How to Remove Dry Olympic Paint From Clothing

Never use a metal putty knife in place of a plastic one or you will likely damage your clothing.

When paint drips and splatters onto clothing, the results can be disastrous. All too often, paint-stained clothing must either be thrown out or banished to the back of the closet. Fortunately, some types of paint are easier to remove from clothing than others. If you need to remove dry Olympic paint from clothing, you're in luck, as the bonding adhesives in Olympic paint are much easier to break than those in many other brands. Still, you must use care, or you may ruin the clothing you are trying to save.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic putty knife
• Spray bottle
• Rags
• Turpentine
• Detergent

Instructions

1. Spread the clothing on a hard surface such as a table or a hard floor. Do not lay the clothing on carpeting or an ironing board as these surfaces will not offer adequate support during the cleaning process.

2. Fill a spray bottle with water and saturate the Olympic paint stain. Allow the water to soak in for three minutes, then scrape away the paint using a plastic putty knife. If using water alone does not remove the stain, go to the next step.

3. Dampen a rag with turpentine and apply a small amount to the Olympic paint. Allow the turpentine to soak in for three full minutes. Scrape away the paint using the plastic putty knife.

4. Rinse the clothing with water in a sink, then wash it with ordinary clothing detergent.

Tips & Warnings

• If you can't remove the Olympic paint using water or turpentine, repeat steps 3 and 4, using mineral spirits in place of turpentine.

• Plastic putty knives combine the rigidity and flexibility necessary to remove Olympic paint from clothing without tearing the fabric. Never use a metal putty knife in place of a plastic knife or you will likely damage the clothing.

Resources

• Popular Mechanics: Five Pro Painting Tips Every Amateur Should Know