There is no need to throw away your favorite piece of clothing if you’ve accidentally spilled paint on it. Here are a few tried and tested methods for removing paint from clothes, without causing any damage to the fabric.
Most of us have experienced a mishap which has ended with paint on our clothes. However, there are those who seem to attract disaster every now and then. Personally, I always seem to find a freshly painted surface to brush against, or a stray tube of paint to sit on. If you have school going kids, you surely have to deal with this problem. Before you think of discarding such clothes, there are a few methods that you can try for safely removing paint from the cloth. Your success is likely to depend on the size of the stain, the amount of time that has elapsed since the spill, and the type of paint.
Removing Latex Paint from Clothing
You Will Require
- Rubbing alcohol
- Old cloth or rag
Instructions
- Start by spraying the paint stain with the rubbing alcohol.
- Take a rag (or old cloth) and rub the area with the paint. Slowly, little by little, the paint will start coming off.
- Continue to do this, dousing the area with rubbing alcohol every now and then, to assist the process along.
- Once all the paint is out, wash and dry the garment.
- If a faint stain remains, you can try the process again.
Removing Oil Paint from Clothing
Oil Paint Removal Method #1
You Will Require
- Liquid dishwashing soap
- Old cloth
Instructions
- Pour a generous amount of liquid dish soap on the stained area of the garment, and allow it to soak in.
- Take an old cloth and rub the spot so as to work out the stain.
- Then rinse and repeat from the beginning. While this process does require considerable elbow grease, one can often achieve success with it.
Oil Paint Removal Method #2
You Will Require
- Blunt knife
- Turpentine
- Absorbent paper
- Iron
- Detergent
- Sponge or old cloth
Instructions
- For tougher paint stains, where the above mentioned technique fails to work, another approach must be sought. Start by scrapping off as much paint as can come off with a blunt knife. While doing so, be careful not to cut or damage the cloth.
- Once you’ve gotten the paint out as much as possible this way, dip a piece of sponge in some turpentine, and dab it on the stained area. The paint should now peel off with relative ease, but you will be left with oily residue on the clothing.
- One way to work out this oily residue is to place absorbent paper on both sides of the stain, and hot iron over it.
- Or combine 1 teaspoon of detergent with 1 cup of lukewarm water, and using the above mentioned method, treat the spot with it.
- Use a sponge or cloth to rub the spot, and then rinse it out under cool running water. You will only be able to tell how well it has worked when the cloth dries.
Oil Paint Removal Method #3
You Will Require
- A hairspray
- Old piece of cloth or rag
Instructions
- A home remedy that works well to remove paint from clothing is hairspray. All you need to do is spray the area with some hairspray and then, rub it with a rag.
- You may need to repeat the procedure a few times before you see results, so don’t give up immediately.
- If you don’t have a hairspray, use any other spray that contains Isopropyl alcohol. However, don’t use a spray that will further stain the garment.
- Remember to launder the cloth when you are done. This method works with latex paint too.
A Few Points to Remember
- It is best to remove the paint as soon as it stains a cloth because fresh stains are easy to remove. Dried paint is much difficult to remove from a fabric.
- Test the paint-removing agents on a small portion of the garment to check for suitability with the fabric.
- Do not rub the affected portion of cloth harshly, as it may damage and fade the clothing.
- You can also use a strong tape to remove the dried paint to some extent from the clothing.
- When using a commercial product for getting rid of the paint, don’t forget to carefully read the instructions mentioned on the label.
Other products like white spirit, paint thinner, etc., are also used for removing paint from clothes. However, be careful not to spread the stain while trying to get it out. And always remember that glass will break, and clothes will get stained, even if it is your favorite coat.
