Acetone is a colorless, flammable liquid commonly used in many industrial and household products. It occurs naturally in the environment and in your body in small amounts and helps support ketosis.

What Are Its Uses and Benefits?

Acetone is a commonly used chemical that can remove labels, stickers, and tape from glass and metal surfaces. It’s added to some of your favorite cleansing products to cut through dirt, grime, and grease.

Test acetone on a small part of a surface to ensure it won’t cause any damage before using it in larger amounts.

Dermatologists may recommend acetone to cleanse the skin before applying a chemical peel. The acetone helps the peeling agent penetrate the skin more evenly and remove any residual makeup or debris from your skin.

Ketosis

Acetone is also a natural ketone made in our bodies. When we eat fewer carbs, our bodies burn fat for energy. This process creates acetoacetate, which can turn into beta-hydroxybutyrate and acetone.

The presence of acetone indicates that our bodies are in ketosis, using fat instead of carbs for fuel. Ketosis can even be detected in your breath, which helps people on ketogenic (keto) diets or those with diabetes monitor their ketone levels.

Normally, our bodies handle acetone production well. However, too many ketones can cause diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in people with uncontrolled diabetes. Symptoms of DKA may start out mild, but can progress into serious symptoms such as breathing problems and passing out.

For those on a keto diet, acetone helps with metabolism, weight loss, and brain function.

Increasing acetone levels in the brain through a ketogenic diet may help control seizures in people with epilepsy, but more research is needed.

How Do You Use It?

Acetone is most commonly used as a nail polish remover. Here are a few tips on using it that way, or as a household cleanser and stain remover.

Remove Nail Polish

Acetone is the most effective way to remove gel nail polish at home. To start, you will need 100% acetone and cotton balls.

Although not required, you can start by applying a thin layer of petroleum jelly to your cuticle and the surrounding skin. Next, dip cotton balls into acetone and gently rub them on the surface of your nails.

Let the acetone sit on your nails for at least 10 minutes to remove the polish. Gel nail polish may be more difficult to remove.

Remove Stains

Acetone can often remove difficult stains such as paints, adhesives, and some melted plastics. However, it may be too strong to apply to certain fabrics and may also remove color from them.

Acetone can also dissolve acetate fairly easily. Acetate is another chemical commonly used in products. If you are unsure if a piece of clothing contains acetate, do a small patch test on part of the clothing.

If the area dissolves or loses some of its color, it’s not safe to use acetone on it. If the area retains its color and texture, it’s likely safe to apply acetone to the stain.

Cleaning Uses

Acetone can also be used as a household cleaner, though you’ll need to take precautions. Wear gloves, keep the area well-ventilated to prevent intoxication, and avoid mixing acetone with other chemicals like chlorine or hydrogen peroxide.

Here are some ways you can use acetone to clean your home:

• Clean your bathroom: Acetone can remove soap scum and rings in the tub or around shower doors. Dilute acetone with water before rubbing and rinsing the surface.
• Remove stains from mugs: If your mug has a ring of brown inside, use about one teaspoon of acetone to remove it. Wash your mug in the dishwasher or with hot water and soap before using it again.
• Dissolve super glue: Use a small amount of acetone to remove glue from surfaces.
• Remove stickers from glass and metal: Applying a small amount of acetone to a cloth or paper towel can help remove stickers from glass and metal surfaces without causing damage.
• Erase scuffs on laminate or tile floors: Mix three parts water with one part acetone to form a cleaning solution for your floor (except for wooden floors). Apply the solution to a soft cloth to rub away any marks.

Is It Safe?

It is not uncommon to be exposed to small amounts of acetone in your daily life. Acetone often dissolves into the air and is present in groundwater sources. You may be exposed to more acetone than usual if you work around a lot of chemicals or smoke tobacco.

Acetone can be dangerous when inhaled in large amounts over a long period of time. It can irritate your nose, throat, and lungs. Symptoms may include nausea, headache, and fainting.

Acetone can also cause dry, irritated, and cracked skin. In severe cases, long-term exposure may cause kidney, liver, and nerve damage.

Acetone is also highly flammable. Avoid using it near an open flame.

How Do You Choose an Acetone Product?

Technical-grade acetone contains the highest level of toxicity. It is not safe for personal care use, like removing nail polish. Instead, it is typically used in industrial situations to clean or degrease large machines.

ACS-grade acetone (or reagent) is purer and safer than technical grade. This grade can be used for medical procedures and pharmaceuticals.