How to Remove Dried Oil Paint From Carpet
Whether you are discovering some mishaps from remodeling your house or have an artist in the family, carpet stains are a common occurrence even for painters who lay down a plastic tarp or newspaper before painting. While any paint stain in the carpet can be tough to remove, dried oil paint is especially tenacious. If you need to remove dried oil paint, remember that oil and water do not mix, so you'll need to use oil-thinning products before water-based cleaners will have any effect on the stain. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Cleaning rags and paper towels
- Turpentine or paint thinner
- Carpet cleaner or detergent
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Ammonia
- White vinegar
- Baking soda
- Scissors
Instructions
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1
Blot up any excess wet paint with a paper towel to minimize carpet stains.
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2
Use a spoon to chip away paint from the top and edges of the dried oil paint.
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3
Test a small, less visible area of carpet fiber with turpentine or paint thinner to make sure the carpet will not be altered when you attempt to remove dried oil paint, since the dye in some carpets may also be removed with paint thinner.
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4
Apply turpentine or paint thinner to a cloth and dab the stain until the dried oil paint softens and begins to lift from the carpet.
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5
Clean the area with detergent or carpet cleaner as directed on the product label to remove dried oil paint after it has been softened and thinned.
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6
Blot the area with a warm, damp cloth to rinse the area of detergent.
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7
Assess the stain to determine if you need to continue with alternate cleaning methods. If carpet stains persist, move on to the next steps.
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Apply a solution of 1 part hydrogen peroxide and 3 parts warm water to the area and let stand for 30 minutes with a towel covering the area to prevent light from reaching the hydrogen peroxide.
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9
Apply a solution of 1 part ammonia and 4 parts warm water to the area, blotting the dried oil paint with a cloth and then blotting dry.
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10
Apply a solution of 1 part white vinegar and 4 parts warm water to the area, blotting to removed dried paint remnants and then blotting dry.
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11
Remove any residual carpet odor by sprinking the area with baking soda and vacuuming.
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12
Remove any remaining pieces of dried oil paint by pulling the carpet fibers up and carefully snipping the hardened paint off with scissors.
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Tips & Warnings
If carpet stains persist after trying all of the above methods to remove dried oil paint, ask a flooring specialist about spot dying for carpets to restore the original color.
Be careful when using hydrogen peroxide and ammonia, which may bleach the color out of darker carpets, and always rinse with warm water between chemicals to avoid noxious fumes.
