Blog > How To Get Paint Off Your Floor: Tips & Techniques for Each Floor Type
How To Get Paint Off Your Floor: Tips & Techniques for Each Floor Type
Monday, December 12, 2022 3:13 PM As hard as you or your painters may try to be neat, painting is a messy process. Most homeowners end up with at least a few paint drops or splatters, and some aren’t even noticeable — at first.
The faster you can address a paint spill, the better, but you may be dealing with an older spill you’ve only recently noticed. If you’ve got a paint problem, big or small, and need to know how to get paint off your floor, check out our tips below.
Don’t forget: if you can’t remove the paint using gentle methods, it’s best to call in floor-cleaning experts. After years of dealing with various messes, they’ll be well-versed in using more aggressive methods without damaging your flooring. Major spills will almost certainly need professional help.
If you’ve tried everything and still can’t figure out how to purge the paint, give us a call — our flooring experts will know what to do.
How To Get Paint Off Hardwood Floors
Most people with hardwood flooring are willing to do a lot to restore its beauty, so it’s often worth calling a specialist. However, if you’re dealing with more minor splatters, you may be able to handle it yourself.
Scraping works best for water-based paint, which is usually the easiest to remove. You can use a flexible putty knife to remove the paint. For hard-to-loosen spots, gently tap the knife with a hammer as you wedge it under the edge of the stain.
Oil-based paints are more difficult to remove. Try holding a hairdryer about 3 inches above the stain to warm it up and loosen it. You can also try rubbing the paint with a drop of dishwashing soap on a damp paper towel until it softens and is easier to scrape off.
To avoid damaging the finish of your flooring, don’t use a heat gun, and be gentle with your scraping.
How To Get Paint Out Of Carpet
The faster you can address a carpet stain, the better — wet paint is much easier to remove than dried paint.
To remove wet paint, use a thick paper towel or cleaning cloth to gently blot the area and soak up as much liquid as possible. At this stage, be sure to blot, don’t scrub — scrubbing with a dry cloth will press the stain deeper into the carpet fibers.
Once you’ve soaked up as much liquid as possible with a dry cloth, you’ll start removing the rest. If the paint is water-based or latex, you can moisten it with hot water and dishwashing soap, then scrub it with a stiff-bristled brush to work up a lather. Keep scrubbing and blotting, and you’ll see the paint begin to dissolve. This same process applies to water or latex-based stains that have dried. If a dried stain is more stubborn, a carpet cleaner may help.
Oil-based paint is more difficult to remove. First, go over the stain with carpet cleaning solution multiple times until it is completely saturated. Next, wet a cleaning cloth and combine rubbing alcohol and dishwashing soap until the stain begins to break down. It may take a little while, but eventually you’ll see the rag picking up less and less of the paint color until the stain is fully removed. To complete the process, shampoo your carpet, let it dry, and go over it with a vacuum. Again, this same process applies to dried stains, just prepare for it to take longer with a bit more elbow grease.
How Do You Get Dried Paint Off A Vinyl Tile Floor?
To get dried paint off a vinyl tile (or plank) floor, place a damp rag over the stain for about ten minutes to saturate the paint spot. Avoid dampening the rag with hot water, as this can create steam, which can damage your vinyl.
After soaking for ten minutes, the paint spot should soften enough that you can lift it off with a dry cloth or gently scrape it away. If the spot is especially tough to soften, try using a little dishwashing soap.
How To Get Paint Off Laminate Flooring
Paint spills on laminate flooring are easier to handle than hardwood, thanks to its protective aluminum oxide top layer. After clearing the area of any loose debris, prepare a simple all-purpose solution that works well for both water/latex and oil-based paints. Mix equal parts rubbing alcohol, vinegar, and water with a few dashes of dishwashing soap. The vinegar and water team up against water-based stains, while the rubbing alcohol and dishwashing soap are effective against oil-based stains. Use an old rag to rub the solution onto the dried paint, watch it start dissolving, then wipe it away. Finish by wiping clean with a damp cloth and promptly drying.
Would You Rather Just Replace It?
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