Did you spill paint on your favorite shirt? Touched a freshly painted wall by accident? Regardless of what happens, you may have to deal with a pretty heavy stain if the paint gets on your clothes. Do it quickly if you see paint that hasn't set. It is more difficult to remove paint stains from clothes once they have dried. If you treat the paint stain while it's still wet, you may be able to remove the entire stain without any problems.
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Method 1 of 3: Removing Paint Stains with Regular Laundry Soap
Step 1. Wipe off any wet paint stains that are still on the clothes
The method with laundry soap will work best if the paint stain has not completely hardened. It's also the easiest way to remove it when the stain hasn't set since most people have laundry soap, either at home or at work. If you don't have laundry soap, you can try using bar soap or liquid soap. This type of soap may not be effective, but you should definitely try to clean the garment before the paint dries.
Step 2. Wet the back of the garment with warm water
You should rinse the garment from behind the stain, separating the stained area. If the stain is from children's watercolor or tempera paint (paint made from pigment, water, and egg yolk), the stain is likely to begin to fade more quickly. These water-removable paint stains don't always appear right away, but you'll start to see them run off the fabric. Check the paint bottle to see if the paint is water washable. If so, it will be easier for you to clean the stain, just rinse it with water, and can skip using laundry soap.
Step 3. Mix dish soap and warm water in equal proportions
Before you start putting it on your clothes, you'll want to check the labels of your clothes and laundry detergent to make sure they're suitable. If you're not sure, dab it on an invisible part of the garment. This way, you can check the ability of the mixture without permanently damaging the garment. Soak a clean sponge in a mixture of laundry soap and water. Be sure not to use paper towels or cotton rags. The fibers of the tissue and cloth will stick to and spread the paint stain, making the stain wider.
Dip the rag or cloth into the stained garment. You certainly don't want the clothes to smear on the surface being cleaned. Even if the paint can be removed, the countertop or counter should not be stained with excess paint
Step 4. Blot the front of the garment with a soapy sponge
Remember, absorption is different from rubbing. If you scrub your clothes with a sponge, you're actually pushing the paint deeper into the fibers of your clothes. Even if you absorb the stain with moderate force, make sure you don't permanently damage the garment. You can also slip the garment between your fingers, by gently rubbing the mixture into the garment.
Step 5. Rinse the garment under warm running water, from the back of the garment
If you clean a paint stain that can be removed, most of the paint will be removed from the clothes. Make sure that nothing is stained by dripping water and paint, including the sink. If there is excess paint and water on the clothes, be sure to squeeze them out in a separate bucket. You can get rid of the water more easily.
Step 6. Repeat this process, absorbing and rinsing the stained garment until the stain is not visible
You should try using a toothbrush to scrub the stained area. This is often successful in removing the paint stain from the fibers of the garment without rubbing the paint deeper into the fabric. However, be careful with this as excessive movement can allow the paint to penetrate the fibers of the fabric.
Step 7. Rinse the clothes in the washing machine
Washing stained clothes in the washing machine can often remove the stain completely. You've removed the paint stain with laundry soap, so the washing machine will run more efficiently. However, without handling the clothes first, the washing machine may not be able to remove the stain completely. Certain washable or water-based paints may not require this step.
- Do not wash clothes that are stained with paint with other clothes because the paint will stain other clothes. You certainly don't want to ruin an entire outfit just to save a piece of clothing.
- If the stain persists after washing, apply a small amount of acetone to the front of the garment and blot it with a clean sponge. Do not apply acetone to clothing that also contains acetate or triacetate, as this will melt the clothing.
Method 2 of 3: Using Paint Thinner or Turpentine
Step 1. Wear safety gear
Before you begin, keep in mind that paint thinner is quite toxic. When trying to clean stains, wear proper safety clothing, namely gloves, safety glasses, and a respirator. If you're cleaning the stain while you're indoors, open the windows to let the smoke out properly. This solvent is also flammable, so make sure it is not near any ignition sources.
While turpentine is less toxic than most other paint thinners, it can't hurt to be safe and use the right equipment when cleaning stained clothes
Step 2. Wipe the paint stains that are still cleaned from the clothes
Paint thinner or turpentine will work best on oil-based paint stains, especially if the stain has completely dried. Oil-based paints are more difficult to remove than water-based paints, but they can be handled in a number of ways.
- Note that oil-based paints take significantly longer to dry than washable or latex paints. Once the oil-based paint is completely dry, most paint stains can be removed. If you see oil-based paint stains on your clothes, you should scrub them off immediately. The chances of saving your clothes are even greater if you can treat these stains early.
- If the stain has hardened, you can use a knife or other sharp object to scrape the dried paint off the clothes. Be careful not to scratch the clothes and damage them.
