How to Remove Paint from Carpet

There are few things that create more panic and distress to a homeowner than paint on their carpet. Ideally, prior to undertaking any home painting project, impenetrable drop cloths have been laid throughout the workspace as a preventative measure. Often times, however, the enthusiasm of beginning a home beautification project overwhelms thoughts of taking full precautionary steps. Fortunately, harmful mishaps can be entirely, or largely averted, if the paint is removed using proper procedures.

Whether a painting mishap involves tipping an entire gallon of paint, flipping a roller pan, dropping a paintbrush, or errant drops from a roller, the first-step is always the same—stay calm, take a deep breath, and begin removing as much of the wet paint as possible from the carpet. Specifically, if the amount of paint is substantial, like with a tipped gallon or flipped over rolling pan, use a cup or bowl and scoop up as much paint as possible from the carpet and back into its can or pan. Very importantly, scooping should be done from the outer boundaries of the spill toward its center to avoid expanding the affected area.

The second-step in the case of a large spill, or first-step in the case of a small spill or paint drops, is blotting the paint with a white or colorfast towel/rag. Blotting, as opposed to scrubbing, is the preferred method of removal because it is less likely to spread the paint. For that same reason, blotting should also be done from the outer boundaries of the spill or drops toward the center.

Once results from blotting with a towel or rag are no longer yielding wet paint, the blotting process should be repeated, if possible, with a sponge. The absorbency of the sponge will ensure that as much paint as realizable has been sopped up from the carpet before any cleaning products or water are introduced to the process. Again, blotting from the outside boundaries toward the middle of the spill is necessary to preclude spreading.

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