First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Blot liquid paint now rather than wiping it.
- Scrape thick paint with a rounded spoon, working from the edges toward the center.
- Check the can to see whether the paint is oil-based or water-based.
- Start now, since the sooner you act, the easier paint lifts.
Paint on tile is mostly a surface problem, since tile is hard and can take water well, so a wash does much of the work. Water-based paint lifts with water and detergent while it's fresh, but when it's allowed to harden, the mark can stick around for good. Oil-based paint needs the thinner its can recommends, and that's the point where caution matters most.
If the paint has already dried, scrubbing harder with the same product only scratches glazed tile. Scrape gently with a plastic scraper, then wipe the film away with a microfiber cloth. Paint on a tile floor works the same way, but keep the water light so it doesn't soak into the grout.
Before you start
What tile can take
Safe to use1
- Water
Use with care7
- Hot water
- Soaking
- Chlorine bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
- Heat, once the stain is out
7 items
What you'll need
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- Soft cloths or paper towelsFor blotting paint without spreading it. (opens Amazon)
- Rounded spoon or plastic scraperFor lifting thick paint off the tile without gouging it. (opens Amazon)
- Mild soap and a bucket of warm waterFor the first wash, before any stronger product. (opens Amazon)
- Non-abrasive tile or glass cleanerFor heavy soil left after the wash, following the label's dwell time. (opens Amazon)
- Thinner named on the paint canOnly for oil-based paint, and only after a hidden-spot test.
- Clean water and a second clothFor rinsing the whole area until no film is left.
- Non-abrasive cleaner (opens Amazon)
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Blot and scrape the wet paint
Blot any liquid paint with a soft cloth or paper towel, pressing rather than wiping so it doesn't spread. Scrape thick paint gently with a rounded spoon, working from the edges toward the center. Latex that has dried for 6 to 8 hours is very hard to remove, so start now and keep the cloth dry and swapped out often.
Step 2 of 6
Sweep up the loose dirt
Once the wet paint is blotted, sweep or vacuum loose dirt off the dry tile around the spot. That keeps grit from being smeared into the paint as you wash.
Step 3 of 6
Wash with mild soap and warm water
Mix a small amount of mild soap into warm water and wash the paint with a soft cloth. Work in small sections and rinse the cloth often so you're lifting paint rather than spreading it.
Tip. If the paint is water-based and still soft, this wash may be all you need.
Step 4 of 6
Use thinner only on oil-based paint
If the paint is oil-based, soap and water won't lift it, so use the thinner the can recommends. Test it on a hidden spot first, then apply it to the paint with a cloth and wipe it away. Skip this step on polished porcelain, which shouldn't get solvent-based chemicals.
Careful. Keep the room well ventilated, with no open flame, pilot light or sparks nearby.
Step 5 of 63 to 5 minutes
Apply tile cleaner and let it sit
Apply a non-abrasive cleaner recommended for glass or tile to any heavy soil left behind. Let it dwell for 3 to 5 minutes per the product label, then move on before it dries.
Careful. Test any new cleaner on a small, inconspicuous area first.
Step 6 of 6
Rinse the tile thoroughly
Rinse the whole area with clean water until no soap, cleaner or film is left on the surface. Use fresh water and a clean cloth so you're not moving residue back onto the tile.
Tip. Wipe a clean, dry cloth across the surface to check for residue.
Careful. Bleach and alkaline cleaners can take several rinses to clear.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for paint on tile
Pick a non-abrasive cleaner labeled for glass or tile, and for oil-based paint, the thinner the can names. Check the label before you buy so you know it suits tile.
Goo Gone Pro-Power Goo & Adhesive Remover
Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on tile, 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 →How to tell it's working
Paint should lift in soft flakes or wipe onto the cloth as you go. If it only smears across the tile, stop scrubbing, let the area dry, and move on to the next step.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your tile
Tile floors
On a floor, work in small sections so wet paint doesn't get walked across the rest of the tile. Blot and scrape the spot before you add any liquid, and keep foot traffic off the area until it's rinsed.
Rinse each section fully and dry it before anyone steps on it. Once the floor is dry, check the spot in good light before you call it finished.
Painted tile
If the tile is already painted, the stain is new paint sitting on an existing finish. Keep the pressure light so you don't lift the finish underneath along with it.
Water-based paint can usually be sponged while it's wet, and oil-based paint needs the label's thinner, so check the can before you choose a method. If you can't tell which paint it is, start with the mild soap wash and go no further.
Drips and splatter
Small splatters and drips are the easiest to lift, so start with the blotting while they're still soft. Dried drips can be scraped gently with a rounded spoon, working from the edges toward the center, before any liquid touches them.
Overspray over a larger area is best handled one section at a time, rinsing each before you move on. Keep the cloth moving so you don't drag paint across the tile.
Glazed and specialty tile
Glazed ceramic and porcelain take the same mild soap and tile cleaner as the rest of the tile. Textured or hand-made faces are uneven, so use a soft brush or cloth in small circles rather than a hard pad.
