An improperly laid drop cloth and drippy paint are all it takes to stain your carpet. Ideally, you should remove the paint immediately. But what should you do if you only notice the stain when the paint is already dry?
There are specific paint stain removers out there but if you don’t have one to hand, there are alternative methods you can use. There are various ways to get the paint out of your carpet, depending on the nature of the paint and how old the stain is.
How To Get Acrylic Paint Out Of Your Carpet
Acrylic paint is one of the most popular paints for wood and metal. It is often used on window frames and interior doors, radiators, stair rails and general woodwork. You can remove acrylic paint stains with nail polish remover. Here’s how.
You Will Need:
- Nail polish remover
- Paper tissues
- Glycerine
- Mild detergent
- Water
- Sponge
- Clean cloth
If the stain is fresh, lay paper tissues over the stain to absorb as much paint as possible. Don’t rub the tissues on the carpet, just gently lay them over the stain.
Pour some glycerine on a tissue and gently dab the tissue over the paint. Pour some nail polish remover on a clean tissue and gently dab it over the paint to dissolve it. Then, make some soapy water by mixing a mild detergent with lukewarm water.
Use a sponge to wash the paint away, then use a clean dry cloth to dry the carpet.
If the paint is dry, use fine coarse sanding paper to remove as much paint as you can; dissolve the paint residues with acetone or nail polish remover and wash with soapy water.
How To Get Latex Paint Out Of Your Carpet
Latex is a water-based paint that should be easy to get out of the carpet but vinyl paints usually leave stubborn stains on fabrics.
However, if the paint is fresh, soapy water is usually enough to remove the paint. As above, lay clean paper tissues over the paint to prevent it from diffusing. Soak a sponge in soapy water and dab the stain gently to remove it.
Rinse with clean water and dry the carpet with a clean cloth.
If the paint is dry, use sandpaper to remove as much paint as you can, then follow the steps above to get rid of what’s left of the stain.
Latex, acrylic and all water-based paints can also be removed with a mix of water and vinegar. Just soak a cloth in vinegar and gently dab the paint to remove it. Once you’ve removed all the paint, rinse the carpet with soapy water.
How To Get Oil-Based Paint Out Of Your Carpet
Oil-based paints are the hardest to get out of a carpet and the operation is usually successful if the paint is still fresh. Dry paint is near impossible to remove at home without damaging the carpet and you may have to ask for professional help.
If the paint is still fresh, you can try to clean it with solvent; however, this is a delicate operation and you can damage the carpet with such a product.
You Will Need:
- White spirit
- Mild detergent
- Water
- Sponges
- Dry cloth
Mix water with detergent to make some soapy water and soak a sponge into it. Pour a small quantity of solvent on another sponge and dab the paint with the solvent for a few seconds. Rinse immediately with soapy water dabbing the spot. Avoid rubbing to prevent further damage.
Dab with solvent and soapy water until all paint is dissolved, and the carpet is clean. At this point, wash the carpet with soapy water, rinse with warm water and remove excess water with a dry cloth.
As mentioned above, getting dry oil-based paint out of your carpet is near impossible, but if you have a pressure steam cleaner, you can pass a jet of hot steam over the stain and try to remove it with tweezers. Ask for professional advice if the stain is stubborn.
Final Tips To Get Paint Out Of Your Carpet
Regardless of the nature of the paint, if you have tried the methods above and they didn’t work, ask for professional help. Nail polish remover, vinegar and white spirit can all potentially damage your carpet, provoking discoloration.
A stain remover available commercially could help. Just follow the indications on the product’s package to remove the stain.
Before trying to remove the stain with any of the methods above, test the reaction on a hidden corner. In some cases, removing the stain can cause more damage than the stain itself.
The solutions above are intended as emergency remedies for small drips. Don’t try them if you have spilled a whole can of paint on the carpet. The best remedy, in this case, is to contact a professional agency immediately.
When trying to remove paint stains of any nature, avoid rubbing the stain. Rubbing will only help the paint penetrate deeper into the carpet’s fibres, increasing the damage. Also, as soon as you notice a fresh stain, try to absorb it with paper tissues before cleaning what’s left.
If you have an expensive carpet, remove it from the room before starting to paint. Fitted carpets may be covered by your home insurance – check the policy and see if you can claim any reimbursement for the damage if you can’t get the paint out of it.