First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Act while the paint is wet. Latex that has dried for 6 to 8 hours is very hard to remove.
- Cover oil-based paint with plastic wrap if you can't treat it right away, so it doesn't dry.
- Blot liquid paint, then scrape thick paint with a rounded spoon from the edges toward the center.
- Check the can for the recommended thinner, and test any solvent on a hidden spot first.
Fresh paint on marble gives you the best odds, because once it dries it sinks into the stone and gets very hard to lift. After that, expect repeated poultice treatments, and some marks may never come out completely. A poultice can also dull a polished finish, so think about that before you start on a visible area.
Paint on stone steps or a stone wall should be treated with a pH-neutral, stone-safe cleaner before you reach for anything stronger. Test any poultice on a small hidden patch, and don't stack several products at once. If old paint on stone still shows after a few rounds, that's the time to call a professional.
Before you start
What marble & natural stone can take
Safe to use1
- Water
Use with care5
- Chlorine bleach
- Oxygen bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
- Heat, once the stain is out
Avoid1
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
8 items
What you'll need
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- Clear waterWets the stone before scrubbing and rinses it afterward.
- Washing sodaThe main cleaner in the hot solution for paint on stone. (opens Amazon)
- Trisodium phosphateAn alternative to washing soda in the same hot solution. (opens Amazon)
- Stiff bristled brushWorks the solution into the paint without needing scouring powder. (opens Amazon)
- Rounded spoon or plastic scraperLifts thick paint off the stone without digging into it. (opens Amazon)
- Plastic wrapCovers oil-based paint if you can't treat it right away, and holds a poultice in place. (opens Amazon)
- Rubber glovesProtects your hands from the hot solution and from solvents. (opens Amazon)
- Paper towels (opens Amazon)
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Blot or scrape up the paint
Blot any liquid paint with a paper towel or cloth. Scrape thick paint with a rounded spoon, working from the edges toward the center so it doesn't spread.
Careful. Wiping a fresh spill spreads the paint, so blot it instead.
Step 2 of 6
Wet the stone with clear water
Pour or spray clear water over the whole stained area until the surface is evenly wet. A wet surface keeps the paint softer and helps the solution reach it.
Tip. Keep the area damp while you mix the solution.
Step 3 of 6
Apply the hot washing soda solution
Mix 5 tablespoons of washing soda into 1 gallon of hot water, or use 1 tablespoon of trisodium phosphate for the same amount of water. Pour or brush the hot solution over the stain so it covers the paint completely.
Step 4 of 6
Scrub with a stiff brush
Scrub the stain with a stiff bristled brush in small circles, working the solution into the paint until it starts to lift. Keep the surface wet as you go, and move to the next section when the first one looks clean.
Careful. Scouring powders, creams and scrub pads can scratch stone and worsen etches, so use only the brush.
Step 5 of 6
Rinse with clear water
Rinse the stone thoroughly with clear water to carry away the solution and loosened paint. Check that no soapy film or residue is left on the surface.
Tip. Rinse from the top of the area downward so runoff doesn't drag paint across clean stone.
Step 6 of 6
Let the stone dry
Allow the marble to dry completely, then inspect it in good light. If paint is still visible, repeat the washing soda step on that area before you move on.
Tip. Check again after drying, because wet stone can hide faint paint.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for paint on marble & natural stone
For a commercial paint remover, look for a label that says it is safe for marble or natural stone, and test it on a hidden spot first.
Goof Off Professional Strength Remover
Granite Gold® Daily Cleaner
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on marble & natural stone, 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.
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 stone is clean when the paint is gone and the surface has the same sheen as the stone around it. Loosened paint should lift off on the brush or wash away, with no color left behind on the surface. If the stone looks dull or etched after rinsing, stop and get a professional opinion before going further.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your marble & natural stone
Stone walls and foundations
On a vertical wall, work in small sections from the bottom up so the solution doesn't run down over clean stone. Keep each section wet with clear water and scrub it before you move to the next one.
On exterior stone, the sun can dry the solution too quickly, so work in the shade or early in the day and rinse each section before it dries. Keep the brush off the mortar joints and scrub the stone face instead.
Steps, sills and pavers
Steps and sills are the hardest to rinse, because runoff can pool on the treads and ledges. Pour the clear water over them from the top so the loosened paint washes off the edges.
