Although it's not easy, you can still remove fabric paint from clothes, depending on the condition of the stain and the type of fabric present. The most important thing to remember is to treat the stain as soon as possible. It will be easier for you to remove the paint while it is still wet than when the stain has dried. If the worst happens and you can't get the paint stain off your clothes, there are a few tips you can follow to save your favorite clothes.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Removing Wet Paint Stains
Step 1. Treat the stain immediately
The sooner you treat the stain, the more likely it is that it will lift. If the paint on the clothes is still wet, clean it immediately and remove the paint.
If you can't get your clothes off, try washing them while you're wearing them. This step is considered better than when you have to wait for the paint to dry
Step 2. Do not expose the stain to heat
Generally, fabric paint sticks more firmly to clothes when exposed to heat. This means that the paint will not fully harden until it is heated (usually using an iron). To prevent the stain from sticking to the fabric when you want to remove it, do not expose the heat source to the garment until the stain is completely removed.
- Do not use hot water when washing clothes.
- Do not put clothes in the dryer or use a hairdryer to dry a washed area unless the stain is completely removed.
- If the fabric paint won't stick to the fabric when exposed to heat, you can use hot water to rinse off the stain. However, read the label on the bottle to be sure.
Step 3. Remove or remove any unabsorbed paint
If the stain is large enough and not all of the paint is absorbed into the fabric, remove as much paint as possible before you wash the clothes. This way, the paint won't spread to other clean parts of the garment.
- To remove the paint from the surface of the garment, dab a paper towel on the stain or scrape the stain with a putty knife.
- Try not to rub the paint on the fabric.
Step 4. Rinse the stain
After removing as much of the paint as possible from the surface of the fabric, take the garment to the sink and rinse under running water until the rinse water is clear. It's a good idea to hit the first part of the running water is the part of the clothes that are still clean so that the paint doesn't spread and contaminate other parts of the clothes.
- Don't forget to use cold water so the stain doesn't stick more firmly to the clothes.
- Always read the care instructions before washing clothes. If the garment requires a dry cleaning treatment, do not attempt to rinse the stain yourself.
Step 5. Wash clothes manually (by hand) using detergent
After the stain is thoroughly rinsed, pour and rub the detergent onto the stain. For best results, use a mixture of detergent and water in a 1:1 ratio.
- You may need to scrub and rinse the clothes several times until the stains are lifted.
- You can use dish soap and laundry detergent.
- If scrubbing the stain with your hands alone doesn't work, brush the stain with a sponge or brush. You can use an unused toothbrush for small stains.
Step 6. Wash the clothes in the washing machine
After removing or removing as much of the paint as possible, put the clothes in the washing machine on a cold setting and plenty of detergent. Washing can usually remove any remaining stains.
- Do not use hot water when washing clothes or putting clothes in the dryer, unless the stain is completely removed. If the stain is still visible after washing the clothes in the washing machine, dry the clothes first and follow the steps to remove the dried paint stain.
- Do not wash clothes that need to be handled by the dry cleaning method using a washing machine or manually. Washing in a washing machine or manually has the risk of damaging the fabric. Always follow clothing care instructions.
Step 7. Use a professional laundry service
For delicate fabrics that cannot be washed at home, your only option is to take the garment to a professional laundromat. Dry cleaning service providers can remove wet or dry paint stains from perishable fabrics such as silk. However, the use of this service still does not guarantee that the stain can be removed completely.
You can also use a professional laundry service for clothes that can be washed in a washing machine if you don't manage to remove the stain yourself
Method 2 of 3: Removing Dried Paint Stains
Step 1. Scrape off as much of the dried paint as possible
Before removing dry paint stains using chemicals, try to remove as much of the stain manually as possible. You can scrape off the stain with a blunt object such as a putty knife, depending on how much paint is stuck. You can also use a brass wire brush or a hard nylon brush to remove the dried paint.
Be careful not to tear the fabric as you scrape the paint off. If no paint has lifted, move on to the next step
Step 2. Use a solvent
After removing the paint residue by scraping and brushing off the stain, you will need to soften the excess paint using one of the alcohol-based solvents. It is possible that you have these ingredients at home. Apply a small amount of solvent to the paint to remove it from the fabric.
- Alcohol, turpentine, and thinner are effective solvents for acrylic paints.
- If you don't have any of these ingredients, you can try an acetone-based nail polish remover or hair spray (as long as they contain alcohol).
- If those products don't work, try going to a home supply store and buying a cleaning product that's specifically designed to remove the type of paint that gets on clothes.
- For stubborn stains, you will need to let the solvent sit on the cloth before starting to brush the stain.
- Solvents are very harsh substances, so be careful when using them on fragile fabrics. Acetone can damage certain types of fabrics, especially products made from acetate or triacetate. Natural fibers such as silk and wool are also easily damaged, so make sure you always test the product on an invisible part of the garment, such as the inside of the seam, before using it on the stained area.
- If the clothes cannot be cleaned using solvents, take them to a professional dry cleaning service provider for cleaning.
Step 3. Brush the stain
Once the paint molecules are broken down by the solvent and become finer, you can brush off as much of the stain as you want. Use a hard-bristled brush for best results.
After removing most of the stain, you can take the clothes to the sink and scrub them with detergent and cold water
Step 4. Wash the clothes in the washing machine
After removing the stain manually (by hand), put the clothes in the washing machine and clean using cold water and detergent.
Do not expose the heat source to the clothes if the stain has not disappeared
Method 3 of 3: Saving Clothes If Paint Stains Can't Be Removed
Step 1. Seam the garment
If the stain is stuck to the bottom of your pants or sleeves, you can modify the clothing to hide the stained area. Pull at the seams to turn trousers into capri pants, or long-sleeved shirts into -sleeved shirts.
You can fold your clothes yourself if you know how to sew, or you can take them to a tailor to have them hemmed with the services of an expert
Step 2. Make it look as if you deliberately "stained" the clothes
Fabric paint is designed to be used on fabrics, so one way to save your favorite clothes is to add more paint. Make interesting designs on clothes that can be combined with stains. No one knows that you actually accidentally stained your clothes with paint.
Do not cover paint stains with another color of paint that is the same color as the fabric. The result will not look neat
Step 3. Cover the stained area
If you don't want to add paint to your clothes, think of other ways to cover the stain. For example, you can apply a decorative patch or cover a stain with sequins.
If you don't like sewing, try finding patches that you can attach to your clothes using an iron
Step 4. Reuse clothes
If there's no other way to save your favorite outfit, but you really like it, try using it for something else. For example, if your favorite blouse is stained with paint, try making a pillow from the clean part of the blouse. You can also make a children's shirt out of a large, stained shirt or T-shirt.
This step requires sewing skills. You can search for sewing patterns on the internet. If you don't know how to sew, find a tailor who can make modifications to your clothes
Tips
- Sometimes you can't remove paint stains from clothes, especially if the clothes are made of fabrics that are easily damaged.
- If the stain doesn't lift, you can soak it in soapy water or a solvent.
- Going forward, always wear protective clothing when you paint.
Warning
- If the clothes are wet with paint, do not wash them with other clothes in the washing machine.
- Always read the clothing care instructions before removing stains. Perishable fabrics may not stand up to more “hard” washing methods.
- Solvents can cause clothes to fade. Therefore, it's a good idea to test the product on an inconspicuous part of the garment first.
