How to Clean Paint off Your Carpet

How to Clean Paint off Your Carpet

It can happen to anyone. You are painting and, no matter how many precautions you take, you find a spot of paint on the carpet. Fortunately, there are several ways to remove the stain and your carpet will look as good as new. First, you need to know whether your paint is latex-based or oil-based so that you can choose the appropriate method to remove it.

Removing Latex-Based Paint From the Carpet

Latex paint is water-based and it is easy to remove whether it is dry or wet. If it is still wet, you can blot the spot with a paper towel. Make sure that you don’t scrub as this will actually embed the paint further into the fibers. You can also soak a rag in hot water and use it to blot the paint spot. Continue blotting until the paint is gone.

If the latex-based paint is dry, you can fill a spray bottle with hot water or hot water and a little bit of dishwashing detergent. Spray the dried paint and let it soak for about 20 minutes. This will soften the paint. Once the paint softens, you can use a paper towel or a rag that is soaked in hot water to blot the paint stain. Just as with the wet paint, blot the paint until it is gone.

Removing Oil-Based Paint

Oil-based paint is a little trickier but you can remove it with a little effort. The easiest way is to use a chemical solution such as paint thinner or turpentine. If the oil-based paint is still wet, start with an old rag that is soaked in hot water. Dab the wet spot and remove as much of the paint as you can. If the carpet has any stain where the oil is in the fibers, you can dab it with a towel that is dipped in turpentine or paint thinner.

If the oil-based paint stain is dry, it is a more complex process. If you have a steamer, you can apply it to soften the paint. Use a needle or a safety pin to pick at the stain while you soften it to help break it up. Blot up as much as you can and vacuum the carpet.

If the stain is stubborn, you can apply one of many different cleaning solutions and let it soak for a few minutes before dabbing it with your towel. You can use the following solutions:

  • Turpentine: less popular because of chemical properties, but effective
  • Paint thinner: chemical solution, but effective
  • Citrus solution: popular because of natural properties
  • Rubbing alcohol: may not remove entire stain, but a good starting point
  • Water and detergent solution: works well
  • Hydrogen peroxide solution: watch carefully; can cause the color to fade
  • Ammonia mix: effective, but can cause the color to fade
  • Vinegar mix: works well

After you apply any solution and let it soften to dissolve the oil-based paint, blot it with a towel that has been soaked in hot water. Continue until the paint stain is removed and vacuum the carpet. If you have used a chemical-based solution, you will want to rinse the carpet with warm water before vacuuming.

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