How to Clean Up Latex Paint

Latex paint is a cost-effective way of sprucing up a variety of surfaces, and it cleans up easily. However, nearly everyone using latex paint will at one point or another accidentally get paint on something that they don't want it on. There are ways to clean up those inevitable spills, drips and smears that tend to happen every time a latex paint can is open.

Things You'll Need

• Wire brush
• Latex paint remover (such as Goof Off, depending on the location of the paint to be removed)
• Stain remover (such as Spot Shot, if the paint is on carpeting)

Instructions

1. Remove the paint from your brushes, rollers and paint pans by rinsing them in cool water until the water runs clear. Be sure to splay the paint brush bristles apart while rinsing to ensure that the paint gets removed from deep down in the brush. Squeezing and scrubbing the rollers with your hands as you rinse will help to remove the paint.

2. Comb out your paint brushes with the wire brush, beginning from the handle and moving to the end of the bristles, to remove any dried paint and to properly align the bristles for drying and storage of the brush.

3. Remove any dried paint splatters from hard surfaces by scraping (your fingernail works well for this), or by applying a latex paint remover, such as Goof Off, on the paint splatter. Allow it to soften the paint for a few minutes before scraping.

4. Remove paint from carpeting with a stain remover, such as Spot Shot, if the paint is still wet. If the paint has dried, use the paint remover/Goof Off to soften it; scrub up what you can with a white rag; and follow up with the stain remover/Spot Shot to remove any remaining dye from the carpeting.

5. Remove latex paint from sidewalks and other concrete surfaces by running water onto the surface with a hose and scrubbing with a wire brush. Goof Off will be helpful for this application also, if desired.