So, you’ve decided to take on a DIY painting project and gave your guest room a fresh coat of Paris Grey. While admiring your handiwork, you notice that the Paris Grey has not only adorned your walls but has also found its way onto your carpets! Despite your efforts to protect the floors with newspapers and plastic, paint always manages to sneak onto the carpet. What do you do now? Removing paint from carpets may seem challenging, but it’s not impossible. It just requires a bit of patience and some effort.
First things first, when dealing with a paint spill, time is of the essence. Try to clean up the spilled paint as soon as it happens. Additionally, it’s crucial to know what type of paint you’re dealing with. Water-based paints necessitate different cleaning tools and techniques compared to oil-based paints. Since these paints have different ingredients and properties, the methods for cleaning the carpet will vary. Once you have the right cleaning tools and understand the steps to remove the stain, you can start the process of cleaning up the mess.
In the following guide, we’ll explore the best methods for removing paint from carpets, addressing both wet and dry paint. We’ll also share some at-home remedies and hacks that will help you have your carpets paint-free in no time at all.
When to Get Paint Out of Carpet
It’s ideal to clean up paint from a carpet right away. Dealing with a paint spill promptly helps prevent stubborn stains that can be more challenging to remove later on.
After successfully removing the paint from the carpet or rug, focus on getting any paint off your clothes. If the paint has already dried, you’ll need a different method for removal.
What to Consider Before You Get Started
The specific steps and supplies for stain removal depend on the type of paint used and whether it’s wet or dry. Water-based paints are generally easier to remove from carpets compared to oil-based paints. If you’re dealing with a large spill of latex or oil paint, it might be difficult to completely eliminate all traces from the carpet.
If the described cleaning methods don’t yield results, it’s worth reaching out to a professional carpet cleaner for assistance. As a last resort, you might consider cutting out the affected area of the carpet and patching it with remnants, or temporarily covering the stain with an area rug until the carpet can be replaced.
What You Need
To Remove Fresh Paint
- Dull knife or old credit card
- Paper towels or white cleaning rags
To Remove Dried Paint
- Small bowl
- Dishwashing soap
- Old toothbrush or Soft-bristled brush
- Dull knife
- Paper towels or cleaning rags
- Vacuum
To Remove Oil-Based Paint
- Dull knife
- Handheld clothes steamer
- Paper clip
- Paper towels
- White cotton rags
- Dishwashing soap
- Soft-bristled brush
- Vacuum
- Paint solvent (paint thinner, mineral spirits, or turpentine)
How to Get Fresh Paint Out of Carpet Using a Paper Towel
Ideally, you want to tackle paint stains while they’re still fresh because they’re easier to remove. If you’re dealing with latex or other water-based paints, such as finger paints or watercolors, follow these steps:
Step 1: Lift the Wet Paint
Use the dull edge of a knife or an old credit card to lift away the wet paint. Avoid rubbing the stain as it can push the paint deeper into the carpet fibers.
Step 2: Blot the Paint
- Use a wet paper towel or a white rag to blot away the remaining paint on the carpet surface.
- As the paint transfers onto the rag, shift to a clean section of the towel.
- Continue blotting until all the paint is gone.
Step 3: Dry the Spot
Dry the cleaned area using a fresh cloth or towel. Then, allow the carpet to air-dry thoroughly.
How to Remove Dried Paint from Carpet Using Dish Soap
If you’ve missed the chance to clean up fresh paint and it’s now dried, give this method a try. Remember, this is for water-based paints, not oil-based ones.
Step 1: Rehydrate the Dry Paint
- Mix hot water with a few drops of dishwashing liquid in a small bowl.
- Dip a soft-bristled brush, like an old toothbrush, into the solution and saturate the dried paint stain.
- Let it sit for about five minutes to soften the paint.
Step 2: Scrape and Clean the Paint
- As the paint starts softening, gently use a dull knife to scrape it from the carpet fibers.
- Blot the stain with a wet paper towel or cloth as the paint loosens.
- Apply more of the hot soapy solution using the brush as needed. Work on it until the paint is gone, avoiding rubbing to prevent smearing.
