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INTRODUCTION
Were you just doing a painting in your kitchen or doing some finishing touches on the wall of your room when you just accidentally spilled paint on your pants or perhaps on that shirt that seem to be one of your favorites? And then you just didn’t notice until it dried up already. That could really make you feel bad. Especially if you host the thought of the paint not coming off. You might feel your clothe is damaged and beyond remedy. But, you shouldn’t worry. The points below will look into how to remove paint from your clothes.
First, identify the type of paint. Whether it’s latex or acrylic paint or Oil paint.
How to Remove Latex or Acrylic Paint
First, determine if it is a latex-based paint. To know if the paint is latex or acrylic, simply check the label on the paint’s container to see the type. This type is usually used in decorating. So if you were decorating when your clothes got stained, then it probably the water-based latex paint.
If perhaps you are unable to find the paint container and you’re not sure of the type of paint, simply do a little test. Dip a ball of cotton wool into denatured alcohol and gently rub it on a small part of what you’re painting. If it latex-based, the paint will come off. But, if it doesn’t come off then, it is oil-based.
But, if you don’t want to rub off the paint off your piece of design, just flashback to how you usually clean your brush. solvents like mineral spirits or turpentine are used to wash off brush used for oil-based paint. while you need only water to wash the brush if it’s latex-based paints.
After determining the type of paint that stained your clothes, and it happens to be the latex-based type, then use the aerosol hairspray to ease the paint. Let it soak up the stain. The ardent spirit in the aerosol hairspray will slacken the dried paint.
Alternatively, use alcohol. Gently apply it to the paint stain with a neat cloth. Then soak it up with the alcohol. You can also pour the alcohol directly from the bottle onto the stain.
You don’t want the cloth that you’re trying to redeem to get discolored. Therefore, carry out a test first by applying the hairspray or the alcohol on a spot of fabric that is invisible or not noticeable to make sure you don’t discolor your clothes.
Use a small-sized knife
Use a small-sized knife to scrape off the paint as much as you can. If the fabric is not too tender but sturdy, gently run the knife front and backward on the soaked spot of the paint stain.
Use a toothbrush
Instead of using a knife. You can use a toothbrush if it’s a tender fabric. Use a soft toothbrush and gently rub it back and forth on the stain.
Use a toothbrush instead of a knife for more delicate fabrics. You need to fade off as much of the dried paint as possible.
Use hot water
Place the clothing under hot running water to wash away the paint. Use a towel to dry the cloth by pressing a towel onto the cloth. Go over the process of soaking the stain with hairspray or rubbing alcohol, scraping and brushing it, and washing until the stain is inconspicuous and gone. You can as well spray the cloth with a stain remover solution while it’s under the hot water.
Wash the cloth
Wash the clothes as you usually do. Follow the instructions on the care tag of the clothes when using the washing machine. Then, use the dryer or preferably air dry the clothes depending on the precise laundering guide.
What if it is an oil-based paint that stained your clothes? Will it Wash off? Well, not everything is without a solution. Your clothes can still be redeemed. So don’t think that’s the end of the fabric.
Oil-based paint
Confirm if it’s an oil-based paint by simply checking the paint container. But, if like the former case, you can’t find the paint container, just flashback to when you cleaned your brush, did you wash it off with water or a solvent like turpentine or mineral spirits. If you made use of the latter, which is mineral spirits or turpentine then, the paint is oil-based. Because water will not wash off an oil-based paint.
Do a test
Carry out a simple test if you’re can’t find the can. If you were painting the wall, dip a ball of cotton wool in denatured alcohol and apply it on the wall. If the paint doesn’t come off the wall, then, it’s an oil-based paint.
Use a knife
If the clothing isn’t tender, scrape off the paint with a knife, it shouldn’t be a sharp knife. Move the knife to and fro to fade the paint as much as you can. You don’t want to damage your fabric so be careful not to spoil the fabric.
Use a brush
If the fabric is a tender type, make use of a soft toothbrush rather than a knife. Then, gently Scrape the paint by brushing the stain gently. Get off as much paint as you can. Spread the clothe on a clean paper towel and mop the stained part with turpentine. Dip a foamy like material in a bit of turpentine and mop the stain from the back of the clothing to squeeze the paint out of the clothing. Continue cleaning the stain with the foam. Redo the process until the paint stain is faded or no more. As you repeat the process, change the paper towel as it gets soaked with the paint coming off the fabric.
Dry the clothing with a clean cloth to soak up any excess turpentine. Lay a paper towel behind the stained area. Continuing drying it to remove any remaining agent used for removing the stain.
Apply a bit of fabric detergent on the fabric. Check the instructions on the tag to see what detergents are good to use for your clothes. Apply a small amount of detergent to the stained area. Use a neat cloth or sponge to work it into the fabric.
Wash the cloth
Wash the clothes as you usually do. Follow the instructions on the care tag of the clothes when using the washing machine. Then, use the dryer or preferably air dry the clothes depending on the precise laundering guide.
Conclusion
Follow these simple DIY processes on how to get paint out of clothes whenever you have paint stains on your cloth. Watch this video to learn more.