We’ve all been there — you’re painting a wall, helping your child with a school project, or maybe just touching up a piece of furniture, when suddenly paint splatters onto your favorite shirt or jeans. Your first thought is usually: “Well, that’s ruined.” and now how to ger paint out of clothes?
But here’s the good news: most paint stains can be removed if you act quickly and use the right method. The secret is knowing two things — what kind of paint you’re dealing with (acrylic, latex, or oil-based) and whether the stain is fresh and wet, or dried and set in. Each situation calls for a slightly different approach, but don’t worry — we’ll break it all down step by step so you know exactly how to get paint out of clothes without losing them to the trash pile.
What You Need Before You Start
Before attacking the stain, grab a few everyday supplies. Don’t worry, you don’t need a fancy stain remover kit — most of this you probably already have at home:
- Dish soap or laundry detergent – works best for fresh, wet paint.
- Rubbing alcohol or hairspray – great for breaking down acrylic or latex paint.
- Turpentine or paint thinner – needed if you’re dealing with stubborn oil-based paint.
- Old toothbrush or stiff brush – for scrubbing dried stains.
- Clean cloths or paper towels – for blotting.
- Warm water – for rinsing out paint and soap.
- (Optional) Special cleaners like Krud Kutter or a Tide To Go pen – handy if nothing else works.
Keep in mind: Always test your cleaning solution on a hidden spot first to make sure it doesn’t damage or discolor the fabric.
How to Get Paint Out of Clothes
How to Get Fresh, Wet Paint Out of Clothes???
Fresh paint is actually the easiest to deal with. The biggest mistake people make? Rubbing it deeper into the fabric. What you want to do is lift it out, not spread it around. Here’s how:
Step 1: Scrape Off the Excess
Grab the edge of a spoon, butter knife, or even a credit card and gently scrape away any blobs of paint. Don’t smear it — you’re just trying to remove the top layer so it doesn’t soak in more.
Step 2: Flush From the Back With Water
This is a game-changer. Turn the clothing inside out and run warm (or cold if it’s delicate) water through the back of the stain. This pushes the paint out the same way it went in, instead of driving it deeper.
Step 3: Apply Dish Soap or Detergent
Mix a little dish soap with warm water and blot it onto the stain using a clean cloth or sponge. Don’t rub aggressively; just blot, blot, blot. The soap helps break up the paint while the cloth lifts it out.
Step 4: Rinse and Repeat
Rinse the area with water, check the stain, and reapply soap if needed. This might take a few rounds depending on how much paint you spilled.
Step 5: Wash as Usual
Once the stain looks mostly gone, toss the clothing in the washing machine like normal. Use cold water for safety. Skip the dryer until you’re 100% sure the stain is out, because heat can “lock” any remaining paint into the fabric forever.
How to Remove Dried Paint Stains From Clothes
When paint has already dried, things get tougher — but it’s not game over. The method depends on whether it’s latex/acrylic or oil-based paint. Here’s how to handle each situation:
1. Removing Latex or Acrylic Paint
Latex wall paints and acrylic craft paints are water-based, so they respond well to alcohol. The easiest trick is rubbing alcohol — just pour some directly onto the stain or apply with a cotton ball. If you don’t have any, hairspray or even non-acetone nail polish remover can work because they contain alcohol. After soaking the spot for a few minutes, grab an old toothbrush and start scrubbing gently. As the paint loosens, blot with a damp cloth to lift it away. You might need to repeat this process a couple of times, but you’ll usually see the stain fading fast.
2. Removing Oil-Based Paint
Oil-based paints are the stubborn ones. Soap and water won’t touch them once they’re dry. For these, you’ll need a solvent like turpentine, mineral spirits, or paint thinner. Dip a clean cloth into the solvent, press it against the stain, and let it sit for a minute to soften the paint. Then scrub gently with a stiff brush or toothbrush. Once you’ve removed as much as possible, rinse thoroughly to clear the solvent, then wash the garment to get rid of any lingering smell.
3. Scrubbing and Rewashing
Whether you’re tackling latex, acrylic, or oil-based, the secret is repeat cycles of soaking, scrubbing, blotting, and rinsing. Dried paint often comes off in layers, not all at once. Be patient and check your progress after each rinse. Only once the stain is gone should you put the garment into the dryer — otherwise heat will lock in whatever paint remains. Always air dry first to be safe.
Popular Home Remedies That Work
Sometimes the best fixes come from what’s already under your bathroom sink or in your laundry room. Here are a few tried-and-true tricks people swear by:
Hairspray + Alcohol Method
This combo is a classic. Spray the paint stain heavily with hairspray (because it’s alcohol-based), then pour or dab rubbing alcohol over the same spot. Start blotting and gently rubbing with a cloth or brush. The alcohol breaks down the paint while the hairspray helps loosen it. A couple of rounds of this can really lift stubborn acrylics.
