How to Remove House Paint From Clothing

If paint happens to find its way to unwanted places like clothing, in most cases these stains can be removed. It helps if the stain is tended to before it dries, but there are options. Some stains will be easier to lift than others depending on the type of paint and the type of material.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Rubbing alcohol Clean cloth Laundry detergent Putty knife Turpentine Dish soap WD-40

Latex Paint Stains

1. Apply rubbing alcohol to the stained area and wipe with a clean cloth until the stain is gone, applying more alcohol as needed. Wash the garment according to the instructions on the tag.

2. Place the garment in boiling water with a scoop of laundry detergent. Be sure to read the care instructions for the garments as some material may not hold up to this method. Boil for 10 minutes and use a toothbrush to scrape away the paint. Dry the garment per the care instructions.

3. Use a putty knife to scrape away dry paint and rinse the area with warm water. Wash and dry the garment per the care instructions on the tag.

Oil-Based Paint Stains

4. Blot the stain with turpentine and a cloth. Remove as much of the stain as possible and rinse the area with cool water by blotting a sponge on the area. Apply dish soap and continue to blot the area with the sponge until all the dish soap is gone. Launder as usual.

5. Spray WD-40 on an older stain to refresh it. Apply dish soap to the stain and scrub gently with a clean cloth until the stain is gone. Launder as usual per the care instructions on the tag.

6. Saturate the stained area with liquid dish soap for at least 30 minutes. Use a dry cloth to gently scrub the area and rinse with cool water. Repeat if necessary and launder as usual.

Tips & Warnings

• If the container that the paint came from is available, check for instructions on stain removal. Goof Off and Oxy Clean are both very effective in stain removal. Follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully.
• Avoid the use of paint thinner as this will cause the stain to spread.