If you are using a container, you don’t need to use paper towels. The container must be deep enough to submerge the item.

If you placed your item into a container, fill the container with rubbing alcohol or acetone-based nail polish remover. If you have a manicure or sensitive skin, wear plastic or vinyl gloves for this step. Rubbing alcohol and acetone-based nail polish remover can both release fumes. Work in a well-ventilated area to prevent headaches.

If you are soaking the item, cover the container with a tight-fitting lid so that the solution doesn’t evaporate.

If you used acetone, check your item after 15 to 30 minutes. It is much stronger than rubbing alcohol and will work much faster as a result.

If you soaked the item, just open the container and lift the item out.

Work quickly with acetone; if it dries, you won’t be able to remove the epoxy. If the rubbing alcohol or acetone dries before you finish removing the epoxy, pour more of your solution over the affected area and keep working.

Denatured alcohol is a type of fuel, which you can find in camping supply stores. For more stubborn patches of residue, use a steel wool pad instead of a rag.

This is exactly like washing a dish by hand.

This works best for epoxy glue and epoxy resin, but it may work for other types of epoxy too. If you don’t have a steamer basket, you’ll have to place the entire item into the pot. Use enough water to submerge the item. Make sure that the pot you use won’t be used again for cooking purposes.

If you don’t have a steamer basket, skip this step.

If you don’t have a steamer basket, just place the entire item into the pot. Make sure that it’s completely submerged. [9] X Research source

Make sure that the lid fits tightly; you don’t want any of that steam to escape. If you didn’t use a steamer basket, wait about 5 minutes instead. [11] X Research source

Move quickly onto the next step before the item cools.

Oven mitts will work just fine for this, but you may be able to maneuver the item better with welding gloves. A pot holder or towel may also work. Work quickly; the epoxy will be harder to remove as it cools. [14] X Research source If the epoxy hardens before you remove it, place the item back into the pot for another 5 minutes or so.