Krud Kutter
This one’s a specialty cleaner you’ll find at hardware stores, and it’s designed for paint messes. Spray it directly on the dried latex paint, wait 15–30 minutes, and scrub it with an old toothbrush. Rinse, wash, and you’ll often see a huge improvement.
Dish Soap + Hot Water Trick
Don’t underestimate dish soap. Mix it with hot water and sponge it onto the stain. It works especially well for fresh paint splatters, breaking down the paint’s surface before it fully bonds to the fibers.
Tide To Go Pens
For small spots or on-the-go emergencies, a Tide pen can be a lifesaver. Dab it right on the stain before it dries, blot with a tissue, and wash when you get home. It won’t always remove everything, but it can stop stains from setting.
Important Tips for Success
A few golden rules make all the difference when you’re fighting paint stains:
- Act quickly. The faster you deal with paint, the higher your chances of removing it completely.
- Always test solvents first. Try alcohol, turpentine, or cleaners on an inside seam before going all in. That way you won’t damage or discolor the fabric.
- Skip the heat. Never toss stained clothes into a hot dryer until you’re 100% sure the stain is gone. Heat sets paint permanently into fabric fibers.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
It’s easy to make the problem worse if you’re not careful. Here’s what not to do:
- Don’t use the dryer too soon. Heat will lock stains in.
- Don’t scrub delicate fabrics too hard. A stiff brush on silk or thin cotton will ruin the fabric before the stain even has a chance to come out.
- Don’t mix up solvents. Using oil-based solvents on acrylic stains (or vice versa) can waste time and damage the material.
Wrap Up: Saving Clothes After a Paint Spill
At first, paint on your clothes feels like the end of the world — but most stains are fixable. The key is knowing whether you’re dealing with wet or dried paint, and what type of paint it is. For fresh stains, soap and water usually do the trick. For dried ones, rubbing alcohol, turpentine, or a cleaner like Krud Kutter can save the day.
Be patient, test different solutions, and repeat treatments if needed. Some deep-set stains may never come out completely, but with quick action and the right method, you’ll save way more clothes than you lose.
FAQs
Can vinegar remove paint from clothes?
Vinegar can soften fresh water-based paint, but it’s not strong enough for dried stains. You might see some fading, but you’ll usually need alcohol, soap, or a solvent for real results.
Does WD-40 work on paint stains?
Yes, it can. WD-40 helps break down dried latex and acrylic paint. Spray it on, let it sit, and then scrub with a brush. Just remember to wash the fabric afterward because WD-40 leaves an oily residue.
What about spray paint?
Spray paint is usually oil-based, so it requires a solvent like mineral spirits, turpentine, or paint thinner. Once softened, scrub with a brush and wash as normal.
Can you get dried paint out after washing?
It’s possible, but more difficult. If the paint has gone through the dryer, heat may have set it permanently. Still, repeated treatments with rubbing alcohol, solvents, or specialty cleaners can sometimes lighten or fully remove the stain.
Does nail polish remover work on paint stains?
Yes, but only non-acetone nail polish remover is safe for most fabrics. It contains alcohol, which can loosen acrylic or latex paint. Acetone-based removers are much harsher and can damage fabrics.
Will Hydrogen peroxide remove paint from clothes?
Hydrogen peroxide isn’t effective for most paint stains. It works better on organic stains (like food or blood). For paint, stick to alcohol or solvents.
What if I don’t know what type of paint it is?
Test with water first. If water starts softening it, it’s likely latex or acrylic. If nothing happens, it’s probably oil-based and will need a solvent like turpentine.
Can laundry detergent alone remove paint stains?
Sometimes yes — but usually only if the paint is still wet. For dried paint, detergent alone won’t cut it without help from alcohol or a solvent.
Will baking soda remove paint stains?
Baking soda on its own won’t dissolve paint, but mixed with dish soap and hot water it can give you a little extra scrubbing power.
How do I remove paint from delicate fabrics like silk?
Delicate fabrics are tough. Avoid scrubbing hard or using harsh solvents. Try blotting gently with rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab and test in a hidden area first. If it’s a valuable item, a professional cleaner is the safest option.
Can dry cleaners remove paint stains?
Yes, many professional dry cleaners have stronger solvents and stain treatments than what you can do at home. If the garment is expensive or delicate, taking it to a cleaner is often the best bet.
Does hot water remove paint stains faster?
Hot water can help break down latex paint, but it can also set stains if you’re not careful. Use warm water for rinsing unless the fabric is delicate, then stick with cold.
