Have you ever found yourself about to start your DIY or painting project and, after scurrying around the house looking for ‘painting clothes,’ deciding to just risk doing the project in whatever you’re wearing? Don’t worry, you’re not the only one to mess up your clothes that way.
The advice below can help you to get those annoying paint stains out of your clothes and help them to look as good as new. First, to see how best to remove these stains, it may help to understand the different types of paint.
Different Paint Types
It is important before trying the methods below to identify the type of paint that has stained your fabric. It is also important to factor in the type of fabric that has been stained; information on that is shared further in the article.
There are three main types of paint. The first is oil-based, a more robust paint that is durable for places such as door frames or skirting boards. You can usually tell a paint is oil-based because it gives off a very potent smell. Typically, you need paint thinner or turpentine to help remove this paint. It’s best to try removing this paint while it’s still wet.
The second type of paint is water-based, which is generally used for painting walls and plaster. This paint is known for being simple to work with and also smells less potent than oil-based paint. Water-based paint isn’t flammable, which makes it much safer to use indoors.
The third and last type of paint we will be discussing is acrylic paint. This paint is often used to create art projects, both on canvas or on another medium like sculpture. To remove acrylic paint, it is crucial to try when it’s still wet. It is harder to remove when it is dry.
Removing Oil-Based Paint
Before beginning these steps, please double-check the paint can, to see which type of remover is suggested to get stains out of fabric. This will usually be paint thinner or turpentine, but it is important to check the manufacturer’s instructions. Also note that removing oil-based paint with paint thinner or turpentine should ideally take place outside, or at least in a well-ventilated area, due to the potent smells of these substances.
Do not use paint thinner or turpentine if your clothing is made from synthetic material or delicate fabrics. This method works best on fabric made from cotton; on other fabrics, paint thinner and turpentine can cause the dye to run or can damage the fabric itself.
1. Try to remove as much extra paint off as you can (assuming the paint is still wet). Use a utensil, perhaps a spoon, to scoop as much wet paint off as possible, rather than a cloth that will spread the stain. If the paint is dry, then try to scratch off the paint if possible.
2. Place paper towels against the stain and turn the fabric inside out. The paper towels will prevent the stain from leaking on to other parts of the clothing.
Before beginning step three, test the paint thinner or turpentine on a discreet part of the fabric to make sure the color of the clothing is not damaged.
3. Find a sponge or cloth to dip in the solution, then repeatedly dab the stain with the paint thinner or turpentine until no more paint comes off the fabric. Once the stain appears to be gone from this side of the fabric, turn the clothing inside out again and dab the stain from the other side.
Before beginning step four, test the nail polish or rubbing alcohol on a discreet part of the fabric to make sure the color of the clothing is not damaged.
4. Use a small amount of nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol on the stain if any remains. Use a tool (such as the rough scouring pad on a sponge or an old toothbrush) to rub the nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol gently on the stain to get rid of any paint left over.
5. Put the item of clothing in the laundry (using cold water only).
6. Do not place the clothing in the dryer if the stain remains. Instead repeat the steps above and then dry once the paint is completely removed.
Removing Water-Based Paint
1. Try to remove as much extra paint off as you can (assuming the paint is still wet). Use a utensil, perhaps a spoon, to scoop as much wet paint off as possible, rather than a cloth that will spread the stain. If the paint is dry, then try to scratch off the paint if possible.
2. Turn the fabric inside out and pour warm water over the back, where the stain is.
3. Grab a cup of cold water and add in a tablespoon of detergent or dish soap.
4. Find a sponge or cloth to dip in this solution, and repeatedly dab the stain with the solution until no more paint comes off.
5. Put the item of clothing in the laundry (using cold water only).
Before beginning step six, test the nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol on a discreet part of the fabric to make sure the color of the clothing is not damaged.
6. If the fabric is still stained after step five then find either nail polish remover or some form of rubbing alcohol. Use this and a sponge or cloth to dab the stain again.
7. Put the item of clothing back into the laundry (once again using cold water only).
Removing Acrylic Based Paint
1. Try to remove as much extra paint off as you can (assuming the paint is still wet). Use a utensil, perhaps a spoon, to scoop as much wet paint off as possible, rather than a cloth that will spread the stain. If the paint is dry, then try to scratch off the paint if possible.
2. Turn the fabric inside out and pour warm water over the back, where the stain is.
3. Grab a cup of cold water and add in a tablespoon of detergent or dish soap.
4. Find a sponge or cloth to dip in the solution and then repeatedly dab the stain with the solution until no more paint comes off.
Before beginning step five, test the nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol on a discreet part of the fabric to make sure the color of the clothing is not damaged.
5. If the fabric is still stained after step four, find either nail polish remover or some form of rubbing alcohol. Use this and a sponge or cloth to dab the stain again.
6. If there is still paint remaining after steps four and five, then try pouring a type of paintbrush cleaner (such as Windsor & Newton) onto the stain and leaving this for ten minutes. Then, like in step one, try to remove the extra paint with the same instrument as before.
7. Put the item of clothing into the laundry (using cold water only).
8. Do not dry the clothing in the dryer if the stain remains. Instead repeat the steps above and then dry once the paint is completely removed.
Removing Spray Paint
It is important to check whether the spray paint is oil-based or water-based paint. Depending on the type of paint, the instructions for how to remove the paint stain will change. However, the removal of both paint types is detailed below.
