Carpet Cleaning Tip: Dry Paint Stain Removal

Your carpet can be ruined by spilled paint, but it can be fixed through various carpet cleaning approaches. Although it is much easier to remove wet paint, removing dry paint from your carpet is also possible.

The approaches will differ depending on whether you are dealing with latex or oil based paints. Latex paint is easier to remove than oil-based paint because it can be dissolved in water. All or most of the dried paint can likely be removed with carpet cleaning if it is latex paint, but an oil-based paint stain is unlikely to be removed.

4 Steps to Removing Latex Paint

(Treat the paint on your carpet as latex paint first if you do not know which kind of paint it is.)

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1: Use a knife to scrape off dried paint as much as you can. Use needle-nose pliers to remove or loosen large spots of dried paint.

2: Use water to soak dried paint, then use a wet/dry vacuum to vacuum the area. Repeat this process if you want to remove as much paint as possible.

3: Add 32 ounces of water then pour the mixture into a spray bottle. You can add 1/4 teaspoon of dish-washing detergent if you do not have 32 ounces of water.

4: Spray the detergent mixture onto the latex paint stain and use a stiff brush to scrub the area. To remove the paint, continue spraying and scrubbing the area. If the stain cannot be removed, follow the instructions for treating oil-based paint stains.

3 Steps to Removing Oil-Based Paint

1: Use a steam cleaner to remove the paint so that the area can be cleaned. Repeat this process if you want to remove as much paint as possible.

2: Apply acetone, paint thinner, or hydrogen peroxide to a cloth before removing the paint by blotting the stain. Carpet discoloration may occur when this method will be used. You may want to test it out in an unseen carpet patch first. Continue blotting as much as possible until most or all of the stain is removed.

3: To remove paint on the tips, use a pair of scissors to trim the fibers of the carpet. Make sure to remove as little of the fibers as you can while removing as much paint as possible by cutting the carpet fibers right below the paint. This method should be used as a last resort because the spot will look bare if too much of the carpet will be removed.

These carpet cleaning steps will help you remove latex paint or oil-based paint. If you can help it, act quickly and remove the paint when wet rather than let it dry. It will make things easier. You may also want to consider the help of a carpet cleaning machine, which automates the process of carpet brushing and vacuuming of dirt/water.

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Emmeline Chu

Emmeline Chu is the Chief Reviewer on this site. She likes to keep all things clean, especially carpets and rugs. Emmeline admits to a quirky obsession with carpet cleaner machines. Since 2014, she has been writing reviews on carpet cleaners. She shares her story here.