Polished surfaces show every streak, so dry the area and check it in good light before you move on.
Stone tile
Natural stone is the most sensitive case here, so keep to the mild soap wash and the tile cleaner and go slowly. Leave out any product listed in the mistakes section.
Blot and scrape before any liquid goes on, and rinse well so no residue sits in the stone.
Bathroom and kitchen tile
Wall tile in showers, kitchens and backsplashes uses the same steps, but work from the top down so drips don't run over cleaned areas. Outdoor and pool tile follows the same method, with a thorough rinse so no cleaner dries on the surface.
Sinks and toilets are vitreous china, where strong abrasives scratch and dull the surface, so see our Sinks guide or Toilets guide instead. Keep the cloth damp and change the water often so you're not spreading paint around.
Grout lines
Grout is a separate surface, so treat the tile face and the lines differently. Start with a soft cloth and the mild soap wash before anything else.
For scrubbing and cleaning the lines themselves, see our Grout guide. Keep the rinse thorough along the lines so no soap is left in them.
Water-based and oil-based paint
Water-based latex is the easier type, since it can be sponged out with mild soap and warm water while it's still wet. Oil-based paint isn't water-soluble, so soap alone won't lift it.
Check the can to see which type you have, including semi-gloss, floor and chalk paints, since the base decides the method. For oil-based paint, use the thinner the label recommends.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Old paint often needs a second pass rather than a stronger product. Repeat the tile cleaner and let it dwell for 3 to 5 minutes per the label before you rinse again.
Dried latex is the hardest case, and once it has set, the wash alone is very hard to lift it with. On a hard surface like tile, a plastic scraper or stiff card can sometimes lift hardened latex, so work slowly and keep the edge flat against the tile.
If a shadow or film remains, use a professional-strength tile and grout cleaner for buildup, following the package instructions, and rinse well. Dried paint that still won't budge after that is a job for a professional, and it's better to stop than to scrape the tile.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on paint on tile?
Most home remedies you'll find online are for food or fabric stains, so they don't belong in a tile method. Mild soap is the only home option that suits tile, and the others can damage grout or stone.
Skip6
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't use cleaners with fluorine compounds
Fluorine compounds damage ceramic, glass and stone, so read the ingredient list before you buy or use a cleaner. If a product mentions fluorine, leave it on the shelf and use the tile cleaner from the steps instead.
Don't scrub glass tile with steel wool
Scouring pads, steel wool and sandpaper scratch glass tile and leave it dull. A soft cloth with the non-abrasive cleaner is the safer choice.
Don't leave a no-rinse cleaner on tile floors
Residue from no-rinse cleaners lowers slip resistance on a tile floor. Rinse with clean water after cleaning, even if the label says no rinse is needed.
Don't use vinegar on natural stone or cement grout
Vinegar is unsafe on marble, limestone, travertine, granite and other siliceous stone, and on cement grout. Stick to the tile cleaner from the steps instead.
Troubleshooting
If the stain is still there
Pick what you're seeing:
Latex paint has already dried on the tile.
On hard surfaces, hardened latex can sometimes be scraped off with stiff cardboard, a plastic bowl scraper or a fingernail. Follow with mild soap and water.
Oil-based paint smears instead of lifting.
Water won't dissolve it. Use the thinner recommended on the paint can, on a cloth, after testing a hidden tile.
A cloudy film remains after cleaning.
Rinse again with clean water. Bleach and alkaline cleaners may need several rinses.
Paint sits in the texture of a non-slip floor tile.
Blot and work it with mild soap and a soft cloth, then let the tile cleaner dwell for its full label time before rinsing.
When to call a professional
If the paint still won't lift after the set-in options, stop before using anything stronger. A professional tile cleaner can judge the surface and remove what's left without risking the tile.
Questions
Does vinegar remove paint from tiles?
No, vinegar isn't needed. The mild soap wash and the tile cleaner handle the tile face, so use those rather than a home remedy. Use the method above for the job rather than a home remedy.
Can you remove paint from tile without damaging it?
Yes, if you start with the gentlest option and only move up when it doesn't work. Blot and scrape first, then use the mild soap wash, and only then the tile cleaner or a thinner.
Which thinner or paint remover is safe on tile?
Use the thinner the paint can names for oil-based paint, and don't pick a remover that isn't listed for that paint. Check the product label for tile use before you buy one.
Can paint be removed from grout lines?
Grout lines are a separate surface, so follow our Grout guide for them. The steps in the method are written for the tile face.
Is water-based or oil-based paint easier to remove from tile?
Water-based latex is easier, since it can be sponged out with soap and water while it's still wet. Oil-based paint isn't water-soluble and needs the thinner the can names.
What if the paint has been on the tile for a while?
Old, dried paint is very difficult to lift with the wash alone, so move to the set-in options above. Stop before anything stronger if the spot won't budge.
Paint on other materials
Other stains on tile
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.