How to Remove Acrylic Paint From Fabric

Acrylic paints are common in many art projects, making it especially easy for children to wind up with stained clothing. It's not so bad when it gets on the designated play clothes, but every now and then it gets onto something that simply cannot be easily replaced. Acrylic paint on fabric can seem like a much more daunting task than it really is. There are several easy methods for removing acrylic paint from fabric.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Ammonia
• Vinegar
• Salt
• Mineral spirits
• Soft clean cloth
• Pine Sol
• Toothbrush
• WD-40
• Windex

1. Fill a sink with water (make sure it's a sink that won't need to be used for a while). Add 2 tbsp. ammonia, 2 tbsp. vinegar and 1 tbsp. salt. Place the stained fabric in the sink with the solution and allow it to soak overnight. If there are areas where the paint is really thick it helps to scrub with a brush dipped in the solution before soaking it. Launder the fabric as usual in the morning.

2. Apply mineral spirits to a clean white cloth and rub the area free of paint. Launder as usual once the paint has been removed.

3. Apply a small amount of Pine Sol to the stain and scrub with an old toothbrush. Apply more Pine Sol as needed and continue scrubbing until all of the stain is gone. Launder as usual.

4. Spray the stained area with WD-40 and allow it to sit for at least 1 minute. Rub the area with a clean, dry cloth until the stain is gone, and launder as usual.

5. Spray the paint stain with Windex and scrub the area gently with a soft, clean cloth before laundering.

Tips & Warnings

• Test each method on an inconspicuous area of the fabric before using it to remove paint.
• Do not launder the fabric before attempting to remove the stain. This will cause the stain to set in, and it won't be able to be removed. Read the care instructions on the label carefully as some fabrics may be damaged by some methods.