How to Remove Paint from Carpet

Just as you are cleaning up the tarps and peeling off the tape in your freshly painted room, you see it. That dollop of paint that almost miraculously found a way under the protective covering you labored to secure down. The My Painter crew has seen it all. So, we have a few tricks up our sleeves when it comes to getting dried paint off carpet that we would love to share with you.

There are two different types of paint that you could have been using, and each will require a different plan of action. We are talking about either water-soluble paint or acrylic.

Water-Soluble Paint

The good news is that this type of paint is actually easier to get up once it is dry. To start, you will want to try and get up as much debris as possible. The best way to do this is just by the power of any scraping tool on hand. Scrape up as much of the paint as you can and follow up by vacuuming the area well.

Next, grab a solution of mild detergent and hot water and apply it to the afflicted area. This will help soften the remaining paint so it can be lifted away from the carpet fibers. If you are finding that this is not quite getting it up completely, another trick you can use is to lay down a towel over the paint spot, and then use your iron to steam the area. Voila! That should do it.

Acrylic Paint

Acrylic paint can prove a little bit tougher to get to budge. Start similarly by trying to scrape up as much dried paint as feasible. For a bit more brute force, you can try to pick up the paint bits with a pair of pliers. If you find that you are needing even more back up, Goo Gone works well to break up tough materials.

Just as with the water-soluble paint, the next step is to go in with hot water and soap. Saturate the spot and gently try to work the paint out without working it farther down into the carpet fibers. Dab the area with a towel and vacuum whatever has managed to come up.

Another solution is to mix together one part white vinegar to ten parts water. With a sponge, dab it into the carpet. After you have done this, dry the area with a towel. The final step is to saturate the area again, but this time with cold water. Blot dry. With each step you will notice the paint spot becoming less prominent and the mark fading.

Wood and Tile

Oh, you thought we were done? Not just yet. We wanted to make sure you were covered even if you happened to spill paint on your hardwood or tile flooring.

For wood flooring, you will begin like we always do, by scraping away as much paint as possible. A metal blade works fine but if you are especially worried about scratches, a plastic putty type knife will also do the trick. Make sure you go with the grain of the wood and not against it. Finish up by putting a little water and soap on a rag and going over the area.

With tiles, not as much caution is needed. It is a hardy surface and so you can scrape and scrub a bit more aggressively if need be. Rinse and repeat the previously mentioned steps if you need them.

If you are tired of the work and cleanup of DIY projects, do not hesitate to call in a professional. The My Painter crew will be sure to take the headache out of repainting or repairing your walls. We are highly trained professionals who are careful to take all the necessary precautions to cover and protect your carpets and belongings before we even get started. Give us a call today!

By My Painter 8-29-2019