How to remove dried fabric paint from clothes

We are a team of designers and decorators. So, we have to handle a good amount of projects that involve fabric paint. However, not all of the projects go according to plan. Sometimes, the paint accidentally spills on the places where we do not want the paint to be.

That is why learning how to remove fabric paint was essential for us. However, most of the available guides are not easy to follow. Some of them do not even cover all the things regarding the topic.

So, after we mastered the procedure, we have decided to spread the knowledge in the most simple form, which we plan to do with this article.

Quick Navigation

• How to Remove Fabric Paint from Fabric and Clothes: Step by Step
  • Step 1: Gather the Required Materials
  • Step 2: Prepare the Working Area
  • Step 3: Use the Scrapper
  • Step 4: Drop a Small Amount of Denatured Alcohol
  • Step 5: Use the Paint Remover
  • Step 6: Wash the Fabric
• How to Get Fabric Paint Out of Carpet & Upholstery
  • Step 1: Remove the Excess Amount of Paint
  • Step 2: Mix in a Solution of Detergent and Water
  • Step 3: Use the Cleaning Solution
• How to Get Fabric Paint Off Shoes?
  • Step 1: Brush the Excess Paint Off
  • Step 2: Apply a Soapy Mixture
  • Step 3: Scrape off the Softened Paint
  • Step 4: Do Finishing Touches
• Removing Fabric Paint from Skin & Hands: Step by Step
  • Step 1: Rub the Area with Vaseline
  • Step 2: Use Baby Oil
  • Step 3: Opt for Paint Thinners If the Paint Is Still There
• Final Words

How to Remove Fabric Paint from Fabric and Clothes: Step by Step

Let us start with the basics first. Most of the time, you would be looking to remove the paint from your project, which is the cloth or the fabric you are working with. And the steps that you would need to follow for this process are:

Step 1: Gather the Required Materials

First and foremost, you would need to gather the required supplies. And the list of them is as follows:

• Mild detergent
• Dry rags
• Cotton swabs or eyedropper
• Denatured alcohol
• Scrapper with a blunt edge
• Clean water
• Commerical acrylic paint remover

When it comes to the scrapper, you can use a craft stick as an alternative. In fact, anything that has a blunt surface is going to work like wonders in this case.

Step 2: Prepare the Working Area

First, you would need to lay down a dry and clean rag on the surface. Lay down the stained garment on top of that rag. Make sure that both the garment and rag are laid flat, or else the water and the paint will spill all over the place in the following steps.

Step 3: Use the Scrapper

Get the scrapper or a stick that has a blunt edge. You would be scrapping the paint as much as you with that. However, ensure that you are not putting too much force because you might end up damaging the fabric. Instead, opt for a slow and gentle scraping method.

Step 4: Drop a Small Amount of Denatured Alcohol

To remove all of the small spots of fabric paint from the surface, you need to drop a few drops of the denatured alcohol. Use an eyedropper or cotton swab for this. And for the large spots, soak a clean cloth into the alcohol and gently dab the surface.

Leave the alcohol on the surface for a while, and then use a dry cloth to soak it up. Repeat the process until the dried paint is not fully saturated.

Step 5: Use the Paint Remover

The alcohol might not be able to fully remove the paint. In some times, it might not work at all. Well, in that case, you would need to opt for a commercial paint remover. Those will be formulated for all types of paint. And when it comes to using them, follow the manufacturer’s guidelines.

Step 6: Wash the Fabric

After applying the paint remover, it would be time to give the fabric a good wash. For this, we would recommend using a mild detergent. Choose the gentle or medium cycle and let the machine do its thing. If the fabric is a bit delicate, we would recommend washing it with your hands. And then, you can use a fabric refresher spray on your fabric to smell fresh.

How to Get Fabric Paint Out of Carpet & Upholstery

Well, the project is not the only thing that gets accidentally painted. We even spilled some of the paint on upholstery and carpet as well. And to fix that, we followed this process:

Step 1: Remove the Excess Amount of Paint

The first thing you would need to do when you accidentally spill the paint on the upholstery and carpet is to remove the excess amount of paint. Here, you would need to rush and get yourself a sponge or cloth. Use that and slow dab on the surface. It should soak the excess amount of paint from the surface.

Step 2: Mix in a Solution of Detergent and Water

Once the paint remaining on the uppermost layers is off, you need to prepare a cleaning solution. For this, you would need water and detergent. We recommend using mild detergents because there will be a lower chance of the fabric getting ruined or discolored.

That being said, depending on the severity of the spillage, you would need to add an appropriate amount of water and detergent. For small to medium spillage, mix two cups of water and one spoon of detergent together. Mix the solution properly and if you are using a jar with a lid, close the cap and give it a good shake.

Step 3: Use the Cleaning Solution

Now that the cleaning solution is ready get a clean cloth and dip it into the solution. Use the soaked cloth and blot the stains. Do not use too much pressure because that will lead to the carpet soaking up the detergent, which will be another thing that you would need to take care of.

Instead, dab the and drag the cloth gently on the affected region. Repeat the process until the stains look light. It should not take that much amount of time and once you are done with the cleaning process, just use a hairdryer to dry up the affected region.

Read Next: How to get water stains out of fabric

How to Get Fabric Paint Off Shoes?

When the paint does spill onto shoes, wipe it off with a paper towel. After wiping, there will be some residue or stain left on the shoe. But do not worry, we will tell you how to take care of that. Just follow these steps:

Step 1: Brush the Excess Paint Off

First, brush off the excess amount of paint from the surface. Use a brush that has bristles that are not that hard or soft. However, do not use too much force, or else you might leave scratches on the shoe.

Step 2: Apply a Soapy Mixture

Next, you need to prepare a solution containing one part water and one part detergent. Take a clean and damp cloth and soak it up with the mixture. Dab and gently wipe the surface using that cloth. That will soften up the paint and make it scrapable.

Step 3: Scrape off the Softened Paint

Get yourself a dull knife or something that has a dull edge. Use that to scrape off the paint from the surface. This scrapping will take care of a major amount of paint. However, there will still be a light layer of paint.

Step 4: Do Finishing Touches

Here, you would need to use the detergent solution that you made in step 2 again. Dampen up a clean cloth using that solution. Run the surface with the cloth. Then, rinse the area with water. Repeat until the residues are gone.

Finally, you would need to apply a bit of nail polish remover to the affected area. That will take care of the remaining residues.

Removing Fabric Paint from Skin & Hands: Step by Step

While working with fabric paint or any paint, you can get them all over your hands or skin. That is why most painters wear a set of gloves while working on projects.

However, even with gloves, the paint can end up on your skin. Well, when that happens, just carry out these simple steps:

Step 1: Rub the Area with Vaseline

First of all, you need to rub the area or your hands with Vaseline. That should loosen up the paint stains. Use a dry paper towel to take the loosened paint from the area.

Step 2: Use Baby Oil

However, Vaseline might not work that well. In that case, use baby oil. It should be gentle to your skin and will not make you feel any irritation. Rub the area and wipe it with a clean cloth or paper towel.

Step 3: Opt for Paint Thinners If the Paint Is Still There

If baby oil or Vaseline does not work, the last resort would be to use paint thinner or mineral spirits. These will not be that gentle to your skin. So, you need to act fast. Soak a clean cloth with the mineral spirit or paint thinner and rub the area.

Final Words

Removing fabric paint from different surfaces is not that easy. But it can indeed become more manageable if you know the right ways to remove fabric paint properly. And we hope that we were capable of keeping the steps simple and it was easy for you to follow them.

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