How to Get Paint Off Clothes
Painting comes with small challenges and no matter how careful we are, we often find ourselves in situations where we have somehow gotten some paint on our clothes. The question is how do we get the paint off clothes?
An unexpected paint stain on garments is a regular side effect of any home design effort, whether you’ve recently changed houses or are simply updating the walls of your bedroom. Fortunately, we have some excellent advice on how to get paint stains out of clothes, so even if you accidentally splattered Midnight Blue all over your favourite T-shirt, everything you need to know about removing the stain is below! The first thing to establish is what type of paint you’ve gotten on our clothes.
The most crucial thing to look for when dealing with a gloss or emulsion paint stain on clothing is whether the paint is oil- or water-based. Water-based gloss paints are common, although this is not a guarantee. Oil-based paint stains will take a bit more effort to remove than water-based paint stains, however you can still use the same general idea to remove them.
Check the paint can first, as it should include detailed instructions on how to remove paint stains brought should an accident occur. If not, keep reading to learn how to get paint out of clothes.
- Act quickly because these stains normally come out easier when they are moist. If you can, take the clothing off; otherwise, keep the stain damp until you can proceed to the next step.
- The stain should be treated using paint remover. If gloss or acrylic based you can also try nail varnish remover or hairspray as an emergence option. Lay the stained side of the fabric down on a piece of kitchen paper or a rag before dabbing it with a cloth dipped in paint thinner or paint remover. Use the paint remover specified on the paint tin if it is recommended. If everything else fails, you can attempt to remove paint stains from clothing with turpentine or white spirits. Always read the care label on the clothing first because some synthetic fabrics, like rayon, won’t hold up to substances like turpentine.
- Apply a detergent liquid such as Vanish or any detergent liquid and let soak before treating. Check the care label once more and rub the liquid on the stain before soaking it for many hours or overnight in the hottest water you can find. Check the washing instruction on the garment to determine the max temperature to soak in. If in doubt, just use luke warm water.
- As usual, wash. Prior to putting the item in the washing machine at the maximum temperature recommended on the garment care label, pre-treat the stain once more with detergent.
Finally, cross your fingers and hope that your stain is gone.
