The 12 Best Ways To Remove Paint Stains From Your Favorite Clothes

Paint stains on clothes are notoriously difficult to remove. The longer they stay on the fabric, the harder it is to wash them off. However, not all paint stains are made equal. Water-based paint stains — including acrylic, latex, and finger paint — can be easy to treat, especially when fresh. But oil-based paints such as enamels and modern craft paints, among others, contain oil that binds the pigment to the textile. The type of fabric also determines the best method to remove the stains and whether to use hot or cold water. Denim, for example, can handle a lot of liquids and solvents that break down the paint. But the same can't be said about silk, nylons, or other delicate materials.

Whichever way you choose to deal with paint stains, you should act quickly and follow the garment care directions on the label. Most importantly, you should always test the solution on a small part of the fabric first. Some solvents could cause damage to the garments or make the color run. And before pretreating or treating the paint, always place a few paper towels under the stain to prevent the paint from smearing the rest of the garment.

If you don't spot the water-based paint stain in time, then you'll need vinegar to remove the dry stain from the clothes. After scrubbing as much of the dry paint as you can off the garment with the back of a knife, apply a few drops of vinegar to the stain. You can use either distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar for this method. Set the garment aside for 15 minutes to allow the acidic liquid to penetrate and saturate the dried paint. With a toothbrush, brush the stain in small circles to get the paint off the fabric. Finally, hold the back of the stain under cold running water to flush the vinegar and paint out. Repeat as necessary until you don't see any traces of the stain.

Vinegar can be a versatile cleaning tool. It contains acetic acid, a compound that not only breaks down paint but can strip it off altogether. When applied to the dry paint stain, the acid breaks the bond between the paint and the fabric. That said, undiluted vinegar isn't the kind of liquid to apply to all clothes. It can damage some clothing, including delicate fabrics, even when mixed with water. Also, avoid using vinegar to remove paint stains on clothes that contain elastic, such as swimsuits and bras.

Hand sanitizers aren't just for killing germs; they can also remove latex paint stains. For this purpose, a gel sanitizer is more effective and easier to apply than a foam product. To use it on the pretreated latex stain, squirt the gel directly on the paint and let it sit for a few minutes. Poking the stain with an old toothbrush, check that the surface has softened and is easy to remove. If it's still hard, then the hand sanitizer doesn't have a high alcohol percentage and you need to give it a few more minutes. Finally, brush the latex stain off with the toothbrush and rinse the affected area from the back with running water.

The active ingredient in hand sanitizers is either ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol. Most of the sanitizers on the market contain a minimum of 60% alcohol to be effective. However, some products have higher alcohol concentrations, making them better at removing latex paint stains. That said, it's not safe to use the sanitizer on all fabrics because it might lead to faded colors. Also, use only transparent hand sanitizers since the ones that have colors could stain clothes.

Oil paint often contains linseed or sunflower oil and pigment, which require a stronger solution to remove the paint stain. This double whammy of paint and oil stains calls for turpentine. If you don't have turpentine at hand, then paint thinners will do in a pinch. After scraping off the excess paint, press a clean cloth gently over the stain to absorb the oil and paint. Next, and with protective gloves on, apply a few drops of the solvent to the stain, then set it aside for 5 to 10 minutes. Using a paper towel, blot the stain a few times, without rubbing it, to soak up the dissolved paint. Repeat the treatment until the stain is clean, then wash it with dish soap and water.

If you're using a paint thinner, make sure it's the one listed on the oil paint can. Paint thinners vary wildly in their chemical composition, which is why different paint products use different thinners. If you use the wrong thinner, you might make the stain worse. In addition to being flammable, neither of these solvents should be used on acetate clothing. Moreover, turpentine might cause discoloration in the treated garments.

Duct tape is a creative way to deal with paint stains on clothes. If you have a water-based paint stain such as latex that has dried out, a piece of duct tape could come in handy. But before you can use it, you'll need to break the dry surface of the stain into fragments with a spoon. Keep working on the fragments to loosen them up and make the tape's job easier. Next, press the duct tape strip firmly on a small part of the dry stain, then pull it out quickly. You'll see that pieces of the paint get stuck in the tape and come out easily. When there are no more paint fragments to lift off, wash the stain with dish soap and warm water.

This mechanical method of removing paint stains doesn't involve chemicals. It's recommended when you can't scrape off the dry paint because the stain is too small or the material is too fragile. However, it can still cause some damage to flimsy and delicate fabrics. This is why you only apply the strip to one part of the stain at a time. You shouldn't use the tape on the whole stain at once or you might tear up the garment.

Many laundry detergents are designed with various types of paint stains in mind. The advantage of using a laundry detergent is that it removes the stain without damaging the fabric or causing color loss. After pretreating the paint stain, mix your detergent of choice into warm water in equal portions. Use a clean rag to apply the solution to the stain and leave it for a few minutes. Poke the paint gently, and if it's soft, then it's ready; otherwise, apply more detergent solution and wait a few more minutes. Finally, scrub the stain off the fabric with the rag or a soft brush. Before you toss the garment in the washer, rinse it under running water.

Laundry detergents have all the ingredients you need to work through tough stains. While you can remove water-based paints with the normal laundry detergent you have at home, oil paint stains might require strong detergents in combination with stain removers. As long as you follow the instructions on the package, of both the detergent and stain remover, you won't have to worry about ruining the treated garment.

Mineral spirits, or white spirit, is a transparent liquid distilled from petroleum and used as a solvent. If you have an oil paint can, most likely it will suggest on the label to use mineral spirits to clean the paint brush. That's a dead giveaway that you can also use the solvent to get rid of oil paint stains on your clothes. Applying mineral spirits to fresh oil stains is straightforward. Dipping a clean white cloth in the solvent, blot the pretreated stain repeatedly. When the cloth is smudged with paint, switch to a clean part and repeat the treatment until the paint has all come off.

Mineral spirits has the same effect on stains as paint thinners. Both are solvents, but mineral spirits is the safer and more refined of the two. The liquid, however, has a kerosene-like odor and is a little oily. The treated clothes might retain the offensive smell and some oil residue, which requires washing with dish soap and water. Also, it's not recommended to use the potent solvent on synthetic materials, including acetate and rayon.