How To Remove Paint Stains From Clothing
Sam Lutz • November 25, 2014
Here at Ace Paint and Unfinished Furniture, we hate to see our clients clothes ruined by our beautiful paint colors. We’re posting this helpful tutorial to prevent your threads from becoming stained or ruined.
Catch the Spot Before It Dries
This basic rule of spot treatment is doubly important for anyone hoping to remove paint from clothing. Once the paint has dried, it becomes far more difficult–and sometimes impossible–to remove. The moment that you notice that your clothing has become stained with paint, treat the spot right away. Don’t allow the paint to dry on the clothing.
Tips for Removing Latex Paint
Latex (water-based) paint dries quickly, so act very quickly.
Materials:
- Dishwashing Liquid
- Spot Treatment Product
- Rubbing Alcohol
Process:
- Flip the article of clothing inside out and flush the spot with a stream of water so that the water runs from the clean side of the cloth to the dirty side.
- Turn the article of clothing right side in, then blot the area with dishwashing liquid and warm water.
- Treat the area with a commercial spot treater (your favorite brand will do) and then wash the clothing as normal.
- Check the clothing for any remaining stain before putting it through the dryer. If a spot remains, proceed to the next step.
- Rub the area with rubbing alcohol.
- Treat the spot with a heavy-duty stain remover.
- Repeat step 4.
If small specks of paint remains, use a gentle toothbrush and rubbing alcohol to treat the area.
Removing Oil Paint
Unlike latex paint, oil-based paint can’t be removed with simple water and rubbing alcohol. For this job, you’ll need a solvent like turpentine. The best type of paint thinner to use with your brand of oil paint should be listed on the can of paint, so read the can carefully. Paint thinner is nasty stuff, so take this outside or to a very well ventilated area.
Materials:
- Paint Thinner
- Paper Towels
- Waterproof Gloves
- Rag
Process:
- Lay down several paper towels on the ground or on a concrete floor.
- Place the garment face down, so that the paint stain is in contact with the paper towels.
- Put on protective waterproof gloves to protect your hands from the paint thinner.
- Pour a steady stream of paint thinner over the area of the garment stained by paint.
- Dip a rag in the paint thinner, then blot the back of the stained area with the rag, pressing the stain into the paper towels.
- Run more paint thinner over the stained area.
- Fold over the paper towels so that the part of the paper towels touching the garment is clean.
- Repeat steps four through six.
For more tips about removing paint from clothing, check out these helpful tutorials:
- Good Housekeeping – This includes a very basic tutorial about removing paint from clothes, as well as information about removing paint from upholstery and carpeting.
- WikiHow – This step-by-step tutorial includes helpful pictures.
We hope that our beautiful paint will transform your home, but not your clothes. If you have any tips for managing paint stains, we’d love to see them posted in the comments section at the bottom of this post. If you have more questions about removing paint stains, contact us at Ace Paint and Unfinished Furniture. We’d like to help!
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