How To

How to Remove Latex Paint from Carpet

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By eHow Contributing Writer
(89 Ratings)
Remove Latex Paint from Carpet
Remove Latex Paint from Carpet

That "oops" you heard during that painting project in the other room is bad news - latex paint can ruin a carpet. Act fast or you may have to permanently place a potted plant in that stained spot.

Difficulty: Easy
Instructions
  1. Step 1

    Remove as much wet paint as you can by blotting with a clean, white, absorbent cloth; work from the outside in to avoid spreading the stain.

  2. Step 2

    Sponge with cool water and blot again (still from the outside in) until you've removed as much paint as you can.

  3. Step 3

    Mix one teaspoon mild dishwashing detergent in a cup of lukewarm water.

  4. Step 4

    Blot with detergent solution solution, using a clean, white cloth, working from the outside in.

  5. Step 5

    Let the area dry completely and vacuum.

Tips & Warnings
  • If you've allowed a latex paint stain to dry, contact a professional carpet cleaning service to see if it can remove the stain. You may have to live with it.

Comments  

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sadiesue02 said

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on 9/24/2009 Awesome! i read about the windex and pledge multisurface was all i had so i used it and it worked great! Thanks for saving me!

debbiekate said

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on 12/28/2008 I dropped a relatively small paintbrush that was loaded with Burgundy/Rose colored paint on brand new eggshell-colored carpet. Granted, there was not a lot of paint, and the spot was smallish, but I followed the original instructions above and it worked very well. There's a very very slight discoloration left, but to find it, you have to be looking for it and know *where* to look.

gailysue2 said

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on 9/20/2008 I had dried yellow latex paint on a tan carpet. I had Stanley Steemer come out after the painters left, they couldn't get it out & told me to try some paint solvent on a cloth. I didn't want to use this at all. I wet the carpet & sprayed it with Xtra laundry spot remover & use a small stiff brush to rub it in. I was amazed to see that it was instantly gone. My carpet is soft & smells good , too!

DeeC said

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on 8/12/2008 What if the paint was poured onto the carpet and has been there for awhile?

conwaycom said

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on 7/27/2008 Follow these steps:
1. Don't panic - you'll be OK.
2. Part I: Remove as much wet paint as possible (gently scoop, scrap, spoon off as much paint as possible off the carpet).
3. Assemble the following: Bucket of warm water, Oxy-Clean (I used liquid), roll of paper towls, and several cloth towels.
4. Soak cloth towels in oxy-clean solution, lay across paint spot, and blot heavily. (Get the carpet good and wet w/ the Water / Oxy-Clean solution).
5. Next, lay paper towls across the spot and soak up as much water as possible. (Stand on the paper towels - let them soak up as much paint as possible).
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 over and over again. (You may go through a few rolls of paper towels).
7. You'll start to notice that the paint color will start to fade and you'll begin extracting less and less paint as it comes out.
8. Part II: Don't let the paint dry in the carpet - Next,

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