Essentials
How To Get Paint Out Of Clothes In 4 Simple Steps
Have you finished a home renovation, but ruined your favorite work outfit in the process? Here’s how to get paint out of clothes.
January 27, 2022
Painting projects are messy, and a dedicated outfit should be part of your household cleaning supplies.
If you didn’t plan ahead and now there’s paint on your favorite jeans, don’t worry — here’s how to get paint out of clothes, divided by different paint types.
1. How to get acrylic paint out of clothing
Acrylic paint is one of the most popular paint types available. Its popularity stems from its blending properties, ability to dry quickly, and vibrant colors. Unfortunately, this formula can cause permanent paint stains.
To remove the stain, you’ll need:
A spoon or a dull knife.
Warm water.
Dish soap.
A sponge.
To remove the paint from the fabric, follow these easy steps:
If the paint is still wet, scrape off the excess with the back of a spoon or knife.
Rinse the stained part of your clothes under warm water.
In a bowl, mix one-half cup of warm water with one-half cup of dish soap.
Dab your sponge into the mixture.
Use the sponge to blot at the stains. Don’t rub at them, as it’ll push the paint deeper into the fabric.
Repeat this process until the DIY stain remover does its job.
Once the stain is removed, wash the clothing on a cold water cycle with your regular laundry detergent.
Housekeeper’s tip: If you’re dealing with an unusually stubborn area, you can loosen the paint bonds by applying nail polish remover. Unfortunately, this could ruin the fabric. So always spot test before trying the nail polish.
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2. How to get water-based paint out of clothes
Fortunately, water-based paints are easier to deal with. You can often tackle the stained area with—you guessed it—more water.
These paints include watercolors and water-based wood stains. For supplies, you’ll need:
Dish soap.
Paper towels or a clean rag.
Follow these steps to learn how to get wet paint out of clothing:
First, scrape off any excess there may be.
Next, turn your clothing inside out and run some warm water over the stain. This will push the paint back through the weave so that most of it rests on the outside.
During this process, mix 1 tablespoon dish soap and 1 cup cold water.
Dip the stained area into this homemade solution.
Blot out the stain. Repeat this until the stain has disappeared.
Launder the clothing in a cold water cycle.
If the stain doesn’t disappear right away, use a cotton ball soaked in nail polish to work at the color, just like you would with acrylic paint. Remember that nail polish can ruin the fabric.
Anna Efetova - stock.adobe.com
3. How to get oil-based paint out of clothes
Oil-based stains are by far the most challenging stains to remove. Oil paints are also prized for their vibrant colors, durability, and slow drying time, allowing you to blend different shades.
Because of this combination of slow-drying speeds and durability, you’ll want to tackle those stains as quickly as possible. Once it sets in, there’s no way to get paint out of jeans or any other fabric.
Oil paint stains usually require the harshest cleaning materials, and some of them are toxic—like the paint itself.
For supplies, you’ll need:
A dull butter knife or spoon.
Turpentine or paint thinner.
A clean rag.
Paper towels.
A properly ventilated space. This is a must.
Nail polish remover (optional).
Old toothbrush (optional).
To remove oil stains from any material:
Grab the tools you need, and take them outside with your stained clothes. Because the fumes from these cleaning solutions are incredibly toxic, you’ll need proper ventilation.
Scrape off the excess paint with a dull butter knife.
Check the instructions on the paint tub. Does it say that you use turpentine or paint thinner for cleaning purposes?
Turn your stained clothes inside out. Put paper towels inside the garment so the stain doesn’t bleed through to the other side.
Dip a clean rag into the turpentine or paint thinner solution. Do a spot test on an inconspicuous area of the fabric to make sure the removal process won’t damage it.
If it works, continue to use the chemical solution to dab at your stained clothes.
If you notice some lingering residue, apply a little nail polish remover to the cleaned area, and scrub at it with an old toothbrush. Be careful you don’t damage the fabric fibers while scrubbing.
After, wash your clothing in cold, running water, but don’t put it on a dry cycle unless you’re sure that the stains are completely gone. Both the paint and the paint removers are flammable. Never use either of these cleaning products on delicate fabrics, either. It will run the dye and make them to fall apart.
Finish up the process by washing your hands with gentle hand soap to ensure no exposure to contaminants.
simonidadj - stock.adobe.com
4. How to remove paint from clothes with baking soda
One of the most commonly asked questions about painting stains is, “Can I use baking soda to remove this?”
Generally, baking soda is an excellent cleaning agent: one that can tackle almost everything, from end-of-summer rough and tumble activities to polishing some mothers’ day gifts for grandma. You’re forgiven for thinking that it would work in this scenario, too.
Unfortunately, paint sets into cloth fibers quickly and baking soda isn’t strong enough to remove it once it absorbs. Skip this method and try one of the above options.
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