How to Clean Paint Spots From Brick Walls
When painting any surface that is in close proximity to brick, you must take extreme care not to splash any of the paint onto the brick surface. Not only does brick absorb paint quickly, its porous nature guarantees that it will hold on to paint that it comes into contact with. This means that, unlike many hard surfaces, you will not be able to simply wipe the paint away if you catch it while it is still wet. If you need to remove paint spots from brick, you can do so either indoors or outdoors by using a gel paint remover that will not damage the brick surface. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Rubber gloves
- Protective eyewear
- Drop cloth
- Tape
- Gel paint remover
- Paintbrush
- Fabric strips
- Garbage bag
- Water
- Stiff-bristled brush
Instructions
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1
Put on rubber gloves and protective eyewear. You will be working with caustic chemicals that should not be allowed to come into contact with either your skin or your eyes.
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2
Tape a drop cloth to the floor surrounding the brick if the process will take place indoors. The drop cloth will protect your flooring from discoloration if you happen to spill or splatter the paint remover.
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3
Apply the gel paint remover to the paint spots using a paint brush.
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4
Place the fabric strips over the treated areas. Press them down firmly to ensure that they stick.
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5
Wait for the amount of time specified on the container of paint remover. The amount of time you must wait varies depending on the brand of paint remover you have but is usually no more than 15 minutes.
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6
Remove the strips of fabric carefully and place them into the garbage bag.
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7
Rinse the brick surface with water. The paint spots should be completely gone. In some cases, however, you will still see paint residue.
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8
Use a stiff-bristled brush to scrub away any remaining paint residue on the brick.
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Tips & Warnings
If you have a significant amount of paint residue after removing the fabric strips, you may repeat the process.
If you do not have a drop cloth handy, old newspaper will work just as well.
Store the paint remover well out of reach of children and pets.
If you plan to remove the paint indoors, make sure the area is well ventilated.
Do not attempt to sandblast the paint away. Sandblasting can damage brick.
