How to Remove Paint Stains from Carpet

Paint stains are some of the hardest types of stains to remove from carpet. A water-based paint has a tendency to adhere better to carpet than to walls once it dries, making it even harder to remove. Fortunately, with a little time and patience, there are ways to remove this difficult stain from carpet before replacing it becomes your only option. All paints are either water or oil based so latex and acrylic are the main types of stains.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Dish soap Clean cloths Vacuum Oxy Clean Rubbing alcohol Laundry detergent WD-40 Nail-polish remover (with acetone)

For Latex Paint Stains

1. Dip a cloth in soapy water. How much dish soap versus how much water is up to the user. Scrub the stain, working from the outer edge to the center. Rinse the rag and repeat as many times as necessary. Once the area is dry, vacuum up any residual paint.

2. Make a mix of 1 gallon of warm water and 3 tbsp. of Oxy Clean. Dip a cloth into the solution and apply it to the stain. Blot with paper towels until the stain is gone.

3. Apply rubbing alcohol to a sponge and scrub the stain, adding more rubbing alcohol as needed.

For Acrylic Paint Stains

4. Mix one scoop of laundry detergent with a gallon of warm water and soak a cloth in it. Place the cloth on the stain for two hours. Vacuum once the area is dry. Repeat if necessary.

5. Apply WD-40 to the stain and scrub with a clean cloth until the stain is gone. WD-40 will come off the carpet a lot easier than paint will.

6. Apply nail-polish remover with acetone by pouring some on a clean cloth and blotting it on the stain. Rinse the area with water.

Tips & Warnings

• It may be a good idea to contact a carpet professional to assist in removing a large stain that has set into the carpet.
• Avoid using bleach or colored cloths that may contain dyes that could be harmful to the carpet.