It’s a warm cozy day, and you are enjoying nice me-time solidifying your thoughts on a canvas. And bam!
Before you know it, a streak of paint stains your favorite piece of clothing.
Now you’re sad thinking that you must throw away something you have been wearing for some time, or worse, something you just bought.
If you are facing this dilemma, I assure you that it can be fixed!
In this blog, I have gathered some easy DIY fixes so that you, too, know how to get paint out of clothing all by yourself!
How to Get Paint Out of Clothing – Preparation & Steps
Before panicking over the paint stain on your favorite piece of clothing, you should know that every type of paint can be removed with proper steps.
For that, it is really important to know what kind of paint you are dealing with.
If you are unsure about that, check the label or the packaging of the paint to know for sure.
How to Remove Latex Paint from Clothing?
Latex paints are the most commonly used paints in interior painting projects. They are also relatively easy to wash off clothes.
Steps
- If the paint stain is fresh, it can easily be removed from clothing with a thorough rinsing.
- Place a clean towel or rag under your cloth so that the paint doesn’t spread to other areas.
- Then scrape off the wet paint with a spoon or a butter knife.
- Turn your clothing inside out, then rinse the area with warm water from the back.
- However, if your paint has dried off already, you need to follow a few more steps to get rid of it.
- Once flashing with warm water is done, take equal parts of liquid dish detergent and water and mix a solution.
- If your clothing isn’t color-safe, use a liquid laundry detergent instead of dish detergent.
- Dip a sponge in the solution, and start rubbing it on the stained area.
- If the paint has dried a while ago, you can put the solution directly on the stained area and then start hand washing with the sponge.
- Move the padding underneath accordingly.
- Scrape off the excess paint, or use tape to pull off the paint from the clothing.
- If you still see any signs of stubborn paint, use a non-acetone nail polish remover and blot the area.
- This will dissolve the remaining paint sticking to your cloth.
- Once the paint has come off, rinse it with warm water from the back, and launder it as usual.
Required Tools
- Clean towel or rag
- Spoon or butter knife
- Dish or laundry detergent
- Sponge
- Tape
- Non-acetone nail polish remover
How to Remove Acrylic Paint from Clothing?
If you are an artist, you are more likely to use acrylic paints than any other paints because of their fast drying time.
When you are painting, it’s bound to get somewhere other than the canvas – especially on your clothes.
Steps
- If you get acrylic paint on your clothing, it’s best to act before it dries off.
- Scrape off as much of the excess paint as you can from the clothing.
- Flush the backside of the stain with warm water.
- Create a mixture of laundry detergent and water with equal parts, then dip a soft nylon toothbrush in it.
- Start scrubbing the stain vigorously with the toothbrush, then rinse it in cold water.
- Keep on repeating the process until the paint comes off completely.
- Take a step further if you still see paint sticking to your clothing.
- Pour Isopropyl Alcohol or any rubbing alcohol into a separate container, then sink your toothbrush in it.
- Gently rub the alcohol over the stained area until you are sure that all the paint is gone.
- You can also apply stain remover if you feel necessary before machine-washing the cloth.
- Once you can see the stain is removed, put it in a washing machine and set the cycle appropriate for your piece of clothing.
- Take out your clothing and let it air dry.
Required Tools
- Spoon or butter knife
- Laundry detergent
- Nylon toothbrush
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Stain remover
How to Remove Oil Paint from Clothing?
Painters mostly use oil paints to draw portraits, but nowadays, they are also getting favorable for woodwork, doors, furniture, and floors for their glossy finish and durability.
Oil-based paints are comparatively harder to remove and require more aggressive cleaning once it has dried out.
Steps
- Scoop off the excess paint using a spoon.
- If the paint has dried off already, use a butter knife to scrape off as much as you can.
- Turn your clothing inside out and place a pad of cloth or paper towel underneath it.
- Pour some paint thinner or turpentine into a container.
- Soak cotton balls in it, then start dabbing the stained area.
- Switch out fresh cotton balls and position the pad underneath accordingly.
- If the stain is older, put some turpentine directly on the stain and scrub it with a toothbrush.
- This will free the paint fibers and help you get rid of the stain easily.
- Once done, rinse the stain with warm water.
- Apply some laundry detergent on the stain as the final spot cleaning, and soak the cloth in warm, soapy water overnight.
- Rinse and wash the clothing as you normally do the next day.
- If you still see a bit of remaining paint stain, treat it with a stain remover until the paint has completely come off.
- Remember not to dry your cloth before you have gotten rid of the stain completely.
Required Tools
- Spoon or butter knife
- Cloth pad or paper towel
- Cotton balls
- Paint thinner or turpentine
- Mixing container
- Laundry detergent
- Nylon toothbrush
- Stain remover
Additional Tips for Removing Paint from Clothing
Now that you know how to get any type of paint out of your clothing, it’s time to present you with some tips so that you can achieve a remarkable result in the end.
- Whenever you get a paint stain on your clothes, it is really important to act quickly. Dried paints are harder to remove than fresh wet paints.
- If your clothing has a softer fabric like wool or cotton, it’s best to blot the stain instead of scrubbing it to prevent spreading.
- Remember to check every cleaning item’s care labels to ensure they are compatible with your fabric.
- If you can’t get the desired result on the first try, keep on repeating the process, as paint stains often require multiple treatments.
Bottom Line
And there you have it! Your stained clothing is as good as new!
Whether you’re painting your home’s interior or creating a masterpiece on a canvas, you will be in this mess sooner or later.
When you do, remember to get back to this article and follow the cleaning steps that suit your issue.
Happy Painting!
FAQ
Will hand sanitizer remove paint?
Yes, hand sanitizer removes paint as there is an adequate amount of alcohol in it. The higher the alcohol count, the better it will help to remove the paint.
Spray the paint spots with hand sanitizer and gently rub it using a microfibre cloth.
Once the paint comes off, rinse it with warm water before you let it air dry.
Can baking soda get paint out of clothes?
Yes, if you mix baking soda with water and apply the paste on the stained area, it will help draw out the paint.
However, this process mostly works with latex or water-based paints.
Can hand sanitizer get acrylic paint out of clothes?
If your hand sanitizer contains Isopropyl Alcohol, then it can get acrylic paint out of clothes.
However, the result will depend on how soon you were able to clean the paint after it got stained in your cloth.
