Silicone Remover Before Painting – or Isopropanol, Acetone, Brake Cleaner?

Silicone remover before painting is not an optional step: a single fingerprint, a trace of polish in the glossary or wax from the car wash is enough for the paint not to wet that spot and form small craters. Isopropanol in the glossary, brake cleaner, acetone or thinners are often already in the garage – but they are made for other jobs and either dissolve too little or attack the surface. A silicone remover is designed specifically for paint preparation.

Good to know: this is about silicone remover for preparing car paint, i.e. removing invisible silicone and grease residue from paint and metal. If you want to remove old silicone joints in the bathroom or kitchen, you need a different product – GLOSSDOC Silicone Remover is not made for that.

In this article you'll learn why degreasing before painting matters so much, what the household alternatives can and cannot do, how long to wait after using silicone remover and how to use it properly on car paint, metal and wheels.

The most important agents compared:

Silicone remover before painting: why at all?

Paint only adheres to a surface it can wet completely. Silicone, wax, oil and grease have a very low surface tension: the fresh paint pulls back from these spots and round craters form, so-called fish eyes. On top of that come adhesion problems – the coat holds at first but peels later.

The sources of such residue are many: car care products containing silicone, polish and wax residue, cockpit spray, hand cream, fingerprints or oil from compressed air. Many of them are invisible. According to the product description, GLOSSDOC Silicone Remover removes silicone, oil, grease, wax and release agents without residue, improving the adhesion of primers and paints. More on the term in the glossary.

Silicone remover or isopropanol?

Isopropanol (propan-2-ol) is an alcohol that dissolves many greases and evaporates quickly. It is good for cleaning glass or for checking after polishing whether the surface is free of polishing oils. On its own, however, alcohol is only partly effective against silicones and waxes – exactly the residue that causes the most problems when painting.

A silicone remover therefore combines several solvents. According to the safety data sheet, GLOSSDOC Silicone Remover contains hydrocarbons alongside propan-2-ol, which specifically dissolve non-polar residue such as silicone and wax. So isopropanol can add a step, but it does not replace silicone remover before painting.

Silicone remover or brake cleaner?

Brake cleaner is made to flush oil and brake fluid off metal parts quickly. Depending on the product it contains very aggressive solvents that can soften plastic, rubber and paint, and some types leave residue. It is therefore not a good choice on painted or sanded surfaces – and not intended for the final clean right before painting. On bare metal, for example when degreasing a heavily oiled spot, it can be a first step. Silicone remover still follows.

Silicone remover or acetone and thinners?

Acetone and cellulose thinners dissolve not only grease but also many paints and plastics. On car paint or plastic parts they can soften the surface, dull it or leave marks. Acetone also evaporates so fast that loosened dirt is often just spread around instead of wiped off. Thinners are for cleaning tools and spray guns, not for the surface that is about to be painted.

You’ll find a quick overview of all agents in the table at the start of this article.

Making silicone remover yourself? Household alternatives compared

Recipes for mixing your own silicone remover from isopropanol, methylated spirits or benzine are doing the rounds online. The problem: a silicone remover works through a balanced combination of solvents. According to the safety data sheet, GLOSSDOC Silicone Remover contains hydrocarbons (C7–C9) and propan-2-ol – the hydrocarbons dissolve non-polar residue such as silicone and wax, the alcohol polar contamination. A home mix only hits that balance by chance, and you only notice when craters appear while painting.

• Washing-up liquid and water: good for the rough pre-clean, but surfactants remain as a film unless you rinse thoroughly. Degrease with silicone remover afterwards anyway.
• Methylated spirits and isopropanol: dissolve grease, but silicone and wax only to a limited extent.
• White spirit / benzine: dissolves grease and oil, but is not designed for paint preparation. Test on plastic in a hidden spot first.
• Cellulose thinners and acetone: attack paint and plastic – see above.

Household products are fine for the pre-clean; for the last step before painting, use a proper silicone remover. On a repair it’s a matter of minutes – a mistake costs you a whole new paint build-up.

Using silicone remover properly

1. Rough clean: wash and dry the surface first so you don't spread road dirt.

2. Degrease once before sanding: that way you don't sand silicone and wax residue into the surface.

3. Sand and remove the sanding dust.

4. Degrease again: apply the silicone remover to the surface and wipe it off with a clean, lint-free microfibre cloth before it dries. The two-cloth method has proven itself: one cloth to apply, a second, dry one to wipe off. That way you pick up the loosened dirt instead of just spreading it.

5. Let it flash off and do not touch: after that, do not touch the surface with bare hands, not even when masking.

Important: do not use on freshly painted surfaces. Only degrease a primer once it has fully dried and been sanded. No silicone remover goes on the surface between base coat in the glossary and clear coat. Work in well-ventilated areas, keep away from ignition sources and do not inhale the spray mist.

Silicone remover: how long to wait before painting?

According to the product description, GLOSSDOC Silicone Remover evaporates quickly and without residue. Paint as soon as the surface is completely dry: no streaks, no wet sheen, no solvent smell right at the surface. In corners, edges and recesses – such as the wheel barrel or between the spokes – this takes longer than on smooth surfaces. In the cold, solvents evaporate more slowly. The information on the label takes priority.

You should not wait too long either: the longer the surface stays open, the more dust and grease from the surroundings settles on it again. Ideally, start with the primer or paint straight after flashing off.

Silicone remover for car paint, metal and wheels

According to the product page, GLOSSDOC Silicone Remover is suitable both for bare metal and for sanded car paint when preparing a repair or a respray – and for body panels and wheels too. It is especially important before spot repair in the glossary and smart repair work, because even the smallest residue on a small repair area shows straight away. It also removes sticker and label residue.

How degreasing fits into the whole paint build-up is shown in the guides Paint your wheels yourself like a pro and 2K clear coat spray can: application, pot life, shelf life. All preparation products are in the Preparation category.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use silicone remover on plastic?

According to the category description, GLOSSDOC Silicone Remover removes grease, silicone and care product residue from paint, metal and plastic. With sensitive or unknown plastics, test it on a hidden spot first.

How can I tell there is still silicone on the surface?

Often only when painting: the paint pulls back and forms craters. That is why you degrease every surface as a precaution, even if it looks clean.

What if fish eyes still appear?

Stop spraying. Let the paint cure, sand the spot, degrease thoroughly again and rebuild it. More coats over fish eyes do not hide the problem. Causes and fixes in detail: Fish eyes in paint.

Silicone remover or benzine, methylated spirits, cellulose thinners?

Silicone remover. Methylated spirits are too weak against silicone and wax, benzine is not designed for paint preparation, and cellulose thinners attack paint and plastic. They can help with the rough pre-clean, but they don’t replace the last step before painting.

What is silicone remover made of?

A blend of solvents. According to the safety data sheet, GLOSSDOC Silicone Remover contains hydrocarbons (C7–C9) and propan-2-ol, i.e. isopropanol.

How long does silicone remover keep?

The shelf life is stated on the can. Store it cool, dry and tightly closed; like all pressurised containers, protect it from heat above 50 °C and direct sunlight.

Is a normal microfibre cloth enough?

Yes, if it is clean and lint-free and was washed without fabric softener. Softener leaves a film of its own. How to care for cloths properly is explained in the guide Washing microfibre cloths.