1. Using a sponge, cloth, or some paper towels, dab the stain and try to remove as much of the pain as you can.
Before beginning step two, test the hairspray, turpentine, paint thinner or WD-40 on a discreet part of the fabric to make sure the color of the clothing is not damaged.
2. If it is oil-based spray paint, go outside or into a well-ventilated area. Then soak the stain in a product such as hairspray, turpentine, paint thinner or WD-40 for ten minutes. Then use a tool, such as a fork or spoon (avoid using a cloth so it does not spread the stain) to remove as much of the paint as possible.
OR
If it is water-based paint, grab a cup of cold water and add in a tablespoon of detergent or dish soap. Then find a sponge, cloth, or old toothbrush to dip in the solution and then repeatedly dab or gently rub the stain with the solution until no more paint comes off.
3. After you have taken as much paint off as possible, rub the stain with a dry cloth.
4. Repeat the first three steps until no more paint is being removed.
5. Put the item of clothing into the laundry (using cold water only).
6. Do not dry the clothing in the dryer if the stain remains. Instead repeat the steps above and then dry once the paint is completely removed.
Before beginning step seven, test the nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol on a discreet part of the fabric to make sure the color of the clothing is not damaged.
7. If the paint was dry or is still not coming out of the clothing, use nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol. Pour this onto the stain and use an old toothbrush or a rough cloth to gently rub the area.
8. Once step seven has been completed, repeat steps five and six.
Removing Fabric Paint
A crucial thing to note when trying to remove fabric paint is not to apply any heat on the fabric. This will set the stain and make it very difficult to remove. To avoid this, please do not use hot water, an iron or any method of drying this piece of clothing until the paint has been removed.
1. The first step is to try and remove as much extra paint off as you can (assuming the paint is still wet). Use something like a spoon to scoop the wet paint off, rather than a cloth that will spread the stain.
2. Put the item of clothing into the laundry (using cold water only).
3. If neither step one nor step two has worked, place a cloth under the fabric as you lay it down as flat as possible (please ensure the cloth is under the paint stain so it can absorb any excess liquid).
4. Try to scratch off or use a tool to scrape as much paint off as you can.
Before beginning step five, test the denatured alcohol on a discreet part of the fabric to make sure the color of the clothing is not damaged.
5. This step will used varying amounts of denatured alcohol, dependent on the size of the paint stain. If the stain is small, then you should only need to apply a few droplets of denatured alcohol to the stain. If you would consider it a big stain, then it is best to saturate a clean cloth with the denatured alcohol and place it over the stain. Leave the alcohol to soak for a few minutes.
6. Find a dry cloth and dab the paint gently to remove the alcohol. Be careful not to run the stain as this may spread the paint further.
7. Repeat steps five and six until as much of the paint is off as possible.
8. Put the item of clothing into the laundry (using cold water only).
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What Impact Does the Removal Have on Different Fabrics?
The methods above generally work for linen, cotton, and synthetic clothes. However, it is always worth noting that when trying to remove paint from more delicate fabrics (silk, velvet, or wool) that this should either be done very carefully or, to be safe, taken to a professional to remove. If you do decide to try and remove the paint yourself with these fabrics, then please keep the following in mind:
Check the clothing label to ensure that it doesn’t say ‘dry clean only’. If it does, always use a dry-cleaning solvent solution or take it to the dry cleaners instead.
Always ensure that you’ve tested your cleaning products/solutions on a discreet part of the fabric to make sure the clothing won’t be damaged in the removal process.
Make sure that you are gentle when working directly with the stain. Never scrub the paint forcefully; use care to dab or rub the stain gently.
Also check the label to make sure that you’re using the right cleaning solution for your clothes. If your clothes are made of wool, then ensure you are using a wool-suitable detergent.
You could consider using a dry spotter – these absorb oil and grease stains while still being gentle on your clothes.
2. Can Baking Soda Be Used to Remove Paint?
There are lots of rumors about the effectiveness of baking soda for removing paint. There is some truth to this claim as baking soda is highly absorbent; however, it is not strong enough to remove paint from clothes because of the speed with which paint sets into the fibers of the fabric.
3. How Do You Remove Paint Thinner?
There are a few tips on how to remove paint thinner from your clothes if it stains:
Use a small amount of laundry detergent or dish soap and a clean cloth on the stain. Gently rub the detergent or soap onto the paint thinner in circular motions until the whole stain is covered. Then leave for ten minutes or so.
If the paint thinner is gone, rinse well with hot water. If the paint thinner is still there, use cold water to rinse the stain.
Allow the clothing to air-dry. If the stain is still present when the fabric is dry, repeat the above steps again.
4. How Do You Remove the Smell of Paint Thinner?
Paint thinner can leave behind a potent smell even if there is no stain on your clothing. A simple way to remove this smell is to put your clothing into the laundry on the hottest setting suitable for your clothes according to their label. Once washed, place this on an extra rinse cycle and add ½ cup of distilled white vinegar.
5. How Do You Remove Dried Paint?
If the methods above have not removed the dried paint from your clothes, there are some things that you can try still.
First, scratch off as much paint as you can with a rough cloth or a butter knife (ensure that the knife is blunt) or a similar tool.
Try to cover the stain in either rubbing alcohol or hairspray. These will help to loosen the paint. Again, before doing this please test the rubbing alcohol or hairspray on a discreet part of the fabric to make sure no damage is done to the clothing.
Repeat these two steps until you can barely see the stain anymore. Then run the fabric under warm water. The previous methods suggest cold water because the stain had not yet dried, but warm water will help to loosen the paint if it has dried already.
Place the item of clothing into the laundry.