Step 3. Cover the back of the garment with some thick paper towels or a cotton rag
This will help absorb any paint stains that have penetrated the back of the garment. If the paint smudges on other parts of the garment, it can later become stained. The surface being stained should also not be damaged. This is especially important for oil-based paint stains because they don't clean as easily as latex paint or water-based paint.
You will need to change the backing of your clothes several times during the cleaning process. If the paint stain has faded and stained the upholstery, the rest of the garment will be stained. Be sure to find out how much of the paint stain has absorbed the upholstery. If the upholstery starts to leak, you'll need to replace it
Step 4. Apply paint thinner or turpentine directly to the stained area
Make sure if using paint thinner, the color matches the paint used. Anything that is volatile and flammable is likely to damage clothing. You certainly don't want to stain your clothes in this cleaning process, so you have to be careful with the thinner you choose. If you don't know what type of paint is causing the stain, the best option is to use turpentine.
Step 5. Rub the stained area with paint
After you've properly treated the stained area with paint thinner or turpentine, you'll need to apply some laundry soap. Make sure that if your clothes are not supposed to be bleached, you don't use laundry soap with bleach. You can apply a large amount of laundry soap to the stained area and absorb it with a sponge or small cloth. Be careful not to rub too hard as you can push the paint deeper into the clothes.
If you're still wearing rubber gloves, you can use your fingers to apply the laundry soap. Otherwise, do not allow exposed skin to touch the paint thinner. Many paint thinners are quite toxic to the skin and you need to avoid the potential risks
Step 6. Soak the clothes overnight and wash the next day
Fill a bucket with hot water and soak the stained garment overnight. Check clothing labels to check the maximum acceptable temperature. When you wake up the next day, you can wash it as usual. Make sure not to wash it with other clothes because you run the risk of staining other clothes.
If you notice a significant change in color after the first try, it's worth repeating the process again. Otherwise, the stain could be permanent. This means you have to throw away the clothes. The more often thinner or turpentine is applied to the garment, the greater the risk of damaging the garment
Method 3 of 3: Using Hair Spray
Step 1. Wipe off any excess or remaining wet paint from the stained area
If you find out that you've used latex-based paint and it's completely dry, you'll need to use hairspray to remove the stain. You'll still need to wipe off any excess paint, but the stain may harden deeper if you use hairspray. Use a knife or other sharp object to scrape away any deeper hardened paint stains.
Although latex paint is easier to remove than oil-based paint, it dries faster. In an hour or two, the paint will dry completely. This is when you should choose to use hairspray. If you see latex paint stains before they dry, scrub them off with soap and water. After a few rinses and washing in the washing machine, the stain will disappear
Step 2. Spray hairspray on the stained area
If you don't have hairspray, you can use pure isopropyl alcohol, otherwise known as rubbing alcohol. It's the active compound in hairspray that will break down the stain, meaning any method will work the same way. The hair spray can be left on for a few minutes for it to stick. Make sure the stained area is completely wet with the hairspray. The area should feel moderately damp as it will take time to break down the stain once it has hardened.
Step 3. Scrub gently with a brush or washcloth
If you rub too hard, you will permanently damage the clothes. You will see the paint start to come off or melt from the area. If the hairspray doesn't change the color at all, there isn't enough spray paint or the alcohol might not be strong enough. Continue scrubbing until you notice a reduction in the size of the stain or color.
If the results are not immediately visible with hairspray, you will need to purchase a proper rubbing alcohol to completely remove the stain. You can repeat this process in exactly the same way with hairspray
Step 4. Wash the clothes
After successfully removing the paint by scrubbing, you can wash the problematic clothes as usual. Even if the stain isn't completely gone, it has already come off, and most stains will be removed during rinsing.
You can also apply a small amount of laundry soap and water to the stain after spraying the hairspray. Since latex paints don't react negatively with water, you won't have the same problem of hardening stains as with oil-based paints
Tips
- If you're not sure if a stain is oil or latex-based paint, you can easily tell by the smell. Latex paint is almost odorless, while oil paint has a very strong and toxic odor. Be sure not to inhale oil-based paint.
- You usually don't have to rely on one method to remove stains from clothes. However, before combining the two chemicals on the stain, you should make sure that there are no unexpected reactions. This will vary because paint thinner or laundry soap, for example, has different active ingredients.
- Do not apply water to oil-based paint stains before applying paint thinner or turpentine. Water actually makes stains worse because oil-based paint will harden when it reacts with water.
- Washing stained clothes in the washing machine is always a good solution, especially if you have trouble removing the stain with a brush or rag. You need to use a little force and it's hard to use maximum strength with your hands without damaging the clothes.
