How to Remove Tempera Paint From Fabrics

You may need to use a bleach-water solution to remove tempera paint from clothing.

Tempera paint is a fast-drying paint that is most often used for children's art projects. The dyes in tempera paint are strong and can cause stains that are difficult to remove. It's best to treat any stain immediately for best results. Be very careful when trying to remove tempera paint stains, as the cleaning process may cause the paint to run further.

Things You'll Need

• Spoon
• Paper towels
• Dish cloth
• White vinegar
• Sponge
• Dishwashing liquid
• Commercial carpet cleaner
• Vacuum cleaner
• Bleach

Instructions

Removing Tempera From Carpet

1. Scrape dried tempera paint off the carpet fibers with a spoon until you no longer see any more paint coming off. If the paint is still wet, do not scrape it; scraping wet paint will cause the paint to run, creating a larger stain. Gently blot wet paint with a paper towel, allowing the towel to absorb the paint.

2. Dip a dish cloth in white vinegar and blot the stain with the wet rag until the paint no longer appears on the carpet. Be sure to use a clean spot on the dish cloth each time you blot so you do not worsen the stain.

3. Apply a commercial carpet stain remover if paint is still present on the carpet. Follow the manufacturer's instructions. These products typically come in a can with a scrubber on top.

4. Apply clean water to the stain with a dish cloth and rinse thoroughly. Use a dry sponge to remove any remaining water.

5. Allow the carpet to dry and then vacuum thoroughly.

Removing Tempera From Clothing

1. Blot as much of the stain as you can with a sponge soaked in water.

2. Pretreat the stain by applying laundry detergent to the stain, rubbing the clothing together to work the detergent into the fabric. Rinse thoroughly with warm water.

3. Check to see if the stain has come out. If the stain is still present, check the tag to see if the fabric can be bleached. If it can, prepare a ratio of 1 tsp. of bleach to every 1 cup of water in a sink or wash basin and soak the clothing for about 15 minutes. If the stain is still present, soak again in the bleach-water solution, checking every few minutes to see if the stain has lifted.

4. If the stain is still present and the clothing tag says it cannot be bleached, take the clothing to a professional dry cleaner. Never bleach an article of clothing that clearly states that the clothing cannot be bleached; doing so may cause the material to fall apart or be irreparably damaged.

5. Wash the clothing according to instructions on the tag once the stain is removed.

References

• How to Clean Stuff: How to Remove Tempera Paint Stains
• Mr Clean USA: Paint Stain Removal
• Steam Pro NYC: How to Remove Paint from Carpets