how to clean sticky resin molds
Molds are a valuable tool that may help you shape and harden your resin, and they can be used whether you are making jewelry out of resin, coasters out of resin, or any other form of resin craft. However, it may be very frustrating when your molds become dirty and full with dirt, debris, and particles of remaining resin that do not seem to come off no matter how hard you scrub them. The good news is that cleaning up your resin molds is straightforward provided that you utilize the appropriate procedures and tools. In this piece, we will walk you through the most effective method for cleaning your molds as well as removing resin that has become embedded. After that, we will provide you with some guidance on how to properly maintain and prepare your molds so that the finished products of your resin projects continue to be pristine and glossy.
Craft projects are always enjoyable and creative, and they allow you to show your artistic abilities and plans even when you’re working from home with only a few tools and simple materials. And one of these instruments that is currently riding the wave of popularity is the resin mold.
Crafting with epoxy clay requires the use of resin molds since they make it possible to readily create objects of a variety of shapes.
However, if you have never worked with this material before, you might run into one important issue: how to clean silicone resin molds and how to get them ready for use. If you have never worked with this material before, you might run into one significant complication. Is merely rinsing them with water enough to clean them?
How to Clean Silicone Molds For Resin Craft Projects?
In the event that you have ever dealt with epoxy resin, you are aware of how fascinating the finished products are to examine.
On the other hand, rather than congratulating yourself on a job well done, you will most likely have to spend a significant amount of time cleaning the sticky resin residue off of the silicone molds.
Because of this, quite a few people who make things at home worry how to properly clean out resin molds. In point of fact, you need to be aware that the procedure for cleaning may be different depending on the circumstances!
As you can see, cleaning silicone molds can be done in one of three distinct ways, depending on the condition in which the molds are currently found. Therefore, in most cases, you are required to know:
- How to clean resin molds before using
- How to clean stick resin molds
- How to clean cured resin from silicone molds
Check out the detailed descriptions of all three approaches that are provided below. You can be confident that your molds will always be in an optimal state thanks to those clear instructions, and they will be ready for work whenever you feel the urge to go to work.
In addition to this, we would like to bring to your attention the fact that epoxy clay has a propensity to set very quickly, and once it does so, it is extremely challenging to remove. It is imperative that you clean your molds immediately following the completion of any craft projects that you have been working on.
In addition, the quality of the cleaning that you do on your molds before you use them to cast epoxy resin projects is of critical importance. Surprised?
How to Clean Silicone Molds Before Using Resin?
When working with epoxy resin, it is essential to clean your silicone molds not only after they have been used but also before you use them again in order to maintain their cleanliness. Additionally, prior to beginning any kind of work with them, it is essential to clean them!
When you store your molds, there will be dust on them and inside of them regardless of whether or not they are sealed in a container or otherwise protected from the elements. In addition to this, the molds are susceptible to accumulating minute particles of dirt.
As a consequence of this, once you begin pouring epoxy resin into your products, they will include the dust and dirt particles that were previously outside of them! That is most certainly not the effect that you were hoping to see take place.
Because of this, before you begin utilizing your molds for your crafting projects, you need to always make sure that they are completely free of any debris and dirt. Thankfully, carrying out such a task is not difficult at all.
Molds made of silicone and resin are easily cleaned with a typical cosmetic brush or any other type of soft brush, such as those used for painting or applying makeup. In point of fact, it is a strategy that is both quite simple and readily available.
It is even unnecessary to purchase a new brush because you may use any soft brush you already have laying around instead. Simply make sure that everything is spotless and dry before using it.
- Rub the dust and dried residue with the brush in a gentle motion.
- The surface of each mold can be made smooth with soapy water, which will also prevent dust from clinging to the surface.
- If you place blu-tack or the adhesive side of tape on the surface of resin molds, it will remove any dust, glitter, or residue that may be on the mold’s surface.
When you wash your molds in water containing soap, you need to exercise extreme caution if the water is too hot. Because of the high temperature, your molds will have a dull appearance, which could have a detrimental impact on the finished product of your crafting endeavor.
Regarding the usage of blue tack, while it is possible to do so in the vast majority of situations, it is in no way appropriate for the holographic molds because it could cause them to lose their impact.
