First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Act while the paint is wet, since the window closes fast.
- Wrap oil-based stains in plastic or airtight wrap if you can't treat them right away.
- Blot liquid paint and scrape thick paint with a rounded spoon, working from the edges toward the center.
Paint that has dried into clothes is the toughest case, and some of it may stay for good. Once it has cured, the fibers hold on tightly, so the result depends on how long it has sat. Fresh paint lifts much more easily, so check right away whether the spot is still soft.
Check the care label first, since acetate and wool-type fabrics don't all react the same way to a paint remover. Test a paint remover for fabric on an inside seam, and stop when the color no longer lifts from the cloth. Dry-clean-only pieces are safer in a professional's hands than under a stain remover.
Before you start
What clothes can take
Safe to use3
- Water
- Soaking
- Enzyme cleaners
Use with care6
- Hot water
- Chlorine bleach
- Oxygen bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
Avoid1
- Heat, once the stain is out
8 items
What you'll need
Tap an item to get it on Amazon, or tick what you already have.
- Commercial cleanerSponges out paint for both the oil-based and latex routes.
- Thinner for oil-based paintThe solvent the paint label recommends, or mineral spirits if the can has no label.
- Liquid detergentWorked into oil-based stains while they're still wet with solvent. (opens Amazon)
- Clean sponge or clothLets you sponge and blot without spreading the paint. (opens Amazon)
- Rounded spoonLifts thick paint gently from the surface.
- Plastic wrap or airtight bagKeeps an oil-based stain from drying while you wait. (opens Amazon)
- Basin of cool waterUsed for the latex soak that loosens the paint. (opens Amazon)
- Mineral spirits (opens Amazon)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Read the label and identify paint
Read the care label before anything touches the stain, since it sets what the fabric can take in water, soaks and bleach. Then decide which paint you have: latex is water-based and can be sponged out with water and detergent while it's wet, while oil-based paint isn't water-soluble. Test any cleaner or thinner on a hidden spot, such as an inside seam, before it goes on the stain.
Step 2 of 6
Sponge oil-based paint with cleaner
For oil-based paint, sponge the stain with a commercial cleaner, then rinse the area. Latex paint doesn't use this step or the thinner step after it.
Step 3 of 6
Work the paint thinner in
Dab the solvent the paint label recommends as a thinner onto the stain, or use mineral spirits if the can has no label. Use only enough to wet the stain, and keep it from spreading into the surrounding fabric.
Careful. Use solvents only with good ventilation and no open flame, pilot light or sparks nearby.
Step 4 of 6
Work in liquid detergent
This step is for oil-based paint only. Work liquid detergent gently into the stain while it's still wet with solvent, then check the spot before going on.
Step 5 of 6
Sponge latex, then cool-water soak
For latex paint, sponge the stain with a commercial cleaner, then soak the item in cool water to loosen the paint. Launder it once the soak is done.
Step 6 of 6
Hot-water soak for stubborn stains
If the stain remains after the oil-based or latex steps, soak the item in hot water overnight, then launder it. Repeat the soak and launder if the paint is still there.
Careful. Skip the hot soak if the care label rules out hot water.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for paint on clothes
Look for a commercial cleaner labeled for paint stains, and keep mineral spirits or the paint's own thinner on hand for oil-based jobs.
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 clothes, 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 stain should look lighter and feel less stiff as the paint lifts, and that's your cue to keep going. If it looks the same after the hot soak and launder, the paint has likely set.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your clothes
Acetate, triacetate and modacrylic
Acetone and nail polish remover dissolve these synthetics, so keep both off the stain. Rubbing alcohol is also unsafe on them, and heavy rubbing can damage them, so blot rather than scrub.
If the paint doesn't lift with gentle blotting, take the item to a professional dry cleaner and point out the stain.
Wool, silk and mohair
These fibers need the gentlest route. Chlorine bleach is off the table for wool, silk, mohair, leather and spandex. Rubbing alcohol isn't safe on silk either.
Use the liquid detergent from the steps lightly, and keep the amount small. If the paint won't lift after a gentle pass, take the item to a professional cleaner rather than pushing harder.
Colored or not-colorfast fabric
Colored clothes need a colorfast check before anything else. Chlorine bleach is off-limits on items that aren't colorfast. Leave no pretreatment on longer than recommended, since unstable dyes can change color or fade.
Choose the mildest option in the steps, and rinse thoroughly before the item dries. If the color looks different after a test, stop and take the item to a professional cleaner.
Dry-clean-only items
Water is only for washable fabrics, so skip both soaks on dry-clean-only items. The cool-water soak and the hot-water soak are the two steps that don't apply to these garments.
A professional cleaner can choose a method that suits the fabric better than the home steps can. Until you get there, don't add any water to the stain.
Suede, leather and fur trim
Suede, leather and fur trim need a specialist, and the water and solvent steps here aren't written for them. Take the item to a cleaner who works with leather or fur.
Trying the thinner or detergent yourself risks damaging the material. For suede on its own, our Suede & Nubuck guide covers that surface.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Old paint is harder to lift than fresh paint, and the same steps may only lighten it. Fresh stains are much easier to remove than old ones, so start as soon as you spot the stain.
Dried paint on fabric may be permanent, so set your expectations low before you start. Once the paint has dried, repeating the overnight hot soak and laundering is the strongest step you can take at home.
If the item has already been through the dryer, heat has likely set the stain further, so the odds are lower. If the paint still shows after the repeat soak and launder, stop and take the item to a professional cleaner rather than trying harsher products.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on paint on clothes?
Most home remedies people reach for are built for other stains, so only a few touch paint at all. Only a few of these are gentle enough for clothes, so most should be left alone.
Skip6
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't dry or iron a stained item
Heat sets the stain, and once it's set it may become impossible to remove. Keep the item out of the dryer and off the iron until no paint shows.
Don't rub the stain with bar soap
Bar soap sets many stains, so reach for liquid detergent instead. Rubbing a fresh stain with bar soap can make the job harder than it started.
Don't mix stain removers
Ammonia and chlorine bleach create toxic fumes when combined, so never mix them. Rinse the fabric thoroughly between removers, and never use bleach at full strength.
When to call a professional
Take dry-clean-only items to a professional dry cleaner promptly, and tell them the fiber content and that the stain is paint. Take even washable items if the stain covers a large area, the item is bulky, or the fabric is fragile.
Questions
How do you get dried paint out of clothes?
You can sometimes lift dried paint, but it may be permanent once it has set, so no method promises a full removal. Treat it again carefully, and if the paint still shows, take the item to a professional cleaner.
Does oil-based paint wash out with water?
No. Oil-based paint isn't water-soluble, so it needs the solvent its label recommends as a thinner, or mineral spirits if the can has no label.
How long can latex paint sit before it's too hard to remove?
Once latex paint has dried for 6 to 8 hours, removal is very difficult. If you can't treat it right away, the sooner you start, the better your odds.
Is paint on carpet handled the same way?
No, because solvent can damage the latex that bonds carpet backings, so carpet needs its own approach. Our Carpet & Rugs guide covers that surface.
What if I don't know which paint it is?
Check the can if you still have it. If you can't tell, test a hidden spot with a commercial cleaner first, since latex can be sponged out with water and detergent while it's wet but oil-based paint won't come out that way.
What if the paint is on leather?
Leather needs its own approach, and the steps here aren't written for it. Our Leather guide covers that surface, so start there.
Paint on other materials
Other stains on clothes
Start from the bigger picture
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.