Home / Ingredient Checker
Free toolWhat's in your hand cleaner?
Paste the ingredient list from the tub at your sink. We'll flag the solvents that strip your skin — in plain English.
Runs in your browser — nothing you paste is sent anywhere. The checker looks for the solvents listed below; it's a guide, not a lab test.
The solvents we check for
- Kerosene — A petroleum fuel. Dissolves grease fast — and the natural oils in your skin with it.
- Mineral spirits — Paint thinner. Strips skin lipids and leaves hands tight and dry.
- Petroleum distillates — A family of refinery solvents. Common in 'heavy duty' cleaners.
- Naphtha — A volatile petroleum solvent used in lighter fluid and degreasers.
- Stoddard solvent — A dry-cleaning and parts-washing solvent.
- Isoparaffins — Refined hydrocarbon solvents (often listed as C9-C13 isoparaffin).
- Hydrocarbon solvents — Petroleum-based solvents listed by chemical family.
- Toluene — An aromatic solvent used in paint thinners and adhesives.
- Xylene — An aromatic solvent used in thinners and parts cleaners.
- Acetone — Nail-polish remover. Very drying on skin.
- Glycol ethers (2-butoxyethanol) — A strong solvent common in industrial cleaners.
- Turpentine — A pine-derived paint solvent. Harsh and irritating on skin.
Questions
How do I know if my hand cleaner has solvents?
Read the ingredient list or the Safety Data Sheet. Look for kerosene, mineral spirits, petroleum distillates, naphtha, Stoddard solvent, isoparaffins, toluene, xylene, acetone or 2-butoxyethanol. Paste the list into the checker above and it will flag them for you.
Why are solvents bad for your hands?
Solvents dissolve grease by breaking down fats and oils — including the natural lipids that hold your skin's outer barrier together. Washing with them many times a day leaves skin dry and cracked.
Is pumice a solvent?
No. Pumice is a mild abrasive (grit) that scrubs grime off. It isn't a solvent, so the checker doesn't flag it.
Want a hand cleaner with none of these?
MacDaddy's Pro Line is 100% solvent-free.