How To Get Paint Out Of Clothes (5 Easy Methods) - Oh So Spotless

Painting your home or working on a craft project is satisfying until you look down and see a splash of color on your favorite jeans. It happens to the best of us. Whether you brushed against a wet wall or dropped a brush, panic usually sets in immediately.

Don’t throw the clothes away just yet. While paint stains are stubborn, they are not invincible. We will show you exactly how to get paint out of clothes, whether the stain is fresh, dried, water-based, or oil-based.

Key Takeaways

• Identify the paint: Water-based stains need warm water and soap, while oil-based paints require solvents like turpentine.
• Act fast: Wet paint is significantly easier to remove than dried paint; keep the stain moist if you cannot treat it immediately.
• Know your fabric: Cotton and denim can take a scrubbing, but delicate fabrics like silk or wool usually require professional dry cleaning.
• Dried stains aren’t hopeless: Rubbing alcohol, hairspray, or a safety razor can help lift dried acrylic or latex paint.

In This Article

• Before You Scrub
• Water-Based Paint on Clothes
• Oil-Based Paint on Clothes
• Acrylic Paint on Clothes
• Removing Dried Paint
• Specific Paint Stains
• FAQs
• Ready to Clean?

What to Know Before You Scrub

Success depends on two things: the type of paint and the type of fabric. Knowing what you are dealing with prevents you from accidentally setting the stain or ruining the shirt permanently.

Identify the Paint Type

You are likely dealing with one of three common paint types:

• Water-based (Latex): This is standard for walls and ceilings. It is fast-drying, low-odor, and thankfully the easiest to clean with water and detergent.
• Oil-based: Often used for trim, baseboards, or durable finishes. It is tough and glossy. You cannot clean this with water; you need a solvent like turpentine or mineral spirits.
• Acrylic: Common in crafts and hobbies. It is water-soluble when wet but turns into a water-resistant plastic when dry.

Check the Fabric Care Label

Your approach must match the material. Sturdy fabrics like cotton, denim, and polyester can handle vigorous scrubbing and DIY chemical treatments.

However, delicate fabrics require caution. If you dropped paint on silk, velvet, or acetate, put the scrub brush down. These materials are easily damaged by harsh scrubbing or chemicals.

• Scrape gently: Remove excess wet paint with a spoon, but do not rub it into the fibers.
• Skip the DIY: Take delicate items to a dry cleaner immediately. Point out the stain and identify the paint type if possible.

Spot Test First

Before applying alcohol, turpentine, or solvents, dab a small amount on a hidden seam or the inside hem. If the fabric color changes or bleeds, do not use that product.

How to Get Water-Based Paint Out of Clothes

Latex paint is mostly water, so your best weapon is simple dish soap. Speed is your friend here; catch it while it is wet for the best results.

1. Scrape the excess: Use the back of a spoon or a dull knife to lift off as much wet paint as possible. Do not rub, or you will push the pigment deeper.
2. Flush the stain: Turn the garment inside out. Run warm water through the back of the stain to push the paint out of the fibers, not into them.
3. Apply soap: Mix a solution of warm water and liquid dish soap. Saturate the stain.
4. Blot and scrub: Use a clean sponge or cloth to blot the area vigorously. You should see the paint transferring to your cloth. Rinse the cloth frequently.
5. Rinse and check: Rinse with warm water. If the stain is gone, wash the garment in the washing machine as usual.
6. Treat stubborn spots: If paint remains, blot it with a rag soaked in rubbing alcohol or non-acetone nail polish remover before washing.

How to Get Oil-Based Paint Out of Clothes

Oil repels water. If you run an oil-paint stain under the faucet, you will make a bigger mess. You need a solvent (thinner) to break down the oils. Check the paint can label for the recommended thinner, or use turpentine.

1. Protect your workspace: Lay a thick pad of paper towels or an old rag inside the garment, directly under the stain. This catches the paint so it doesn’t bleed to the other side of the shirt.
2. Apply thinner: Dip a clean cloth or sponge into turpentine or paint thinner. Blot the stained area directly.
3. Blot repeatedly: Keep dabbing. Replace the paper towels underneath as they soak up the dissolved paint. Do not scrub hard; let the chemical do the work.
4. Pre-treat: Once the paint is lifted, rub a little liquid laundry detergent or dish soap onto the spot to cut the oily residue from the solvent.
5. Soak and wash: Soak the garment in hot water (if safe for the fabric) for an hour, then launder as usual.

Ventilation Is Key

Turpentine and paint thinners emit strong fumes. Always do this step outdoors or in a garage with the doors open.

How to Get Acrylic Paint Out of Clothes

Acrylics are tricky because they contain plastic polymers. Once they dry, they bond to the fabric like a permanent coating. You need to break that bond.

