First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Act while the paint is still wet. Latex that has dried for 6 to 8 hours is very hard to remove.
- If you can't treat oil-based paint right away, wrap the item in plastic or airtight wrap.
- Blot liquid paint and scrape thick paint with a rounded spoon, edges toward the center.
- Check the can for the thinner it recommends before you reach for anything stronger.
Paint stains are tough mainly because the base matters: water-based latex can be sponged out while it's still wet, but oil-based paint isn't water-soluble and needs the thinner its label recommends. Once paint dries, it can become permanent on fabric, so acting quickly gives you the best shot. On hard surfaces such as stained wood, hardened latex can sometimes be scraped off, but dried paint is much harder than wet.
Acrylic paint and chalk paint can behave differently, so identify the paint before you pick a method. Dish soap is worth a test on a hidden spot first, and you should stop if the material reacts. If it doesn't work, look at a paint remover or thinner made for your paint base.
7 items
What you'll need
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- Clean white cloth or paper towelsBlotting lifts liquid paint off the fabric. (opens Amazon)
- Rounded spoonLifts thick paint without tearing the fibers.
- Heavy-duty liquid laundry detergentLifts latex and carries it out in the wash. (opens Amazon)
- Prewash stain removerWorks into the stain before the wash.
- Mild liquid dish soapPretreats acrylic paint. (opens Amazon)
- Thinner named on the paint can, or mineral spiritsOnly for oil-based paint; check the label first. (opens Amazon)
- Plastic wrap or airtight wrapHolds oil-based paint in place if you can't treat it right away. (opens Amazon)
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5 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 5
Identify the paint base first
Look at the can or label to see whether the paint is water-based (latex) or oil-based. Water-based paint can be lifted with water and detergent while it's wet, but oil-based paint isn't water-soluble and needs a solvent instead. Everything below depends on which one you have.
Tip. If you can't treat oil-based paint right away, wrap the item in plastic or airtight wrap so the paint stays in place.
Careful. Test any solvent on a hidden spot before using it on the stain.
Step 2 of 5
Blot and scrape up wet paint
Blot liquid paint with a clean white cloth or paper towel, pressing rather than rubbing. Scrape thick paint gently with a rounded spoon, working from the edges toward the center so the stain doesn't spread. Keep the scraping light so the fibers aren't pulled apart.
Step 3 of 510 to 15 minutes
Pretreat the stain with detergent
For latex, sponge the stain with cool water, then rub in liquid laundry detergent or a prewash stain remover and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. For acrylic paint, rinse out as much as you can and work in a little liquid dish soap instead. Rinse the spot once the wait is over so the fabric is clear before the wash.
Step 4 of 5
Wash in the hottest safe water
Machine-wash the item with heavy-duty liquid laundry detergent in the hottest water the care label allows. Use the heavy-soil cycle if the machine has one.
Careful. If the care label is missing, wash in cool water and check the result before going hotter.
Step 5 of 5
Air-dry and check the spot
Let the item air-dry completely, then check the spot in good light. If any paint is left, repeat the pretreat and the wash before you use the item again.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for paint
For oil-based paint, look for mineral spirits or the thinner named on the can. For water-based paint, a liquid laundry detergent or a prewash stain remover covers the job.
Goo Gone Pro-Power Goo & Adhesive Remover
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on these surfaces, 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. 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.
See what to do for what you're seeing →If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →Pick what it is on
Paint on every material
Clothes & laundry4
Outdoor4
Floors5
Car5
Carpet & rugs1
Kitchen & bath10
Leather & suede2
Shoes & accessories6
Furniture & upholstery2
Bedding & linens3
No match. Try the main search for anything else.
How to tell it's working
Blotting is working when the cloth picks up color each time you press it, and the color on the fabric lightens. Wait until the item is fully air-dried before you judge the spot, since damp fabric can look darker than it really is.
What changes for yours
Adjust for where the stain is
Acrylic paint
Acrylic paint follows the same path as latex, with two changes. The pretreat uses a little liquid dish soap instead of laundry detergent, and the wash runs in the hottest water the garment allows.
If acrylic has already been washed once, the set-in options are the next step for the spot that's left. Carpet needs its own approach, so use the carpet and rugs guide before you start there.
Chalk and specialty paint
Read the label first, because the base decides the method. If it says water-based or latex, follow the steps above, and if it says oil-based, use the oil-based card.
When the label doesn't say, test a hidden spot with water and detergent first. Only move to a solvent if that does nothing, and keep the stronger methods for last.
Paint on fabric and surfaces
This advice is for fabric, such as clothes, linens and upholstery. Blotting and scraping the wet paint works on any surface, but after that the material decides the method.
Painted walls, wood furniture, hardwood floors and tile each need their own approach, so start with the guide for that material. If the paint is on a sofa or chair, the upholstery guides cover that fabric.
