5 Expert Ways To Remove Paint From Your Carpet
Carpets and rugs can significantly enhance the appearance of your home. Like any other part of your house, they also need constant care since they face wear and tear and are prone to little accidents like spills. A single spillage of drinks or paint can quickly reduce the beauty of your carpet to oblivion. You can try to keep your carpet and rugs clean, but once in a while, during your painting or home improvement spree, you might accidentally drip some paint.
As distressing as it might seem, there is still hope for your carpet. Insider explains that whether the paint is wet or dry, oil-based or water-based, you can get rid of it easily like a pro. Keep in mind that rubbing it away only makes it worse. Cleaning the spills off the carpet fibers with the right supplies while using the appropriate tips will help you increase its lifespan. Before you start worrying about how much it costs to have a carpet cleaned, think of its replacement price. Read on to find out several ways to clean carpet paint stains.
1. Removing wet water-based paint spills
You can clean most water-based paints as soon as they spill while still fresh. Cleaning paint spills immediately makes the process effortless. The trick is to avoid scrubbing at all costs, or the streaks will wreak more havoc on the carpet. You can use rugs, carpet stain remover, paper towels, dish detergent, and clothes iron to remove latex and other water-based paints. Colortrends Painting states that the first step is grabbing a couple of paper towels to absorb as much of the wet paint spill as possible.
After that, you can clean the remaining stain using soap detergent and lukewarm water. Focusing on the stained area, pour the dish soap and water mixture and use a rag to sponge the site further. Make sure the detergent is mild to avoid damaging your carpet. The soap will pull the paint from the carpet fibers, and the warm water will rinse it. When the carpet absorbs excess water before cleaning, you can blot it out. Repeat the blotting process continuously until the stain goes away. Finally, dry vacuum the area to pick up any paint residue.
2. Removing wet oil-based paint stains
While removing wet water-based paint spots is easier, oil-based spills are something else. Whatever the color, you will still face a greater challenge cleaning the paint spills. This is because oil and water are not soluble, and oil-based paints have a thicker texture. According to Insider, the best way to clean off oil-based spills is to use paper towels, hot water, dish soap, a steamer, and a sharp knife. Start by drenching a paper towel and using it to blot up the carpet area as much as possible. Using a razor or a knife, scrape the paint off the carpet fibers to peel the dried oil paint.
Make a solution using water and dish soap, wet a rag or sponge, and apply the mixture to the affected area. You can also pour the soapy mixture directly onto the carpet site with the paint stain. Repeat the process until all the stain vanishes. Use a handheld steamer to steam the affected area and paper towels to clean the paint residues. For stubborn paint stains, you can use paint thinner or acetone moderately since too much of it can damage the carpet color.
3. Removing wet acrylic paint spills
Like dried acrylic paint stains, you might also need some acetone such as nail remover or rubbing alcohol for the wet spots. Since acrylic is chemical-based, the stains will easily come off using this procedure. Modern Castle explains that you can clean wet acrylic spots by blotting the area with paper towels. Scrapping with a blunt knife and brushing using a soft-bristled brush will lift as much paint as possible.
Soak a cloth or sponge in soapy water and blot the stain until the paint comes off the carpet fibers. Make sure you avoid rubbing while dabbing the wet rug. If the cloth isn't perfectly working on the spots, use an eyedropper to apply acetone directly. However, do it sparingly to avoid any damages. Repeat the process using clean soaked rugs and acetone until the stain fades. Finally, use a carpet and vacuum cleaner to lift the rest of the paint off the carpet.
4. Removing dried paint stains
Cleaning dried paint spots is more complex. However, you can use a steamer, sharp knife, and soapy solution to remove them. Mix dish soap and some warm water in a basin and use a brush with soft bristles on the area, as advised by Local Expert Cleaning. Leave it for a few minutes to soften. If the warm, soapy water does not soften and lift the dried stain, gently use a razor or a knife to scrape off the paint on the carpet fibers.
Once you have scraped it, use a handheld steamer to melt the paint. Start blotting the color using a wet rug or paper towel dipped in the soapy solution. Do not scrub, but keep blotting until the dried paint fades. After that, use a vacuum on the carpet to remove any remaining paint debris after it is dry. You can also soak a rag in acetone for dried acrylic paint and use it on the stain.
5. Using WD-40 to remove paint stains
WD-40 can take care of many household chores, from lubricating squeaking doors to cleaning paint stains from carpets. EasyClean Solutions says that WD-40 and a wet sponge or cloth can remove paint spills. Spraying the liquid on the affected area and leaving it to soak for a while will help soften the paint. Then dip a rag in soapy water and scrub the stain without spreading it to other areas.
Rinse the cloth with clean water and repeat the process until all the paint vanishes. Dry the area with a clean rag or paper towel and leave the site to air dry. If these steps do not work, use a knife to scrape off the paint and start cleaning again. You can also try rubbing alcohol on the stained area instead of WD-40. Highly concentrated alcohol breaks down the resin substances found in paints and helps loosen the thick spill.