Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Remove acrylic paint
• Method 2 of 3: Remove water-based paint and latex paint
• Method 3 of 3: Remove oil paint
• Tips
• Warnings

If paint has fallen, splashed, or dripped onto your carpet, you will need to act quickly to remove the paint. In order to be able to remove the paint as well as possible, it is important that you know which type of paint it is. The type of paint determines which cleaning method and products you use. The most commonly used types of paint are acrylic paint, oil paint, water-based paint and latex paint.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Remove acrylic paint

1. Blot the paint stain with detergent. First, wet the stain with a wet cloth. Make sure to use a cloth that you don't mind throwing away when you're done. If you are not using an old cloth, you will need to wash the cloth thoroughly. Do not put more than a tablespoon (15 ml) of detergent on the cloth and dab the stain with it. Do not scrub the spilled paint into the carpet, but dab the paint.
   • This will not remove most of the paint, but it will help loosen the paint from the carpet fibers. You will then be able to clean the carpet more easily with the following steps.
   • Before applying a product to your carpet, make sure to test it in an inconspicuous area to make sure it doesn't stain.
2. Put acetone on the cloth and dab the paint stain with it. Acetone works better than soap and detergent to break down the paint, making it easier to get the paint out of your carpet. Do not pour a large amount of acetone on the cloth, just use enough to wet the cloth.
   • You can also use nail polish remover with acetone.
   • Make sure you keep ventilating the place where you work. Prolonged exposure to acetone fumes can be bad for your health.
   • Wear a mask while working with acetone.
3. Use a commercial carpet cleaner to remove the spilled paint. Acetone works well for loosening stubborn paint stains from carpets, but a commercial carpet cleaner will help you get the area really clean. You can now use a toothbrush to lightly scrub the carpet fibers without worrying about getting stains on your carpet. Apply the carpet cleaner to the carpet, then scrub the area with the toothbrush.
   • After scrubbing, let the carpet cleaner sit for five to six minutes.
   • There are a variety of carpet cleaning products available for purchase. Make sure you read the directions on the packaging before use. Not all products have the same composition and may have specific instructions for use and certain safety precautions.
4. Vacuum up the carpet cleaner. The carpet cleaner will have absorbed much of the paint, which means you can just soak it up. Make sure you use a wet and dry vacuum cleaner for this. The reservoir is water resistant and the sensitive electrical parts are protected against water and other liquids. Do not use a regular vacuum cleaner for dry dirt for this step, as this could seriously damage your vacuum.
5. Repeat steps 2-4 until the paint is removed. Acrylic paint will cause stubborn stains, and you will need to spend some time removing the spilled paint to get everything clean. Prepare to take up to two hours to remove the spilled paint from your carpet. It takes quite some time, but if you clean your carpet properly, you won't have to deal with mold and unsightly stains.

Method 2 of 3: Remove water-based paint and latex paint

1. Blot the paint with a towel. Water-based and latex paints do not cause stains as stubborn as other paints and contain less oil. You should be able to absorb most of the spilled paint with a towel. Make sure to use a towel that you don't mind throwing away as it can stain the towel. Be careful not to scrub the stain, as this can cause the paint to penetrate deeper into the carpet fibers.
2. Remove the stain with a mixture of dish soap and water. Mix one tablespoon (15 ml) of dish soap with 250 ml of lukewarm water. Apply this mixture on a clean cloth. Colored cloths can stain carpets. Blot the stain, starting on the outside of the stain and working your way up to the center.
   • Gently clean the area to avoid pushing the paint deeper into the carpet.
   • Once the paint stain is dry, allow the detergent and lukewarm water mixture to soak in the stain for about 5 minutes before attempting to remove the stain.
   • If you need to remove a lot of paint, you may need to use a knife or paint scraper to remove some of the paint. Apply more of the mixture to the paint while cleaning.
3. Vacuum the mixture. After blotting the stain, vacuum up the loosened paint and the detergent-water mixture. This way your floor covering will not be able to go moldy due to the moisture. Use a wet and dry vacuum cleaner, as such a device is specially designed for vacuuming liquids.
4. Repeat the process if necessary. You may not be able to remove all of the paint on the first try, so keep going until you are able to remove the stain.
   • If you are unable to remove the paint, you may need to use a carpet steamer. You can remove paint with steam.

Method 3 of 3: Remove oil paint

1. Scrape off the paint with a putty knife. A putty knife is a short, flat piece of tool made of metal or plastic. If the paint is still wet, you should be able to remove much of it with a putty knife. Be careful not to scrub the paint as this can stain the carpet. Stick the putty knife under the paint and push it away from the carpet.
   • Have a container next to you to put the paint you will scrape off the carpet.
   • If the paint is already dry, you can use a carpet steam cleaner to soften the paint.
2. Blot the paint with a clean white cloth. Again, it is important that you do not scrub and rub the area with paint. As a result, the paint will only penetrate deeper into the fibers of the floor covering. Dab as much of the paint as you can until you notice that the cloth is no longer removing paint.
   • It is important to use a white cloth. A colored cloth can rub off on the carpet and make it even more messy.
3. Put turpentine on your cloth and keep dabbing. Turpentine helps to separate the paint from the carpet fibers. This way you can remove more paint without scrubbing. You should be able to remove most or even all of the paint.
4. Use a mixture of dish soap and cold water to clean the area. Dabbing the paint stain with turpentine will remove the paint itself, but you may still need to clean the discolored carpet fibers. Mix one tablespoon (15 ml) of dish soap with 500 ml of cold water. Dip a clean white cloth in this mixture and dab it on the spot where you spilled the paint. Keep dabbing until the area is clean.
   • After cleaning, use a paper towel to absorb the residue of the mixture.

Tips

• If you have made several tries and nothing works, the solution may be to cut that part of the carpet away and replace it with a new piece of carpet in the same style and color. It's best to have this done by a professional as it takes a lot of effort and the carpet needs to be stretched again to properly conceal the new piece.
• It is recommended that you test the products you want to use to treat the stain on an inconspicuous area on the floor covering first. In some cases a drug will only make the problem worse, while in others it is better than taking nothing.
• Get quick advice from a professional when it comes to expensive carpeting or a valuable carpet like a Persian rug.
• Get started as soon as possible to make it easier to remove the paint.
• You can also use WD-40 or a specialty stain remover to remove stubborn paint. Spray the stain on the stain, wait 5 minutes, then use a paint scraper or a blunt knife to scrape off the stain. Afterwards, clean the area with a mixture of dish soap and water. Finally, vacuum the carpet.

Warnings

• Never rub paint stains on your carpet. Just dab the stains and try to absorb the paint. Rubbing will enlarge the stain and make it a lot harder to remove the paint.
• Always be careful when using a sharp-edged tool like a razor to remove the stain.