How to Clean Sticky Resin Molds?
What is the best way to remove sticky resin from your molds? When dealing with epoxy or other comparable materials that require molds, one of the most common challenges faced by do-it-yourself craftsmen is overcoming this obstacle.
When the resin has had time to harden, it is a herculean task to remove it and bring it back to its original state. It is without a doubt a royal pain in the rear… You would probably be taken aback to learn that quite a few folks give up after a few unsuccessful attempts and wind up purchasing a new mold.
But there is no need for alarm, folks. If the resin in your molds is tacky and won’t cure no matter what you do or how hard you try, you should attempt the methods that we present for you below. We recommend that you give them a shot.
Each of these things will work to make it simpler for you to remove the resin.
Molds need to be cleaned of their sticky resin using a simple process.
Place Your Molds Into the Freezer
It’s kind of like how glue works as an example. When it has become more rigid, you will find that it is much simpler to peel off when it has been frozen. Therefore, to remove the tacky resin from the molds, simply place them in the freezer.
Simply placing the container in the freezer for a few hours will be more than enough time for the residual resin to solidify and become easy to remove.
This is everyone’s go-to strategy, and it’s also the most effective.
Before you put your molds in the freezer, there is only one very important detail that you need to keep in mind: make sure that you wrap each mold in a different bag so that it does not contaminate the food in any way!
After the larger chunks of resin have been removed from the mold, you can use sticky tape or other techniques to clear the mold of tiny particles, or you can wash the molds for the most thorough cleaning.
Choose To Use Baby Wipes
This is the second method that we discovered to be helpful for addressing the issue of resin in molds. Baby wipes, in their regular form, are an excellent tool for cleaning resin molds as well as silicone molds.
Having said that, before you can use them, you will first need to scrape off the majority of the resin.
After this stage has been completed, all that is left to do is clean the molds by wiping them down with wet baby wipes and then repeating the process with new wipes until the molds are spotless. Make certain that the nooks and crannies are also cleaned.
Use Acetone
There are advantages and disadvantages to using this strategy. On the one hand, it is quite effective, and on the other, acetone is a fast-acting solvent that removes tacky resin. On the other side, it is not nearly as accessible as other things. In addition, acetone is a chemical, which means that while you are working with this liquid, you should exercise caution and make sure to use protective gloves.
As far as the process of cleaning goes, all you have to do is spray some acetone on the molds that are sticky.
After allowing them to sit there for some time to break up the resin, wipe it down with a soft cloth that has been soaked in acetone. This solvent has the ability to break down resin, making it much easier to remove.
You will be able to get rid of the sticky and old resin residue pretty easily by employing the simplest methods if you apply the advice and life hacks that are provided in this article.
How Should Molds Made of Silicone Be Cleaned After Being Used with Resin?
After you have finished working on your craft project, the resin in the molds will frequently start to harden and become unusable. The most common cause of this error is forgetting to clean the molds and remove any sticky residue that may have accumulated on them.
But in any case, the problem that needs to be solved is the same: how should used resin molds be cleaned?
At this point, we are pleased to inform you that it will be a lot simpler for you to wipe up the resin once it has dried, also known as hardened.
After the resin inside the molds has hardened, there are a few helpful and straightforward ways to clean the molds themselves.
Use Tape Or the Blu-Tack
In all honesty, this is the same item that we make use of in order to clean the molds before we put them to use. You only need to follow a few easy steps:
- Blu-tack or paper tape, with the adhesive side facing out, should be rolled into a ball.
- Using a rag, clean the interior of the resin molds.
- To clean the flat sections, just stick the tool on some flat surfaces and peel off the protective covering.
You can accomplish this task with the help of a lint roller or any number of other gadgets that perform the same task!
99% Isopropyl Alcohol
If the resin has hardened and it is challenging to remove it from the molds, you can try spraying the mold with some isopropyl alcohol that has a concentration of 99%. Many of those who have put this strategy to the test have reported that it can work wonders!
Water with Soap that is Warm
Another helpful method is to scrub the molds with a gentle sponge, some warm soapy water, and the complete removal of any residue from the resin.
