If the warmer spring weather has you yearning to freshen up your home with some fresh interior painting, it’s a good idea to learn how to treat any possible paint stains on the carpet. Even with drop clothes over everything, accidents happen and knowing how to quickly and efficiently remove paint from carpets keeps the colors on your walls where they belong.
Act Quickly
If you spill paint on the carpet, it’s important to act quickly because if it dries, it can create a permanent stain. Contain the spill by surrounding it with paper towels or cloths and then blot up as much as possible without rubbing. Test any cleaners in an inconspicuous area of the carpet before applying and if some small, dried paint pieces remain stuck to the carpet, cut them carefully off with scissors.
Acrylic Paint
For spilled acrylic paint, add glycerin to the stain and then gently blot it up. Remove any remaining residue with rubbing alcohol and follow water and a mild detergent. Absorb the paint with a sponge until gone and vacuum once dry.
Oil-based Paint
A majority of oil paints cause a permanent stain if left on so you need to immediately apply turpentine or mineral spirits to the stain to remove it. For dry oil paint, try turpentine to make the stain soluble again and then blot up with paper towels. Use rubbing alcohol to remove any remaining residue and go over with a mild detergent and water with a sponge to thoroughly clean the stain.
Latex Paint
Cleaning a latex paint spill requires a solution of one teaspoon alkali and bleach-free detergent mixed with one cup of warm water. Apply the solution to the stain and blot, repeating until you remove the paint stain.
Water-based Paint
Water-based paint can spread easily if you use too much water to clean them so use a small amount of water or vinegar to blot after removing the initial spill. Use a mild detergent to clean remaining paint and rinse carefully with water.
Dry Paint
If you remove the drop cloths and discover a dried spot of paint on the carpet, don’t panic. Remove as much as possible with a putty knife or razor blade then spray the stain with WD-40 After the stain sits for 20 minutes, blot the area to remove the moisture and remove any pieces of loose paint with your fingers or tweezers. Clean the area using a neutral detergent, rinse with water and blot up liquid.
Spilling Entire Can
If you have the misfortune of knocking over an entire can of paint on to the carpet, soak up as much as you can with rags and then cover the area with wet towels to prevent it from drying. Cleaning up such a large spill is best left to professional carpet cleaners so call them immediately to set up an appointment.
For any stains you’re unsure about treating, trust the experts at Embassy Cleaners to restore your carpets and rugs to like-new condition.
