You might know by now that all of the nail polish removers are basically acetone. The other name of acetone is propanone. And it is a colorless liquid that has higher flammable traits.
Even though it is safe for exterior use on our body, it is hazardous for the environment. So, if you have a bottle of this liquid that you do not want to use anymore, you need to know how to dispose of nail polish remover properly. Without handling them correctly and properly disposing of them, you will not only risk yourself but the environment around you.
That being said, we know how to handle nail polish removers and liquids that contain acetone properly. And we will discuss the proper process in this article. So, read till the end.
Two Proper Ways Of Disposing Nail Polish Remover Or Acetone
While many believe that they can just throw the bottle of nail polish remover into the garbage bin and forget about it, it is far from the right way of disposal.
That will put both you and the lives around you at risk. So, without having to think like that, follow these methods:
Method 1: For Disposing of the Acetone Cleaning Products
Whatever you do, do not put loads of nail polish remover into the garbage bag. Instead, put a load of cotton swabs or balls in the bag first. Then, get some spare bottles. Divide the acetone in those bottles. Keep one of the bottles in the middle of the bag. Fill the bag up with more cotton swabs and balls.
If you are handling these nail polish remover on a regular basis and have to dispose of them regularly, we would recommend getting a bin that has self-closing and opening lids. Those will prevent you from being exposed to the chemical for an extended amount of time.
However, you might not have spare bottles. Instead, you might be stuck with a batch of old nail polish removers. In that case, pack them in a separate container. Drive to your closest hazardous waste facility. You can even opt for a hazardous treatment and recycling facility and hand the box to them.
On that note, if you are handling a large bottle of nail polish remover, it would be a good idea to seal the container properly. Tape it up and ensure that the container is not leaking. Also, keep the container straight. Leaning it might make the acetone seep out.
Lastly, no matter what you are doing, if it includes acetone, always ensure that you have cleaned your hands after handling them. Also, do wear masks when you are handling a large batch of acetone. It would also be a good idea to step outside and get a breath of fresh air after being exposed to them for an extended amount of time.
Method 2: Getting Rid of the Acetone-Soaked Rags Or Swabs
You will end up with loads of cotton swabs and balls soaked with nail polish remover if you are working in a salon or a parlor.
In that case, the best idea would be to keep a separate bin for these rags and swabs. Mark them properly and do not let anyone around the bins light a fire. If possible, you should try to dry up the swabs or rags in a well-ventilated area. But do not keep them in a place where the wind can blow them away.
Nonetheless, make frequent visits to the hazardous waste facility and hand the bins over. Do not keep acetone-soaked rags or cotton in your workplace or home. You will be overexposed to the chemical and might notice plenty of side effects.
What Is Acetone Used For?
The majority of the acetone available in the world is in liquid form. And it is used as a solvent. It has loads of medical, cosmetic, laboratory, and other uses. The liquid is well-known in nail salons. These saloons will even order drums of this liquid. However, the solvent will appear in these industries too:
- Adhesive manufacturing
The carpet adhesives will contain this solvent. And the carpet industries will also order a good chunk of this liquid.
- Printing
Acetone in terms of printing is used as a cleaning solvent. It can clean the mistakes one might have made during a printing process.
- Varnishes and Wood Stains
You will find acetone in varnishing liquids. It is a ubiquitous liquid for households.
- SBR Latex Production
Another industry where acetone is going to see use as a cleaning solvent is the SBR latex production industry.
- Machinery Repair and Manufacture
Just like the printing industry, machine manufactures are going to use acetone as a cleaning solvent.
- Electroplating
The electroplating shops are going to use acetone as a vapor degreaser. It will also be used as a cold-cleaning solvent.
Safety Tips for Acetone Products
There are some safety tips that we would like to share here. These tips will make sure you are safe when handling products such as nail polish remover. And the tips we are specifically talking about are as follows:
- Make sure the area you work with acetone is well-ventilated. If you overexpose yourself to these fumes, you might end up noticing a lot of side effects.
- Do not handle acetone without wearing gloves. It would also be a great idea to wear a mask and goggles, even if you are handling a small amount of acetone.
- Make sure that the surface does not soak up the liquid whenever you plan to work with acetone on top of a surface. Get yourself a water repellent spray if you have to, or cover the upper surface with plastic. And properly dispose of the plastic film after working with acetone.
- Ensure that the place where you are storing acetone is far from fire sources. Acetone is highly flammable, and it can make the whole place burn if it comes in contact with fire.
How To Properly Store Acetone
If you are working in a nail salon, your store might have loads of acetone in the storage space. But are they stored properly? Well, go through this segment and judge it by yourself.
Whenever you are storing acetone in a container, make sure that the container has a tight-fitting lid. If the cover cannot seal the inside properly, the acetone fume will leak, which would not be a good thing.
Additionally, when you are storing these containers, ensure that there are no electrical outlets around. A spark can destroy the whole place. Also, keep them far away from heat-producing sources or stoves.
When your business is storing a considerable amount of acetone, you should contact your local fire department. Install a fire alarm right on top of the storage space. Also, consult with them and get information about how much acetone you should keep in a room.
Can I Pour Acetone Down The Drain?
No! Under no circumstances should you pour acetone down the drain. Acetone is a highly flammable substance.
So, when you are pouring the liquid down the drain, you will put the environment at risk. Also, while pouring the liquid, you will expose yourself to the acetone fume, which can cause effects too.
So, without pouring them down the drain, follow one of the methods that we have described above. That will keep both you and your surroundings safe.
Is It Possible To Reuse Acetone?
In some cases, reusing acetone is a good idea. For example, if you are relying on nail polish remover to clean coins, you should reuse it.
However, do not let the liquid come in contact with your skin. Wear proper protection kits and handle the liquid with utmost care.
Additionally, you should filter out the used acetone to remove all the liquid contaminants. Coffee filters work exceptionally well in this case.
However, do make sure you are disposing of the coffee filter properly. Refer to the second method we have discussed above. That being said, if you are using acetone in nail polish removers, you should not reuse them.
The reused liquid will not have that much strength, and that solution will surely not remove the nail polishes properly. For that reason, we would recommend using fresh acetone when you are using it in nail polish removers.
Final Words
We hope that we were capable of properly showing you how to dispose of nail polish remover properly.
And if you follow the methods we have discussed in this article, we can assure you that both your health and the environment around you will be safe from the hazards of this highly flammable liquid.