How to remove paint from a Carpet..
You re-paint your home's walls to make your home look better, but if you are not careful, you can spill paint on your carpet and make your home look worse! A paint spill does not have to turn into a permanent stain. It is much easier to remove paint when it is wet, then after it drys, though it is still possible to remove dry paint.
First: Do you know what type of paint spill you are dealing with?
Water-soluble, paints require different cleaning techniques then oil-based paints. If you do not know which type of paint is on your carpet, treat it as water based first and then try the oil based paint removal techniques if the water based paint removal techniques fail to work.
Remember: Before you put any detergent, soap, or cleaner on your carpet, always do a spot test on a portion of carpet that is normally not visible to avoid staining or fading the carpet.
Water Based Paint Removal:
If the paint is wet-
Simply blot the spot with a wet paper towel - don’t scrub, just blot.
Once you have blotted as much paint as possible, spray with a mixture of hot water and a little bit of dish detergent. Then blot with clean, white cloths until a lll the paint is gone. Allow carpet to thoroughly dry.
If the paint stain is dry-
Spray the dried on paint stain with a mixture of hot water and a little bit of dish detergent and then allow the solution sit for a few minutes to soften the paint.
Once the paint is softened, use a knife, putty knife, or pin to scrape the paint stain. Continue to add more solution as you scrape.
If the paint is still not softening, consider using a handheld steamer while you scrape to eventually remove the paint stain from the carpet.
Oil Based Paint Removal:
If the paint is wet-
Blot the paint up. Do not scrub it as this will spread the paint.
Once you have blotted as much paint as possible, use a solvent like mineral spirits, acetone, or lacquer thinner to get rid of the stain. Make sure to do a spot test first! Then, dampened a clean, white rag with the solvent and blot the stain until the it is gone, changing the rag as you lift paint out.
If the paint stain is dry-
You will need to soften the dried paint with a steam cleaner.
Apply steam directly to the stain.
Simultaneously pick at the paint stain with a needle or a pin to try and break it up.
Continue until stain is removed, without damaging fibers.
While paint stains are best avoided with drop cloths, spilled paint does not have to mean permanently stained carpet. Try these tips the next time you have a paint spill. Looking for more stain busting tips?
