If you accidentally spill paint on your shirt or pants, don’t panic: We asked Carolyn Forte, director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab, how to get this tricky stain out of your belongings. The most important thing she says is to treat paint stains as quickly as you can, because once the paint dries, the stain may be impossible to remove.
Another thing to keep in mind: while some materials may be able to stand up to these stain treatments, more fragile ones, like silk, may be permanently damaged. To make sure your cleaning products and method are a match with the material, spot test them first. At the first sign of color bleeding or fading, stop what you’re doing and accept the sad fate of your garment. And next time, please, oh, please, wear a smock.
Latex or Water-Based Paint
Good news: “Fresh latex paint washes out quickly,” says Forte. But if it’s dry, start by scraping off excess paint. Working from the back of the fabric, vigorously flush the stain under warm running water. Mix a solution of one part dish soap, to one part warm water. Sponge the stain with the detergent solution, tamping it vigorously. Rinse and repeat this process until no more paint is removed. If the stain remains, try blotting with acetone. Caution: Do not use acetone on fabrics containing acetate or triacetate — it will melt these fibers!
Oil-Based Paint
If the stain is dry, soften it by treating it with the product the paint manufacturer recommends for thinning the paint (check the paint can’s label). If the paint is wet, scrape off excess, then use a clean white cloth to blot up as much paint as possible. Rinse, but don’t let the fabric dry. Place the stain face down on a stack of white paper towels or cloths. Blot with turpentine. Tamp the stain to help break up the paint. Repeat, replacing the paper towels or cloth until no more paint can be removed. Treat the remaining stain with liquid hand dishwashing soap and soak overnight. Rinse well and launder. If the stain remains, treat with a prewash stain remover, and launder again.
Acrylic Paint
Flush the spot with warm water, then sponge it with a solution of one part dishwashing liquid soap and one part warm water. Repeat as necessary, then rinse and launder.
How to Remove Paint From Everything Else
Upholstery
Scrape off excess paint. Mix a solution of one part liquid hand dishwashing detergent to one part cool water. Sponge the stain with the detergent solution, tamping it vigorously. Rinse and repeat until no more paint is removed. If the stain remains, try blotting with acetone.
Carpet
Scrape off excess paint and, starting at the outer edge of the stain, apply acrylic paint and varnish remover. Gently scrape away the paint as it softens. Repeat, using the remover sparingly, until you have removed as much paint as possible. Be careful to keep the paint and varnish remover from spreading the stain. “Otherwise you may create a bigger stain,” warns Forte. To avoid this, work on the individual tufts, carefully applying the remover and working it in so it doesn’t spread to the surrounding tufts.
If any paint remains, work glycerin into the stain and let it soak for several hours. Sponge the stain with a mild solution of liquid hand dishwashing detergent to one part cool water. Blot until the liquid is absorbed. Sponge with a solution of one part white vinegar to 10 parts water. Blot until the liquid is absorbed. Sponge with cold water and blot dry.
