How to Remove Dried Latex Paint
Latex paint has a water-soluble base that makes for easy application to indoor and outdoor surfaces. Latex paint rinses easily from rollers and brushes, making it a popular paint to use. No paint job is complete without some mishaps and spills on carpets or clothes. Fortunately, you can remove even dried latex paint without much difficulty, provided you use the correct procedures and tools. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Blunt knife
- Dishrag
- Cotton cloth
- Rubbing alcohol
- Plastic wrap
- Book
- Damp rag
- Towel
- Stain remover
- Laundry detergent
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Instructions
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Carpets
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Scrape dried latex paint from the carpet using a blunt knife. Do not pull hard on the carpet, as you could unravel carpet threads.
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Wet the dried latex paint on the carpet with a wet dishrag. Soak a small area of a clean cloth with rubbing alcohol, and wipe onto the latex paint. Place a piece of plastic wrap over the paint stain, and place a book on top of the stain to keep the moisture trapped inside the carpet. Allow the plastic wrap to remain on the paint stain for 30 minutes.
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3
Remove the plastic wrap and dab at the paint stains with a damp rag. Continue blotting the paint with the rag until the paint is removed entirely from the carpet. Press a towel into the carpet to remove excess liquid.
Clothes
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4
Soak the clothes with dried latex paint stains in a sink or bucket of warm water. Allow them to soak overnight.
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Remove the clothes from the sink or bucket and wring out excess moisture. Spray a stain remover onto the paint stains on the clothes and place them in the washer. Wash the clothes with regular laundry detergent according to the care label instructions on the clothes.
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Remove the clothes from the washer and examine the stain. If the latex paint stain remains, soak the clothes in water and 1 tbsp. laundry detergent overnight. Launder normally the next day.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not light matches or place candles near the rubbing alcohol on the carpet, as it is highly flammable.
References
- Photo Credit brush in paint image by Vladislav Gajic from Fotolia.com