1. Flush with warm water: If the paint is wet, flush it from the back side under the faucet.
2. Soap and sponge: Mix warm water and dish soap (1:1 ratio). Saturate the sponge and blot the stain aggressively.
3. Use alcohol: If soap doesn’t work (or the stain is drying), switch to rubbing alcohol, hairspray, or hand sanitizer. The alcohol content breaks down the acrylic plastic.
4. Scrub and wash: Use an old toothbrush to work the alcohol into the fibers. Rinse with water and toss it in the washing machine.

How to Remove Dried Paint From Clothes

Did you find a stain a day later? Don’t worry. It requires more elbow grease, but you can usually salvage the clothing. The goal here is to re-liquefy the paint or mechanically break it off.

The Hairspray or Alcohol Method

Alcohol is a solvent that softens dried latex and acrylic.

1. Scrape first: Use a butter knife, spoon, or even a safety razor (carefully) to scrape off the crusty top layer of paint.
2. Saturate: Spray the area heavily with hairspray (a cheap brand with high alcohol content works best) or soak it in rubbing alcohol.
3. Let it sit: Wait 5 to 10 minutes for the chemicals to soften the paint.
4. Scrub: Use a stiff brush or a butter knife to scrape the now-softened paint out of the weave.
5. Rinse and repeat: This often takes two or three rounds. Once the paint is gone, wash with warm water and detergent.

The Duct Tape Hack

This works surprisingly well for thick, dried blobs of latex paint on durable fabrics like denim.

1. Soften the paint: Dampen the spot slightly with warm water.
2. Apply tape: Press a piece of strong duct tape firmly over the dried paint.
3. Rip it off: Pull the tape off quickly. It often pulls the dried paint layer right off the fibers.

Removing Specific Paint Stains

Sometimes you aren’t dealing with standard wall paint. Here is how to handle the outliers.

Spray Paint

Aerosol paints are usually oil-based or enamel.

1. Blot immediately: Do not wipe, or you will spread the fine mist deeper.
2. Use hairspray: Spray the stain with hairspray to stop it from setting. The alcohol helps loosen the bond.
3. Apply cleaner: If hairspray fails, use a commercial cleaner like WD-40 or turpentine. Scrub gently with a toothbrush.
4. Rub with dry cloth: Rub the area vigorously with a dry towel to lift the pigments. Wash immediately.

Fabric Paint / Puffy Paint

This stuff is literally designed to stay on clothes forever. If it dries, it is permanent. If it is wet, you have a chance.

1. Avoid heat: Heat sets fabric paint instantly. Do not use hot water and do not put it in the dryer.
2. Flush with cold water: Run cold water through the fabric until the water runs clear.
3. Detergent scrub: Apply laundry detergent directly to the spot and scrub with a brush.
4. Alcohol soak: If a shadow remains, soak the spot in rubbing alcohol for 15 minutes, then wash cold.

FAQs

Does Vinegar Remove Paint From Clothing?

Vinegar can help soften dried paint, but it is rarely strong enough to remove a stain completely on its own. It works best as a pre-treatment to loosen the bond before you use laundry detergent or a stronger solvent.

Can Hand Sanitizer Remove Stains?

Yes, hand sanitizer is an excellent stain remover for acrylic and latex paints because of its high alcohol content. Squeeze a dime-sized amount onto the spot, scrub with a toothbrush, and wash as normal.

Will Essential Oils Remove Paint?

Some essential oils, specifically tea tree oil or lavender oil, act as mild solvents that can help break down oil-based paint splatters. Apply a few drops to the stain and blot with a cloth, but be aware they leave a strong scent behind.

Does Goo Gone Remove Paint From Clothes?

Goo Gone is effective on dried latex and spray paint stains. However, it is greasy; you must wash the garment thoroughly with hot water and detergent afterward to remove the oily residue.

Does Salt Remove Paint?

No, salt generally does not remove paint. While it is abrasive and can help scrub a stain physically, it has no chemical properties that dissolve paint binders or pigments.

Can I Use Acetone or Nail Polish Remover on Clothes?

You can use acetone on natural fibers like cotton or wool to remove stubborn paint. However, never use acetone on acetate, triacetate, or modacrylic fabrics, as it will literally melt the plastic fibers and ruin the garment.

Ready to Clean?

Paint stains look intimidating, but they don’t have to be permanent. The secret is speed and using the right solvent for the job. Keep some rubbing alcohol and dish soap handy for your next DIY project, and you will be prepared for any spills.

Remember, if the garment is “dry clean only,” skip the home remedies and head to the professionals. Otherwise, grab a toothbrush and get scrubbing!

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