How to Remove Oil Paint From Clothing

You may think that an oil-based paint stain on your clothing will render the item lost forever, but there is hope as long as you act quickly and treat it properly. Oil-based paint stain removal depends on the type of material the garment is made of. Washable fiber materials are those fabrics such as cotton, nylon or linen that can be washed in a regular washing machine. Garments made of washable fibers can be treated by you, but nonwashable materials, such as silk and wool, should be treated by a professional dry cleaner.

Things You'll Need

• Paint thinner (as recommended)
• Liquid detergent

Instructions

Washable Fiber Materials

1. Check the label on the can the paint was in to determine what thinner is recommended (such as turpentine).

2. Pour the recommended thinner through the paint stain on the fabric, taking care not to let the stain spread beyond its original borders.

3. Rinse the stain with warm water and repeat the process with the paint thinner as necessary.

4. Treat the spot with liquid detergent and rub in gently in order to remove any remaining residue and rinse with warm water.

5. Launder as usual, but do not place in the dryer. Allow the material to air dry in order to determine whether the stain is gone. If necessary, repeat the process.