You can remove all kinds of stains from your clothes as long as you know the correct procedure. That includes acrylic paint stains!
Acrylic paint is popular for different projects, including house painting and crafts. From detergent to alcohol, here are our top tips to get acrylic paint out of clothes.
10 Ways to Get Acrylic Paint Out of Clothes
In many cases, it is easy to remove fresh acrylic paint stains if you act fast. Here are some effective options to get rid of fresh acrylic paint from your garment:
Act Fast!
One of the best ways to get rid of acrylic painting is to act fast. Acrylic paint contains pigments suspended in a water-soluble polymer solution when wet. Meanwhile, it becomes less resistant to water when dried, thus making it difficult to remove. Fresh paint stains will be easier to deal with than dried ones, so it’s best to act fast.
1: Use Laundry Detergent
Detergent is a practical idea for removing all kinds of stains, including acrylic paint stains. Apply the liquid laundry detergent over the stains and rub it in gently. You can also use a toothbrush to scrub the fabric gently.
NOTE: Avoid using chlorine-based detergent to prevent damaging or melting your delicate clothes.
2: Treat with Isopropyl Alcohol
Step 1: Apply a lot of alcohol to the stained area until thoroughly soaked.
Step 2: Use a flat object like an old credit card or fingernail to scrape the paint.
Step 3: Wash your garment in the washing machine or by hand using detergent.
Step 4: Try the method again if the stain persists.
3: Mineral Oil
Mineral oil will reduce the adhesion of acrylic paint, making them an excellent choice to get rid of it from clothes. Apply some drops of the oil over the stained area and use a sponge or rag to scrub out the stains. Wash the cloth as usual and ensure the stain is completely gone before drying.
4: Use Dishwashing Liquid
Dishwashing liquid is suitable for different stains, especially when it’s fresh. Here are the steps to use dishwashing liquid to remove acrylic paint stains:
Alcohol is an excellent solvent for stains from paint, including acrylic paints. Follow these steps to use isopropyl alcohol to remove acrylic paint stains:
Step 1: Rinse the cloth with running water to remove as much paint as you can.
Step 2: Mix your dishwashing liquid with some water and use a sponge or clean sponge to apply over the stain.
Step 3: Blot the paint stain with the soaked sponge but be careful to avoid spreading the stain over the clean part of the cloth.
Step 4: Rinse the stained area with water to see if you have paint stains left.
Step 5: Repeat the process if you have stains left and wash normally once the paint stain has been removed.
5: Apply White Vinegar
Another option to get rid of acrylic paint stains is using white vinegar.
Step 1: Start by soaking the cloth in cold water for a minute and then wring it.
Step 2: Mix some portion of the white vinegar with warm water and then soak a sponge or rag in the solution.
Step 3: Now, use the soaked sponge to scrub the stained area until the paint lifts.
Step 4: Rinse the stained area with water to see if the paint is completely lifted. Repeat the steps if the paint is still there.
Step 5: Launder the cloth as usual and dry.
6: Soak in Ammonia
You can use ammonia to treat your paint-stained clothes. Ammonia is available at most supermarkets, and all you need is to apply it to the stained area.
Step 1: Soak a toothbrush or sponge in ammonia solution and scrub the affected area.
Step 2: Scrub gently to avoid smearing the remaining part of the cloth. You should notice the paint stains lifting and rinse after working on it for some minutes.
Step 3: Reapply the ammonia as appropriate, and then wash your cloth as usual.
7: Make a Cleaning Solution With Lemon Juice
You can make a lemon juice cleaner at home by mixing water with lemon. Lemon fruits are suitable for eliminating paint stains by simply applying the cleaning solution to the stained area.
Step 1: Squeeze out some lemon and soak a sponge or rag in it.
Step 2: Apply the lemon juice to the stained area of the clothes by scrubbing with a sponge. Ensure that you have removed excess paint to avoid smearing the stains.
Step 3: Repeat the process until the paint stains are completely lifted. Then, launder your garment as normal.
8: Use Baking Soda
Baking soda is effective in neutralizing fresh paints on clothes. Here are the steps to use baking soda to remove acrylic paint stains:
Step 1: Make a paste by mixing baking soda with water.
Step 2: Apply the paste over the stain and leave for some minutes. Ensure you scrape out dried-off paint as much as possible before applying the baking soda paste.
Step 3: Use a sponge or rag to rub the area and then launder your clothes as normal if you have no stains left.
9: Use Hairspray
Hairspray contains some content of alcohol making it suitable for removing oil and paint-based stains. If you have a hairspray at home, follow these steps to remove the fresh acrylic paint stains:
Step 1: Blot out excess paint with some paper towel or rag. Be careful to avoid smearing the stain.
Step 2: Spray the hairspray over a sponge or clean cloth and use it to rub the stain up and down. Make sure you remove excess paint stains before rubbing with a cloth.
Step 3: Repeat the process as needed and Wash the garment as normal.
10: Use Acetone To Remove Acrylic Paint
Acetone or nail polish removal is one of the strongest removal methods to get rid of acrylic paint stains. It is not suitable for all kinds of fabrics, though, so it’s not exactly recommended for clothes. If you must use acetone, ensure it’s not on your delicate clothes.
Step 1: Blot out excess paint stains using a paper towel if wet or a blunt object if dried
Step 2: Soak a cloth or rag with acetone and scrub the stained area until the paint starts to dissolve and disappear.
Step 3: Repeat the process as necessary until you have no stains left.
Step 4: Wash the cloth as normal using detergent or a dishwashing liquid.
How To Remove Dried Acrylic Paint Stains
If you’re dealing with dried acrylic paint stains, you may find it harder to remove. You can consider the following options to remove dried acrylic paint stains:
Vinegar + Ammonia + Salt for Acrylic Paint Stains
A mix of Vinegar, Ammonia, and a pinch of salt can help get out some of the dried acrylic paint stains on the cloth.
Step 1: Use a blunt object like a spoon or a butter knife to scrape out some of the dried paint.
Step 2: Soak the cloth in some cold water and then wring it out.
Step 3: Mix a part of white vinegar with ammonia and then add a pinch of salt. Apply this mixture gently to the stained area and leave for some minutes.
Step 4: Wash the cloth in the machine and dry once there’s no sign of the stain. Reapply the mixture if paint stains persist.
Look for a Dry Cleaning Service
If all else fails, you can send your clothes to a near dry cleaning service to get rid of the acrylic paint stains. For dried and heavy stains on delicate fabrics, professional cleaning services can be very helpful.