

Place the garment with the stain face down on a stack of white paper towels or cloths. Rinse the stain under running water and move on to the next step before it dries. If the stain is dry, you can use a hard tool to help break up the hardened paint. Scrape off the excess paint from the garment then use a clean white cloth to blot up as much paint as possible from the fabric. Only move on to this final step once you've removed all of the paint from the garment. If the stain remains and your fabric does not contain acetate or triacetate (acetone will melt these), you can try blotting it with a little bit of acetone.

Repeat the steps above until no more paint is removed. Dip the sponge in the solution and sponge the stain vigorously to remove the paint. Use a sponge you don’t mind ruining or paper towels. Mix together an equal parts solution of dish soap and warm water.For more stubborn stains or wet latex paint, flush the stain from the back with warm running water. Lighter stains might just need some scraping with your fingernails to remove what's left. Fresh paint may rinse out before it dries, but if it’s dry, start by scraping off and tamping the excess paint with a hard object, like the back of a spoon, before you wet the garment. They’re also relatively easy to remove from clothing if you spot stains quickly enough. Water-based or emulsion paints are the most common type for interior home painting. Play icon The triangle icon that indicates to play Latex or Water-Based Paint A dry cleaner will be able to treat stains without causing any damage to your precious garments. To make sure your cleaning products and method won't do more harm to the material, always do a spot-test first.Įxpert Tip: When in doubt call in a professional. Another thing to keep in mind: While some materials may be able to stand up to these stain treatments, more fragile ones, like silk, may be permanently damaged. Knowing the kind of paint you're trying to remove is also important - this will determine what you use to remove it. The trick to removing paint from clothing is treating it as quickly as possible because once the paint dries it may be impossible to remove. It may be tempting to just ditch your now paint-stained jeans, but in the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab, we spend a lot of time getting things dirty to find the best way to clean them, including paint-stained clothes. Regardless of the kind of painting you're doing, the cleanup can be a real chore, especially if you've gotten paint on a surface you didn't intend to. Whether you're painting a landscape on an easel or changing the color of your bedroom, painting can be a relaxing pastime or a satisfying DIY project.
