How to Get Paint Stains Out of Carpet, According to Experts
Your paint project was going well until you spotted paint drips on the floor — but not on your hardwood or tile, on your carpet. Unless you think paint splatters add to the aesthetic of your wall-to-wall carpet, the mess can be cleaned up rather quickly. But you have to act quickly, as well as use the correct method for the type of paint involved.
Below, how to get paint stains out of carpet. You’ll find removal methods appropriate for latex, oil-based, water-based, and solvent-based paint.
How to Get Latex Paint Out of Carpet
Latex paint is heralded for its easy application and quick dry time. The latter feature normally wouldn’t bode well for stain removal, but Marla Mock, president of Molly Maid, a Neighborly company, says that latex is less durable than acrylic, making it easier to remove. Even better? You can do so with ingredients you’ve got on hand.
Supplies Needed:
For wet paint:
Dish soap
Water
Container (to mix dish soap and water in)
Clean cloth, rag, or paper towel
For dry paint:
Blunt-edge tool, like a spoon or butter knife
Hot water
Dish soap
Scrub brush
How to Remove Wet Latex Paint from Carpet
Gently blot the affected area with a cloth, rag, or paper towel to absorb the paint. Don’t rub or scrub, says Mock, because it will just push the paint into the carpet fibers, making removal more difficult.
Mix a tablespoon of dish soap with about 10 ounces of water in a bowl or other container.
Apply the solution to the stained carpet.
Blot with a clean rag until the stain is removed.
How to Remove Dried Latex Paint from Carpet
With a spoon, butter knife, or other blunt-edged tool, scrape off any paint you can.
Use hot water to loosen up the remaining paint.
Apply some dish soap and clean gently with a scrub brush until the stain is gone.
If the soap-and-water treatment isn’t working, Mock says you can try rubbing alcohol, nail polish remover, or even an alcohol-based hair spray. “Just be sure to test the alcohol-based product on an inconspicuous area of the carpet to ensure that it will not damage the fibers,” she says.
How to Get Water-Based Paint Out of Carpet
Follow the same steps above for latex paint to get water-based paint out of carpet.
How to Get Oil-Based Paint Out of Carpet
Oil-based paint is durable and provides excellent coverage — not exactly what you want to hear if you’re staring at some of it on your carpet. Act quickly and efficiently to remove it. Galia Ivanova, founder of Cleaning Estimate, recommends this remedy, or rather, series of remedies:
Supplies Needed:
Dish soap
Warm water
Cloth or gentle brush
Carpet cleaner (if needed)
Commercial steam cleaner or spot treatment (if needed)
Note: White spirit is petroleum-based; therefore, it’s flammable. Use in a well-ventilated area and keep from open flame. Read instructions carefully to avoid personal injury or carpet damage.
Steps to Follow:
Mix some white spirit with a bit of dish soap and warm water.
Apply it to the stain and dab with a cloth.
If it’s not removed, follow up with a store-bought carpet cleaner/spot remover.
“If it’s a tough stain, I recommend repeating the process or using a professional spot remover,” Ivanova says. “In one apartment with a tough oil-based paint spill, I used this method several times until the carpet was completely restored.”
If the stain persists, Ivanova says it might be time for a commercial-grade steamer — she’s seen success with this as a follow-up to the other attempts to remove the paint.
How to Get Solvent-Based Paint Out of Carpet
Solvent-based paints include acrylic and gloss paints. Jennie Holmes, branch manager of ServiceMaster Clean, shares how to handle solvent-based paint spills:
Supplies Needed:
Vinegar
Water
Two clean cloths
Flat-edged object, like a butter knife or spatula
Steps to Follow:
For wet stains, use a cloth to dab up as much as possible.
For dry stains, use a flat-edged object like a butter knife or spatula to scrape it off.
Mix equal parts water and vinegar and wet a cloth with it.
Blot the stain. “Remember, never rub the stain, always dab or blot,” Holmes says. “Always start at the edges of a stain and work inwards.”
Repeat if necessary.
What to Consider When Dealing with Paint Stains on Carpet
It might seem like a disaster at the moment, but there’s a very good chance your carpet will survive a paint stain. Here are some things to consider that will increase that chance.
Tackling Fresh Paint Stains vs Old Paint Stains
Time is of the essence when dealing with any stain, but it’s especially true with paint. While it seems like such a pain to have to stop in the middle of a project to clean up, do it, because it’s so much easier to blot up wet paint than scrape off dry paint. However, if your paint stain has dried, our cleaning experts say, don’t panic. Just apply warm or hot water to moisten and loosen it up, then clean accordingly.
DIY vs Commercial Cleaning Products
DIY remedies are not only effective, they are also easy to whip up because you’ll likely always have dish soap or vinegar on hand. It’s not a bad idea to keep some white spirit or other type of carpet stain remover product on hand, too. Just be sure to read the instructions well to avoid any further damage to your carpet.
“Always be mindful of the carpet fibers that make up your carpet,” says Holmes, who recommends spot testing with a commercial cleaning product first. When in doubt, speak to a flooring professional for pointers.
Common Mistakes
Of course, you can avoid all this hoopla by double- and triple-checking that your drop cloths are covering all surfaces, especially your carpet. No one’s perfect, of course, and paint splashes do happen. But you can prevent a really big oops by prepping your area well and keeping it free from any obstacles you might trip over and upend a paint bucket in the process.
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