end up with some acetone residues when it evaporites, so wipe your mirror using a wet cloth after applying acetone to it.

Is Acetone Acidic?

Acetone is a neutral organic compound with a Ph. of 7. So it’s neither acid or base. With that being said, acetone is considering as a great degreaser for marble and granite countertops and floorings.

Acetone is an excellent solvent for a wide range of polymers and synthetic fibers. It is used to thin polyester resin, clean its equipment, and dissolve two-part epoxies and superglue before they set. It’s one of the volatile ingredients in various paints and varnishes.

We need to clarify a confusion that being made by people by considering acetone and rubbing alcohol as the same thing, which is not! Acetone It is often created using isopropyl alcohol, which makes it a solvent. The molecular structure of rubbing alcohol, which is identical to that of ethanol, prevents it from dissolving plastic or nail polish. However, both are exceedingly combustible.

What Are the Uses of Acetone?

There are many uses for acetone to remove and clean stains as it is an easily available method for removing stains and spills from household items. With the need to save money, more people are making their own cleaning products using acetone. The main uses of acetone are:

  1. Effective cleaner of stains : Cleaning teacups and trays with the acetone is excellent for removing tea and coffee stains. Just rub these stains with acetone on a cotton swab or piece of cloth, and then wash it as usual. It will be as good as new. It is also ideal for removing stubborn wine stains and degreasing.
  2. Scuff marks remover: Want to get rid of the scuff marks and scratches? If you have tiled or laminate floors, you can remove itch marks and tough dirt by applying some diluted nail polish remover (1 to 3 parts water) to the area and wiping it as usual. Or put a little on a piece of cloth and rub to remove the itch and wash it with warm water and soap afterwards.
  3. Paint remover: Small spots from paintwork can be removed within a few minutes by soaking them in acetone. Once soaked, they will erode into the paint so they can be easily removed. It is perfect for DIYers, if you are painting your windows and some paint is splattered on the glass, just put a little nail polish remover on it with a piece of cloth and let it sit for a few minutes. Then rub with a damp cloth.
  4. Cleaner and sanitizer: Placing acetone on a cloth and wiping it over germ-prone areas will kill bacteria and sterilize the area. To clean the keyboard, dip an old toothbrush or cotton swab in acetone paint remover and gently rub the keys to remove any stains. You can also clean between keys and on the mouse as well.
  5. Scratches remover: Small scratches on unbreakable glass! you can rub acetone to remove these scratches from the surface levels. Just be careful with this and don’t use too much acetone as too much of it can be damage some items especially electronic items.
  6. Helps dissolve superglue: Have you ever gone wrong with superglue and stopped? Using acetone can easily dissolve it from many types of surfaces.
  7. Helps remove ink stains from clothes: Don’t you hate it when you accidentally put a pen on your shirt? Well, if you apply a little acetone to the area, it should remove the stain. If you need to remove ink stains from your child’s school uniform or shirts, simply dilute some nail polish remover (one part nail polish remover to two parts water) and dab the stain with a tissue or soft cloth to clean it right away.
  8. Getting rid of stubborn stickers from glass and metal: Getting rid of sticky residue can be a pain, but with acetone on hand, it dissolves the sticky away leaving the glass brand new. This task is easy by rubbing the area with nail polish remover.
  9. Keeps your shoes shine: You may be afraid to use acetone on your shoes, but you don’t have to. Wipe brand shoes with a kitchen towel dipped in nail polish remover, then buff them gently to remove any cut marks and wipe off any residue with a clean cloth. It will be very shiny and you will be able to see your reflection.
  10. Tub Cleaning: Do you have a dirty bath ring or soap stains? Well, dilute the nail polish remover with a little water and clean the sink with a sponge or cloth. Where with acetone dirt is easily wiped off.
  11. Helps sanitize your makeup tools: Sanitize your beauty tools with acetone nail polish remover. Keep tweezers, nail scissors, and other metallic beauty tools clean and germ-free by giving them a quick touch with a cotton swab dipped in nail polish remover. Clean with soap and water, then dry with a hand towel.

2 thoughts on “Is Acetone Safe on Glass and Mirrors?”

Leave a Reply to Designer Cancel reply