Latex paint
Latex responds best when you act fast, because water and detergent can still lift it while it's wet. After it has dried for 6 to 8 hours, removal becomes very difficult, so start as soon as you spot it.
Many latex spots lift in the first round, so check before you move on to anything stronger. If you've missed that window, go to the set-in options first, then use the steps above on whatever remains.
Oil-based, enamel and primer
This card applies to oil-based paint, and to enamel or primer when the can says it's oil-based. Use the solvent the label recommends as a thinner, or mineral spirits if the can names no thinner, and work it into the stain. While the spot is still wet with solvent, rub in liquid detergent.
After the solvent and detergent, launder the item as the care label allows, and repeat the sequence if paint remains. If a faint shadow is left, the overnight hot soak is the next step.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Old paint on fabric is the hardest case, so expect a partial result rather than a perfect one. Start with the dry-cleaning solvent treatment or the overnight hot soak, depending on the base, and give each one a single try before moving on.
Once paint has dried on fabric, it may never come out completely, and a faint mark can stay even after a good treatment. Use the oxygen bleach soak only on colorfast fabric and after a hidden-spot test, and stop if the fabric starts to fade or thin.
If the item has already been through the dryer, the heat may have set the stain further, so expect less. If the spot is still visible after these steps, a professional cleaner is the realistic next step. On hard surfaces, hardened latex can sometimes be scraped off with stiff cardboard or a plastic bowl scraper.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on paint?
Many household products get suggested for paint, but only a few are safe for fabric and finish. Each row below says where the remedy stands and why, so you can avoid the ones that could damage your fabric or finish.
Works1Skip5Avoid1
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't put the item in the dryer.
Heat-drying can make the stain impossible to remove, so keep the item out of the dryer until the spot is gone. Hang it or lay it flat to air-dry instead.
Don't pour solvent onto carpet.
Solvent and nail-polish remover can damage the latex that bonds carpet backings. Blot the spot with a clean cloth and use the carpet and rugs guide for the rest.
Don't use solvent without fresh air.
Use solvents only with good ventilation, and keep open flames, pilot lights and sparks well away. Work near an open window or outdoors when you can.
Don't use a heat gun or sandpaper on fabric.
Heat and sanding are tools for hard surfaces where stripping is part of the job. On fabric they can damage the fibers and set the paint further in, so stick with the wash steps.
Troubleshooting
If the stain is still there
Pick what you're seeing:
The paint is spreading as I blot.
Use a clean white cloth and lift from the edges inward. Switch to a rounded spoon for thick paint, and do not rub.
The stain remains after washing.
Do not heat-dry it. For washable or acrylic paint, Crayola says air-dry and repeat as needed; dried latex on fabric may be permanent. For carpet, the Carpet and Rug Institute advises a professional cleaner for stubborn spots.
A solvent changed the fabric color.
Stop and do not continue with that solvent. Test another route on a hidden spot or ask a professional; acetone and nail-polish remover must not be used on acetate, triacetate, or modacrylic because they dissolve them.
When to call a professional
If the spot is still there after the set-in options, or the item is delicate or costly, a professional cleaner is the safer choice. A cleaner can test methods on good fabric that you can't safely try at home.
Questions
Does rubbing alcohol remove paint?
There's no reliable proof that rubbing alcohol lifts paint from fabric, so don't count on it. For water-based paint, use cool water and detergent while it's wet, and for oil-based paint, use the thinner its label recommends.
Does hydrogen peroxide remove paint?
No, peroxide isn't a reliable choice for lifting paint. Use the water-based or oil-based route for the stain. Stick with the water-based or oil-based route for the stain.
Does paint stain or wash out?
Yes, paint stains, but the base decides whether it washes out. Water-based paint washes out with water and detergent while it's wet, while oil-based paint needs the solvent its label recommends.
Can I use nail polish remover or acetone on paint?
Usually not on fabric. Acetone dissolves some synthetic fabrics and can damage finishes, so check the fiber before you try either one.
Does vinegar remove paint?
No, don't expect vinegar to lift paint. Bleach needs a fiber check first, and each other household product needs its own check. Bleach needs a fiber check first, and the other household products are covered row by row above.
How do I get dried paint out of clothes?
Dried paint is much harder, and on fabric it may never come out completely. Try the set-in options, and take the item to a professional cleaner if the spot remains.
Can I use heat or sanding to remove paint?
Not on fabric. Heat and sanding can damage the fibers and set the paint further in. For hard surfaces, use the guide for that material, since stripping depends on what's underneath.
How do I remove oil-based paint?
Use the solvent the label recommends as a thinner, or mineral spirits if the can names none. Work it into the stain, rub in liquid detergent while it's still wet with solvent, and launder as the care label allows.
Odor guides
Still smells?
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.