How to Remove Paint Dripping From Drywall

When you're painting drywall and put an excessive amount of paint on your paintbrush or roller, it may result in paint drips on the wall. Wet paint drips look like raindrops cascading down a window. Dry paint looks like raised bumps on the surface of the drywall. You can remove both types of paint drips from your drywall, but each requires a different technique.

Things You'll Need

• Paint brush
• Foam brush
• Paint
• Ladder (optional)

Instructions

Removing Wet Paint Drips

1. Paint over the paint drip with a paint brush if the drip is still wet. Try to blend it in with the rest of the paint job.

2. Rub the paint drip in with a foam brush if it is not runny but has not yet hardened.

3. Add a little more paint where the paint drip was if any drywall is showing through the paint.

Removing Dry Paint Drips

1. Scrape up the paint drip with a putty knife. Start at the very bottom of the paint drip or run. Hold the putty knife at a 45-degree angle to the drip and scrape up the length of the drip until you have removed it from the wall.

2. Repaint the area on the drywall with a paint brush where you removed the paint drip.

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 to remove any other paint drips.

Tips & Warnings

• Remove dried paint drips from drywall with a razor blade or utility knife if you don't have a putty knife readily available.

• Avoid putting excess paint on the wall when you paint so that you can avoid paint drips.

• Clean your paint brush and putty knife immediately after you are finished using them, or it will be difficult to get all the paint off.

References

• Old House Web: Paint Drips