How Not to Handle Acetone

The front of our home has a beautiful set of windows looking into the living room. I call this my "Christmas Tree Window" as this is obviously where the Christmas tree must go every year. For some reason, sections of this window has pieces of opaque glass glued onto the outside. Someone at some point tried to chip it off, but still, sections remain. And it bugs the hell out of me. So one weekend I decided to arm myself with some acetone and a flat head screwdriver and pry those suckers off.

Problem number one: I purchased acetone in a large metal can. Pouring acetone from the container directly onto a window wasn't going to happen due to spout placement, and soaking a rag wasn't getting the job done.

Problem number two: I neglected to arm myself with protective eye wear and quickly realized that shards of glass would soon be flying through the air. Should have thought that one through.

Problem number three: There was a large brown spider who had set up camp next to one of the windows. Yeeeaash!

So in my infinite wisdom, I toss on a pair of sunglasses and yell at my husband to bring me a red solo cup. He obliges, and I promptly fill half the cup with acetone. I begin to pour it in between the window and glued on glass. It makes an excellent vessel for pouring until I notice dripping. More dripping than what I'm pouring. Dripping all over my flip flops. I jump back and exclaim to my husband, "There's a hole in the cup! You brought me one with a hole in it!"

When in crisis, your first reaction should be to blame your husband.

The poor man looked at me with half pity and more patience and said, "Acetone eats plastic, dear."
Oh. Crap. Make no mistake, I am very lucky to be married to this man.

In the end I used the metal cap from the acetone can to pour the product, which ate enough of the glue away so that I could slowly pry the glass from the window- no shattering occurred, my eyes were not impaled, and that spider stayed in his corner so long as I stayed in mine. I also threw the red cup into the front yard, where the bottom promptly fell off and it stayed for two days until I realized I was a grownup who needed to clean up her mess lest the neighbors think we are trash throwing partiers. Which we are. But never in the front yard...