Housekeeping Laundry & Linens Stain Removal How to Get House Paint Out of Clothes When treating paint stains on clothing, work fast for the best results. By Jolie Kerr Jolie Kerr Jolie Kerr is a cleaning expert and the author of the New York Times bestselling book, My Boyfriend Barfed In My Handbag ... And Other Things You Can't Ask Martha. Her work has appeared in GQ, Cosmopolitan, The New York Times and Town & Country. A graduate of Barnard College, Jolie lives in a tiny Manhattan apartment with her five vacuum cleaners. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Published on May 16, 2024 Close Photo: Rawpixel.com / Adobe Stock Project Overview Working Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 1 hour Skill Level: Beginner Estimated Cost: $15 When painting your home with oil-based or water-based paint, it's almost inevitable that some paint will stain your clothing. While wearing old clothes for house painting jobs is recommended, there are methods for removing paint stains from clothing. However, many types of paint become especially difficult to remove after they dry. When dealing with stains, it's best to work fast and treat the stain while wet, though there are products and methods for getting house paint out of clothes, even after it dries. Before Getting Started It is essential to know the type of paint stain you're treating: oil-based or water-based. The type of paint dictates the best method and products for removing the stain. Water-based paints include acrylic paint, chalk paint, latex paint, and milk paint. Oil-based paints are sometimes called solvent-based paint or alkyd paint. In addition to identifying the paint type, check the garment's care tag for laundering instructions and the manufacturer's instructions on any commercial stain removers before using any sort of stain treatment to ensure it is safe to use on the material. It's important to note that acetone should not be used on certain fabrics, including acetate, triacetate, or modacrylic. Acetone can cause these fabrics to dissolve or melt. In addition, acetone has a bleaching effect on certain fabrics, including silk and wool, so it is crucial to test it in an inconspicuous spot to avoid irreversible damage. If you are unsure what type of paint was used, the material is delicate, or you're unsure how to safely treat the stain at home, send the clothing out for professional cleaning. Paint stains are best treated as they happen. After the paint dries, removing the stains from clothing and other fabrics can be difficult, if not impossible. This is true of both oil-based and water-based paint formulas. What You'll Need Materials For Oil-Based House Paint Paint thinner Fabric-safe oil-based paint stain remover Dish soap Sponge Paper towels or light-colored thick rag Spoon or butter knife For Water-Based House Paint Dish soap Acetone Fabric-safe water-based paint stain remover Sponge Spoon or butter knife Instructions How to Get Oil-Based House Paint Out of Clothes Scrape Dry Paint If the paint has dried, use a butter knife or the edge of a spoon to scrape as much of it as possible off the fabric. Flush Stain With Water Turn the garment inside-out and hold it taut under cool running water. As the water flows through the back side of the clothing, it pushes the paint out and away from the fabric rather than through it. Dab Paint Stain Remover on Garment To use paint thinner to remove oil-based paint stains from clothing, lay the garment, stain-side down, on a thick rag or stack of paper towels. Apply a small amount of paint thinner to a sponge or light-colored rag and dab it firmly onto the stain, taking care not to scrub or rub, which can cause the paint stain to spread. If the paper towels or rags become saturated with paint, replace them. As an alternative to paint thinner, use a commercial oil-based paint stain remover formulated for fabric and clothing, like Goof-Off Paint Remover for Carpet, according to its package instructions. Rinse Clothing Holding the garment taut, rinse the stained area under cool running water. If you used paint thinner to treat the stain, massage a small amount of dish soap or hand soap into the area while rinsing the garment. Repeat if Needed If paint remains, repeat the process. Launder as Usual After treating the stain, launder the garment as usual, using the hottest water temperature the garment can tolerate, according to the care instructions on its tag. Check Stain Before Drying Before putting the item in the dryer, check that the stain came out in the wash. The heat from a dryer will set a stain. If the paint stain is still visible, repeat the entire process. How to Get Water-Based House Paint Out of Clothes Scrape the Dry Paint If the paint has dried, use a butter knife or the edge of a spoon to scrape as much of it as possible off the fabric. Flush Stain With Water Turn the garment inside-out and hold it taut under cool running water. As the water flows through the back side of the clothing, it pushes the paint out and away from the fabric rather than through it. Dab Soap Solution on Stain Dilute a teaspoon of dish soap in warm water to make a stain-removing solution. Dab the solution onto the stain with a sponge or light-colored rag that you don't mind ruining. Do not scrub at the stain, which can cause it to spread; instead, use a firm hand to tamp the solution onto the stain. Rinse Garment Holding the garment taut, rinse the stained area under cool running water. Repeat if Needed If paint remains, repeat the process. Stubborn water-based paint stains may need to be treated with acetone or a paint-specific stain remover formulated for use on fabric, like Motsenbocker's Lift Off Latex Paint Remover or Goof-Off Paint Remover for Clothes. Launder as Usual After treating the stain, launder the garment as usual, using the hottest water temperature the garment can tolerate, according to the care instructions on its tag. Check Stain Before Drying Before putting the item in the dryer, check that the stain came out in the wash. The heat from a dryer will set a stain. If the paint stain is still visible, repeat the entire process.