Get Paint Out of Carpet

Paint that was dropped, splashed or dripped onto carpet needs prompt attention to remove it. For the best success in removing paint, it’s important to know what kind of paint you’re dealing with, as it will affect the cleaning method and products you use. The major types of paint are acrylic based paints, oil paints, water-based and latex paints.

Steps

Dealing with Acrylic Paint

1. Blot the paint with laundry detergent. Use a wet rag to wet the spot first. Make sure this is a rag you’re ready to throw away once you’re finished; otherwise you’ll need to wash it thoroughly. Add no more than a tablespoon (15ml) of laundry detergent to your rag and blot the area. Don’t scrub the spill into the carpet, just blot it away.
   • This will not clean the majority of the spill, but it will serve to loosen up the paint from the carpet fibers, making them easier to clean with the following steps.
   • Before using any product on your carpet, make sure to do a spot test on an inconspicuous area to make sure it doesn’t stain.
2. Add acetone to your rag and dab the spill. Contrary to soaps and detergents, acetone will do a better job of breaking down the paint, making it easier to lift off of your carpet. Don’t add a huge amount of acetone to your rag, only enough to wet it.
   • Make sure you keep the area you’re working in well ventilated. Lengthy exposure to acetone fumes can be harmful for your health.
   • Wear a mask while working with acetone.
3. Use a commercial carpet cleaner to deal with the spill. While acetone will do a good job of dislodging tenacious paint, using a commercial carpet cleaner will properly clean the area. At this point, you can use a toothbrush to lightly scrub the carpet fibers, without worrying about staining your carpet. Apply the carpet cleaner directly to the carpet, then scrub with the toothbrush.
   • Let the carpet cleaner sit for five to six minutes after scrubbing.
   • There are a variety of carpet cleaners available on the market. Before use, make sure to consult the product label. Not all are created equal, and they may have specific instructions or safety precautions for use.
4. Vacuum up the carpet cleaner. The carpet cleaner will have absorbed a good portion of the paint, meaning you’re able to simply vacuum it up. Make sure to use a wet vacuum to do this. The collector is waterproof, and sensitive electric parts are insulated against water and other liquids. Don’t use a dry vacuum for this step as it could become seriously damaged.
5. Repeat steps 2-4 until the spill is cleaned. Acrylic paints are tenacious, and you’ll need to spend a good amount of time on any spill to completely clear it up. Prepare to spend up to two hours cleaning spilled paint out of your carpet. It’s time consuming, but cleaning your carpet properly means you won’t have to deal with mold or ugly stains.

Removing Water-Based or Latex Paints

1. Blot up the paint spill with a towel. These paints aren’t as tenacious or oily as other types. You should be able to absorb the majority of the spill with a towel. Make sure to use a towel you’re prepared to throw away, as it might stain. Be careful not to scrub the stain, as this could drive it deeper into the carpet fibers.
2. Clean the spill with a dishwashing detergent solution. Mix a tablespoon (15ml) of dishwashing detergent with a cup (237ml) of lukewarm water. Add this solution to a white rag; colored rags might stain the carpet. Blot the spill, starting from the outside of the stain and working towards the center.
   • Clean gently, to avoid driving the paint deeper into the carpet.
3. Vacuum up the solution. After blotting the spill, vacuum up the dislodged paint and dishwasher detergent solution. This will prevent the liquid from creating mold and mildew in your carpet. Use a wet vacuum, as these are specifically designed to clean up liquids.
4. Repeat as necessary. You might not get all of the paint out on the first try, so try this method until you clean up the stain.

Cleaning up Oil Paint

1. Scrape off the paint with a putty knife. Putty knives are short, flat tools made of metal or plastic. If the paint is still fresh, you should be able to remove a good chunk of it with a putty knife. Make sure not to scrub the paint, as this could stain the carpet. Bring the putty knife under the paint and push it away from the carpet.
   • You should have a container next to you where you can dump the paint you scrape up.
2. Blot up the paint with a clean white cloth. Again, you don’t want to rub or scrub the paint; this will only drive it deeper into the carpet fibers. Blot as much of the paint as you can, until you feel the cloth isn’t removing any more paint.
   • It’s important to use a white cloth; a colored cloth might transfer its dyes onto your carpet, making a bigger mess.
3. Add turpentine to your cloth and keep blotting. Turpentine will help separate the paint from the carpet fibers. This will allow you to remove more paint without scrubbing. You should be able to remove the majority, if not all of the paint.
4. Use a solution of dishwashing detergent and cold water to clean the area. While blotting the paint with turpentine might remove the actual paint, you might need to clean the carpet fibers of some discoloration. Mix a tablespoon (15ml) of dishwashing detergent with two cups (473ml) of cold water. Dip a clean white cloth into this solution and sponge the area where you spilled the paint. Sponge until the area is clean.
   • After cleaning, use a paper towel to absorb any leftover solution.

Video

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Tips

• If you've tried and tried and nothing has worked, the solution may be to cut out that piece of carpet and patch it by restoring a fresh piece of carpet of the same make and color. It's best to get a professional to do this as it requires a lot of effort and re-stretching of the carpet to try to hide the piece well.
• It's recommended that you test an inconspicuous spot of the carpet before treating the stain with anything. In some cases, the solution will be worse than the cure, while in others, it may be better than nothing.
• For valuable carpets and rugs, such as Persian carpet, get advice from a professional quickly.
• Make sure to act as soon as possible for an easier cleaning job.

Warnings

• Never rub any type of carpet spill. Only dab and soak up stains. Rubbing will disperse the stain and make things much harder to fix.
• Always take care if handling a sharp blade, such as a razor blade, for removing the stain.

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Sources and Citations

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