How to Remove Paint from Carpet

No matter how careful you try to be when you're painting, a few drops of paint always find their way onto the carpet. Doesn't it seem that the amount of paint that spills varies in direct proportion to the brightness of the paint color? While it's best to clean spilled paint from carpet immediately, if a few hidden drops do dry then you may need to use more intense cleaning methods to remove them.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Apply a small amount of paint remover to the dried paint stain using a cotton swab or small brush. Goo Gone or RX for Spotting are two specific products that might loosen the dried paint sufficiently to clean it up. If the spilled paint is oil-based, a solvent or paint thinner may be necessary instead.

2. Gently rub the paint stain with a stiff, bristle brush. Pieces of dried paint should come loose and you can easily pick them up and dispose of them.

3. Clean the carpet with a standard carpet cleaner to remove any remaining paint residue. Follow the directions on the container.

Tips & Warnings

• As a last resort, you may need to trim a little bit of the carpet fibers if some paint remains.
• Always test paint removing chemicals on a hidden area of the carpet before using in a visible area.