Can You Heat Up Acetone in the Microwave?

The nails you got a few weeks ago are starting to break, and you are ready to say goodbye to them.

You want to take matters into your own hands because you can’t book a nail salon appointment to have them removed.

It can be difficult. You know that your nail technician uses warm acetone to cure your nails. You pour some acetone into a bowl, put it in the microwave, and forget about it.

Let’s pause!

If you hit that Start button, you could end up like the nail tech who had severe burns on 15% of her body after the acetone she was heating up in the microwave exploded into flames.

Yes, you can heat up acetone in the microwave, but I would caution that it may not be the best method for heating it. 

If you want to try heating it up in the microwave, read this article.

What Is Acetone?

A sweet-smelling, organic solvent called acetone is also known as 2-propanone, dimethyl ketone, and alpha-keto propane.

We aren’t talking about the no-pesticides kind of “organic” here, we are talking about the carbon-based substances. There are a variety of uses for acetone outside of nail salons.

In a home improvement project, you might have used pure acetone as a varnish remover or paint thinner.

For the manufacture of a wide range of products that include artificial fabrics and pharmaceuticals, it is essential.

It’s a fun fact that even your body makes and uses small amounts of acetone.

When you burn body fat, your immune system works to break down the fatty acids in your body and turn them into chemicals that you can use for energy.

You guessed it, acetone is one of those compounds.

Heating Acetone To Remove Acrylic Nails

Is it possible to heat acetone in the microwave to help remove my nails? Acetone can be very dangerous, and microwaving it can lead to serious injury or death.

The mist of vapor that builds up behind the microwave’s door comes from acetone being quickly evaporated in the microwave.

As the microwave runs, it emits sparks plus flammable vapors which may put your kitchen in flames.

Fortunately, there are other ways to heat acetone that don’t require you to risk your life or limb. Don’t forget to read for our hot tips.

Acetone Safety Tips

acetone can be dangerous if it is used too much. Before you open your bottle of acetone, you should be aware of any safety labels or directions printed on the bottle.

We cannot replace a safety label with any advice we give here. There are some general tips to remember when you go to the nail salon at home.

• Make sure to use this solvent in a well-ventilated space because acetone fumes are hazardous to inhale and are also flammable.
• Don’t mix acetone with other chemicals.
• acetone should be stored away from sunlight and other heat sources. If you want to keep it in its original container, keep the lid closed.
• Wash hands immediately.
• If you have acetone in your eyes, you need to flush them thoroughly with water for 15-20 minutes. Don’t attempt to remove contact lenses until after you’re done.
• You probably don’t need to be told this, but never ingest acetone. It doesn’t taste good, that’s what we promise.
• It’s a good idea to avoid skin contact with acetone because it can cause irritation and dry skin. It takes a long time to get your acrylics off if you soak your nails for a long time.
• If you want to speed up the process, you can use a nail buffer on your acrylics to remove the top layer of polish, which will help the acetone soak in faster.

Refer to a safety data sheet for more information, or consult your product’s safety label.

If you are worried about an incident of potentially hazardous exposure to acetone, please call your local poison control center.

How Can I Heat Acetone Safely?

There are several methods for heating acetone that are much safer than using a microwave.

• You will need a glass jar with a lid and a large bowl of warm water for the first method. The acetone should be filled in the glass jar with as much acetone as possible.
• Don’t screw the cap too tight because water can get in, but keep it loose. Once the acetone is warm, place the jar in the water and let it sit.
• The warmth of your body allows another method to do the job. There are aluminum foil and cotton balls for you to get.
• Place the cotton on the nail with acetone and wrap it in aluminum foil to keep it in place and retain body heat.
• For a few minutes, you can try running the acetone bottle under warm water.

Some online guides suggest warming acetone by floating a plastic baggie full of the solvent in warm water.

If you follow these instructions, you could end up with messy results, including the plastic usually used for sandwich baggies.

What Kind of Bowl Is It Possible To Put Acetone In?

You need a container to pour acetone in so you can soak your nails, but what kind? If you have an old takeout container in your cupboard, you might not be able to cut it with acetone.

We recommend that you use a glass or aluminum bowl as acetone doesn’t affect these materials. If you want a plastic container with your heart set on it, look for polypropylene.

If you want to buy a dedicated container for your acetone bath without breaking the bank, you can use cheap plastic containers made of this plastic.

Just to be safe, don’t use the bowl that you poured acetone in for cooking or eating.

Store it for the next time your nails need a soak, and make sure you have cleaned and dried it thoroughly.

Is It Possible To Microwave Nail Polish?

As with acetone, you should keep nail polish away from all heat sources. A lot of nail polish contains acetone and other highly flammable chemicals.

Conclusion

Is it possible to heat acetone in the microwave? Acetone should not be heated in the microwave because it is dangerous.

If you need to heat acetone, you can use any of the safe alternatives.

We hope that we have provided enough information to convince you not to microwave acetone! We wish you good luck with all of your nail-related endeavors.