How to Get Paint Off a Fabric Chair

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Things You'll Need

  • Plastic putty knife

  • Water

  • Liquid dish soap

  • Sponge

  • Turpentine

  • Bar soap

  • Clean, white cloth

Remove paint from dirty fingers on your fabric chair.

Whether you are painting a room and accidentally spatter paint or your young children leave a paint smudge after an art project, paint on a fabric chair is not a cause for alarm. After you determine whether the paint is water- or oil-based, some simple products and a little scrubbing should remove the stain and have your chair looking clean in no time.

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Water-Based Paint

Step 1

Scrape as much paint off the fabric as possible, using the putty knife.

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Step 2

Mix a solution of 1 part dish soap and 1 part water. Dab a little of this solution on a small, inconspicuous spot of the fabric to test for colorfastness. Rinse and let it dry. If the fabric appears damaged or discolored in any way, stop and consult a professional cleaner.

Step 3

Dab the stain with a sponge dipped in the dish soap solution. Rinse with clean water and repeat until the paint is removed.

Oil-Based Paint

Step 1

Scrape as much paint off the fabric as possible, using the putty knife.

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Step 2

Dab turpentine on a sponge and apply on a small, inconspicuous spot of the fabric to test for colorfastness. Rinse and let it dry. If the fabric appears damaged or discolored in any way, stop and consult a professional cleaner.

Step 3

Dab the stain with a sponge dipped in turpentine. Rinse with clean water and repeat if necessary.

Step 4

Rub the stain with a bar of soap, then rinse with clean water and a white cloth.

Tip

Remove the stain as soon as possible. The sooner you can work on the stain, the more likely you can remove it.

Warning

Protect your eyes, skin and lungs when working with turpentine by adding ventilation.

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