Treat each step, sill or paver one at a time, and rinse it before you move to the next so the solution doesn't dry on it. Use the rounded spoon on thick paint before you apply the solution, and work the brush along the joints where paint collects.
Floors, patios and tiles
Floors and patios get heavy foot traffic, so clean one section at a time and rinse it before anyone walks across it. On a large slab, work in manageable squares so the solution stays wet on the paint until you rinse.
For tiles, use the brush around the grout lines and avoid pressing hard on the tile edges. Check each tile after it dries, because paint often sits in the joints as well as on the face.
Paint drips and splatter
Fresh drips and splatter are the easiest to lift, so scrape any raised drip with a rounded spoon before it sets. Blot the rest with a cloth, wet the spot with clear water, and then apply the washing soda solution.
Small splatter often lifts with the first scrub, so check it before you repeat the full wash. Spots that remain after the rinse need the poultice described below as the next step.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Old paint has usually bonded to the stone, so one round of washing may only soften the top layer. Give it a few rounds before you decide it's stuck.
Dried latex is very hard to lift once it has hardened, so washing alone is not enough at that point. Spread a thick poultice paste over the stain, cover it with plastic, and leave it in place for 24 to 48 hours before you check the result.
Repeat the poultice as needed, since difficult stains can take up to five applications and some may never come out completely. A poultice can dull polished marble, so check the shine after each round and stop if it fades. If the stain still shows after repeated rounds, a professional stone restorer can usually pull out more than you can at home.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on paint on marble & natural stone?
Most kitchen remedies would dull marble, so only washing soda suits wet paint on this stone. Washing soda is the one remedy that suits wet paint on marble, since most others would dull the stone. For masonry, exterior, oil-based or chalk paint, follow the thinner the label recommends and test it first.
Skip5Avoid1
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't strip paint with flame or acid
Flame tools can't be used to strip paint from stone, and acids are off limits too. Vinegar, lemon and other acidic cleaners etch or dull marble, limestone and travertine, so keep them away from the job.
Don't mix bleach and ammonia
Bleach mixed with ammonia makes a toxic gas that can be lethal. Keep the two products apart, and rinse out any bucket or cloth that touched one before using the other.
Don't use rust removers with hydrofluoric acid
Hydrofluoric acid attacks all stone, so check the label on any rust remover before you buy it. Skip any product that contains it, even if the rust stain looks small.
Don't mix whiting into an acid poultice
Whiting and iron-type clays such as fuller's earth react with acid chemicals and cancel out the poultice. Keep the poultice paste free of acids, and mix it fresh for each application.
Don't use solvents without fresh air
Solvents need good ventilation, so work with windows open or outdoors. Keep open flames, pilot lights and sparks well away from the area while you work.
When to call a professional
Stone that is etched, deeply scratched or nicked, or stained by deep rust or copper should go to a professional stone restorer. Deep rust is often permanent on stone, so call a restorer early rather than trying repeated treatments at home. Call one too if stains remain after repeated poultices.
Questions
Can you get paint off marble with vinegar?
No. Skip vinegar on marble. Use the washing soda solution and clear water instead, and keep the stone evenly wet.
How do you get old paint off a stone wall?
Work in sections with the washing soda solution and a stiff brush, rinsing each one before you start the next. Old paint often needs a poultice on top of that, repeated over several rounds.
How do you remove paint from stone steps?
Blot or scrape the paint first, then wet the step and scrub it with the washing soda solution. Rinse each step before you move to the next so the solution doesn't dry on it.
Can I use paint remover on a stone patio?
Yes, if the label says it's safe for marble or natural stone, and you test it on a hidden spot first. Otherwise the washing soda steps are the safer starting point for a patio.
Does oil-based paint come off marble with water?
No, oil-based paint isn't water-soluble, so water and detergent won't lift it. Use the thinner the paint's label recommends, and test it on a hidden spot first.
Will dish soap remove paint from stone?
Mild dish soap in water can lift fresh latex paint while it's still wet, but it won't clear dried paint. For dried paint, the washing soda solution is the better choice.
Can dried paint come out of marble?
Sometimes, but it takes more work and several rounds. A poultice can draw out dried paint over time, and a professional restorer can handle whatever remains.
Paint on other materials
Other stains on marble & natural stone
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.