How to Remove Paint from Your Carpet

No matter how many precautions we take during our painting projects, we always end up with some splatter on a wall, trim, or the floor. If the paint gets on carpeting, removing the stain will depend on what kind of paint it is and how big the spot is.

First, read the instructions on the paint can for general removal. If it says to wash the paint with water, generally the paint will come out with dabbing and scrubbing the spot with a cloth and water. If it says mineral spirits, you may have to do the same with paint thinner.

Smaller spots are clearly going to be easier to remove. Hopefully your small drip is in the corner and not in the middle for everyone to see. If the misfortune is a tipped paint can or dropped brush, the removal will be much more difficult.

A small, wet paint stain should come out with water and some kind of soap. The easiest to use is dishwashing detergent.

Take an absorbent cloth like an old towel or dry rag. Dampen it with cold water and blot as much of the stain out of the carpet with the rag and water working in towards the middle of the stain to prevent the paint from spreading. The remaining spot could be removed using a mixture of one teaspoon detergent to one cup warm water. Blot until the stain gets out as much as possible.

Let the spot dry completely and then vacuum to get up any flakes that may have been left behind.

If the stain is dry it will be a little harder. You will need to find a way to scrape the paint off of the carpet fibers with damaging the carpet. The only way to do that is with mild chemicals until it gets loosened. If your carpet has a light enough color, mineral spirits may be used but are probably too harsh for most carpets.

Use the same blotting techniques as before and use vinegar and some carpet cleaning stain remover. Use the vinegar first as it should already be diluted by the manufacturer. Let dry completely and then do the same procedure using a stain removing chemical. Make sure to follow the label directions on the stain remover.

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