First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Treat the stain while the paint is still wet.
- Wrap the item in plastic if you can't treat it right away.
- Blot from the back with a clean, dry cloth.
- Work in a ventilated room, with no smoking, open flame or pilot light.
Oil-based paint on clothes is a tough stain because its solvent doesn't wash out with water, and it gets more permanent as it dries. Treating it while it's still wet is much simpler than fighting it once it has hardened. Old paint can take longer and may not come out completely.
Getting oil based paint out of clothes responds best to a paint remover for fabric, and you should test it on a hidden seam first. Blot away what you can before you rub, because pressing the paint deeper makes it harder to lift. If the stain has gone stiff or a mark is left after a few rounds, stop and take the item to a dry cleaner.
6 items
What you'll need
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- Paint thinner named on the canIt is the solvent the paint maker recommends, so it is the first choice.
- Mineral spiritsThe fallback thinner when the can or label is missing. (opens Amazon)
- Clean, dry clothsFor blotting from the back and sponging the spot.
- Mild liquid dish soap or liquid laundry detergentWorks into the stain while it is still wet. (opens Amazon)
- Prewash stain removerPretreats the spot before the wash. (opens Amazon)
- Plastic wrap or an airtight bagSlows the drying if you can't treat the stain straight away. (opens Amazon)
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6 steps
How to get oil-based paint out of clothes
Step 1 of 6
Check the can and test first
Read the paint can for the thinner it names, and use that one. If there is no can or label, use mineral spirits instead. Test the thinner on a hidden spot of the fabric before you use it on the stain.
Step 2 of 6
Sponge the spot with thinner
Sponge the spot with the thinner until the paint softens and can be flushed away. Dab rather than pour, and use only as much solvent as you need. Turpentine works the same way if you have it.
Tip. Work from the outside of the spot toward the middle so the paint doesn't spread.
Step 3 of 6
Work in liquid detergent while wet
While the stain is still wet with the thinner, work a mild liquid dish soap or liquid laundry detergent into it. Dab it in with a clean cloth so the paint lifts out of the fabric instead of being pushed deeper.
Step 4 of 6
Pretreat, rinse and wash
Pretreat the spot with a prewash stain remover or a little laundry detergent, then rinse it out. Wash the item as its care label allows.
Step 5 of 6
Soak overnight if the stain stays
If the stain is still there after washing, soak the item overnight in hot water, as long as the care label allows it. Then launder it as usual.
Step 6 of 6
Repeat until the paint is gone
If any paint is left, repeat the thinner, detergent and wash sequence. Check the spot in good light after each round before you move on.
Careful. Keep the item out of the dryer and away from the iron until the stain is completely gone.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for oil-based paint
Look for a dry-cleaning-type spot remover, and use it as its label directs.
Utopia Kitchen White Flour Sack Towels
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on this fabric, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light before using any heat. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
The paint should soften and lift onto a clean cloth as you work. If the spot still leaves color on a white cloth after the wash, the paint isn't gone yet, so repeat the treatment.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your fabric
White shirts and whites
Whites can take the full routine, including the hot overnight soak, so they are the easiest fabric to finish. Skip bleach even on whites; the treatment works without it.
Don't leave whites to soak past the overnight time, since over-soaking can leave yellow stains that won't come out. If a faint shadow remains after the wash, repeat the treatment before you dry the item.
Colored clothes and denim
Colors and denim can take the soak, but the dye may react to the thinner, so test it on a hidden spot before you start. If you're unsure whether the color will hold, use warm water for the overnight soak instead of hot.
Keep the detergent gentle and rinse with cool water so the dye stays put. If the test spot changes color, stop and skip the soak.
Silk, wool and delicates
On silk, wool and velvet, skip the detergent step and the hot soak, because these fibers can't take them. Sponge with the thinner only, test it first, and rinse with cool water instead of running the item through the washing machine.
Wool felts and shrinks when it is agitated in water, and velvet should never be ironed. Heirloom textiles should never go in the washing machine at all, even on a gentle cycle.
Dry-clean-only items
Skip the washing steps for anything marked dry-clean only, including the hot soak and the wash. Blot from the back with a clean, dry cloth, then test a dry-cleaning-type spot remover on a hidden spot, following its label.
If the spot is still there after one round, take the item to a dry cleaner and say it's oil-based paint. Don't use water-based cleaners on velvet marked for dry cleaning; use only dry-cleaning or solvent-based cleaners.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Old oil paint is the hardest case, because once it has dried it may not come out completely. The best result comes from a stain you treat while it is still wet, so start there if you can.
For paint that has dried on whites or colorfast items, soak the item overnight in hot water if the care label allows, then launder it. Repeat the thinner and detergent sequence on the spot before the soak if you can still soften the paint.
If the stain has already been through the dryer, heat has likely set it, and it may be impossible to remove. Realistically, a faint shadow may remain on an old stain even after a good effort. If the paint is still there after repeated full rounds, take the item to a professional rather than pushing harder.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on oil-based paint?
Most household remedies for paint are not the right tool; for oil-based paint, use the thinner named on the can, or mineral spirits if there's no can. The table shows which ones are used, which help in a pinch, and which to skip.
Works1Skip5
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't let the paint dry first
Paint that dries before you treat it is much harder to lift, so get to it as soon as you can. The treatment done while the paint is wet is the one that works best.
Don't rub or brush the stain
Rubbing and brushing spread the paint and can damage the fabric, especially silk. Dab and press instead.
Don't drench the spot with thinner
Use solvent sparingly so you don't overwet the fabric. A little thinner on a clean cloth does more than a lot poured on.
Don't reach for bar soap
Bar soap sets many stains, and rubbing a fresh stain with it makes the job harder. Stick with a prewash stain remover or liquid detergent.
When to call a professional
If the item is dry-clean only, or the spot still shows after a few rounds at home, take it to a professional dry cleaner. Tell them it's oil-based paint so they can choose a solvent that suits the fabric.
Questions
How do you remove oil paint?
Treat it while it is wet with the thinner named on the paint can, then wash the item as the steps above describe. Once the paint has dried, it becomes much harder to remove, and it may not come out completely.
Can you get oil paint out of carpet?
Carpet isn't clothing, so don't use the clothing treatment on it directly. Blot the wet paint from the back with a clean, dry cloth, and test any thinner on a hidden spot first. Avoid strong household cleaners on carpet, and a professional carpet cleaner is the safer choice for a large or dried stain.
What should you do if oil paint gets on skin?
Wash the skin off right away if solvent touches it, and keep solvents out of reach of children. The thinner in the clothing steps is for fabric, so don't use it as a skin treatment.
Can you remove oil based paint from concrete?
The clothing steps don't carry over to concrete, so use the closest principle: act while the paint is still wet, and test any thinner on a hidden spot first. Work in a ventilated room, and keep flames and pilot lights away. For paint that has dried on concrete, a professional is the safer route.
Is there a fast way to remove oil paint from walls?
There isn't a fast method we can recommend for walls, since the tested steps are written for clothing. Work quickly while the paint is wet, and test any thinner on a small hidden area first. Once the paint is dry, a professional is the safer choice.
Can oil paint come off glass windows?
The closest principle is to wipe away wet paint while it is still fresh. Work in a ventilated room, and test any solvent on a hidden area of the glass first. For paint that has dried on glass, ask a professional.
Related
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.