Step 3: Apply Heat (Optional)
If the hot soapy solution isn’t softening the paint enough, use steam from a handheld clothes steamer.
Be careful not to place the steamer nozzle or a hot iron directly on the carpet to avoid damaging the fibers. Keep scraping and blotting (following step two) until the paint is removed.
Step 4: Dry and Vacuum
After removing the paint, let the carpet air-dry. Then, thoroughly vacuum the area to lift the carpet fibers and collect any remaining loose paint particles.
How to Remove Water-Based Paint from Carpet
Step 1: Act quickly when a water-based paint spill occurs, as it can spread rapidly. Acting promptly helps prevent further damage to your rug or carpet.
Step 2: Gather necessary materials: a clean cloth, mild soap or detergent (without bleach), a gentle scrubbing brush, and an all-purpose rug cleaner.
Step 3: Before addressing the stain, soak up excess paint using paper towels.
Step 4: Focus on the paint soaked into the carpet by adding small amounts of water. Be cautious not to use too much water to avoid spreading the paint and making the stain larger.
Step 5: Blot, don’t rub. Rubbing can cause the stain to spread and embed more deeply into the fibers. Blotting helps lift stains up and out of the rug’s surface, preventing them from seeping into the binding, which is crucial to avoid mildew with water-based stains.
Step 6: Repeat the process by pouring small amounts of water and continuing to blot. Patience is key, as it may take several attempts to see improvement or completely remove the paint stain.
Step 7: Address any remaining paint by creating a soap and water solution, continuing to blot. If using detergent, ensure it’s bleach-free and mix it with water in small amounts to avoid creating a mess.
Step 8: If water and soap are not entirely effective, consider using a carpet cleaning solution designed for tough stains. Follow the instructions on the product carefully and ensure it’s safe for your specific carpet.
Final Step: If all else fails, consider calling a professional rug and carpet cleaner. They possess the expertise to address stains without compromising your rug’s integrity or design.
How to Remove Oil-Based Paint Stains From Carpet
Taking out oil-based paint stains from carpets can be trickier compared to water-based paint. This method will guide you in tackling stubborn oil-based paint stains, whether they’re fresh or dried.
Step 1: Lift and Blot Wet Paint
- If the paint is still wet, use a dull knife to lift it away from the carpet. You can also use a clothes steamer to keep the paint moist as you lift.
- Blot using a wet cloth or paper towel.
- Straighten a paperclip and use it to separate carpet fibers while continuing to blot with clean paper towels.
Step 2: Scrape and Blot Dry Paint
- For dry oil paint, gently use a dull knife to scrape off as much paint as possible from the fibers.
- Pick up the dry paint flakes with a vacuum.
Step 3: Treat With Solvent
- After lifting or scraping the paint, check the paint label for the recommended solvent (mineral spirits, paint thinner, or turpentine). If it’s not specified, opt for turpentine.
- Test the solvent on an inconspicuous area of the carpet to ensure it won’t cause a color change.
- Place a small amount of solvent on a white cotton rag and blot the stained area, avoiding rubbing.
- Work slowly, moving to a clean spot on the rag as the color transfers from the carpet to the cloth.
Step 4: Clean and Rinse
- Once you’ve removed as much paint as possible, create a solution of hot water and a few drops of dishwashing liquid.
- Dip a soft-bristled brush in the solution and gently scrub the area where the paint solvent was used.
- Rinse the area using a towel dipped in water
- Blot away excess water with dry paper towels.
Step 5: Dry and Vacuum
Allow the carpet to air-dry completely. Then, vacuum to restore the pile.
Additional Tips for Removing Paint from Carpet
- Always test any cleaning solution in an inconspicuous spot to ensure it doesn’t alter the carpet’s color.
- Use a white cloth for cleaning; colored towels may transfer dye to the carpet, especially when using solvents.
- If dealing with a large paint stain, consider covering it with an area rug until the carpet can be replaced. Alternatively, you might contemplate cutting out the affected carpet area and patching it with remnants.