When it comes to cleaning the molds, the only thing you need to keep in mind is that you should never use steel wool, a toothbrush, or scouring sponges.
These tools have the potential to damage the surface of the mold, which could have a negative impact on the quality of the resin objects you create in the future.
Therefore, when you have washed your molds in accordance with the directions, just dry them with the use of paper towels and then store them in a place that is free of dust, is cool, and is dry.
You are now aware of the proper way to clean your resin molds, which will allow you to keep them free of dust and grime, as well as ensure that the surface of the molds remains smooth and unmarred by scratches.
How Can You Ensure That Your Molds Are Prepared For Work?
Even if you have already washed and cleaned your silicone or plastic molds, it is still vital to prepare them with some additional materials to ensure that they are thoroughly clean and ready to be put to use.
Some people accomplish this by misting or spraying alcohol on the area. Before using the molds, they first cover them with one of these products and then use the molds. By doing so, they make it possible to considerably limit the likelihood of bubbles forming on the side of the craft product that will be exposed to the mold.
But hold on a second, you could counter that a heat gun placed on top can quickly eliminate any bubbles that have formed.
They certainly can, but not on the underside when they are in the mold! If you do find that you are getting bubbles under your project, then this solution can be beneficial for that activity.
So, what are you going to do? In most cases, the simple act of warming your resin will assist in the disappearance of bubbles, and as a result, you may not necessarily need to select a method that involves spraying. On the other hand, in the event that you decide to utilize alcohol mist or spray on your molds, you need to exercise extreme caution!
Always check to see that there is plenty of ventilation in the room you are in, and additionally, ensure that you are donning a mask or a respirator.
Also, you need to exercise extreme caution if you go near your molds while they are still sprayed with alcohol mist or spray after you have applied either of those substances.
Because you are well aware that alcohol is very combustible, bringing a fire into a room where there is alcohol presents an extremely high risk of the house catching fire.
You can use a silicone release spray as a replacement to alcohol in order to apply it onto your molds before you pour in resin. This can be done before you pour in the resin.
It only requires a mild spraying onto the molds, followed by a brief wait of around one minute before the resin is poured in. When the resin has hardened and you are ready to demold it, this procedure will be helpful since it will make the resin much simpler to remove from the mold.
How should molds be stored once they have been used?
Dust and dirt are less likely to be able to enter the box in which your molds are kept and settle on them, which will reduce the likelihood that the project will be successful in the long run. Because of this, you need to make sure that the molds for your crafting resin are constantly stored in the correct manner.
After you have used them and ensured that they have been thoroughly dried, you can then begin to consider how you are going to store them.
We believe that the most effective course of action would be to provide them with a generous dose of silicone release spray. After that, set these to the side so they may dry out once again.
This uncomplicated process can be of great assistance in conserving your molds and assisting in the extension of their useful lives.
The next thing you need to do is locate an appropriate tank for storing your molds in so that you can move on to the next phase. To properly store your molds, we recommend that you invest in a set of containers such as sandwich bags or ziplock bags.
Put the dried molds into these tanks one at a time, then squeeze out as much air as you can before sealing the container.
If the molds are stored in a way that causes them to become deformed, you should make every effort to ensure that they are kept in a flat position so that they do not take on the shape of the container in which they are kept.
After that, you can arrange them in an orderly fashion on a shelf, where they can remain for a very considerable amount of time.
These are the tips and tricks that will make your life easier when it comes to properly storing and cleaning your resin craft molds at home.
It will be much simpler for you to keep your molds in the appropriate and properly operating state now that you know what causes them to become dirty and how you should clean the old resin off; as a result, you will be able to extend their lifespan and the amount of time they are of service to you.
FAQs
If the molds are made of plastic, can they be cleaned with warm water and soap?
If the resin is still soft and has not yet set, then the answer is yes; they can do it. However, if it is difficult, you will need to use more powerful chemicals.
Is it feasible to clean the dust that has become embedded in the resin craft things that I’ve made?
It is not possible to get rid of this dust. You have no choice except to start over with the item in question.
Can I just use hot water to re-moisten the hardened resin that’s already in the mold?
It’s not very likely to happen. Even if the resin softens a little bit, though, you will still need to use chemicals to entirely remove it.