Whether you’re painting a room, creating artwork, or helping your kids with crafts, acrylic paint has a way of ending up where it shouldn’t. One accidental splash on your favorite shirt can leave you wondering whether the stain is permanent. Fortunately, if you know how to get acrylic paint out of clothes, there’s a good chance you can save the fabric—especially if you act quickly.
Since acrylic paint is water-based when wet, removing it while it’s still fresh usually results in simple washes. When that acrylic-based pigment dries, it becomes part of a tenacious plastic-based film that adheres to clothing fabrics, preventing simple scrubbing or washing methods. While it does not necessarily ruin garments, an incident with dried acrylicpaint requires special care. This comprehensive tutorial shows the most efficient way to get any dried or fresh spilled acrylic paint residue out of clothing without causing further harm to your fabric.
Why Acrylic Paint Is Difficult to Remove
Acrylic paint’s ingredients are color pigment, and acrylic polymer emulsion. When the paint is still wet, the majority of it can be scrubbed away using just soap and water, following proper paint stain removal techniques for the best results. When it dries and the water dries, you’ll get a film that won’t move at all, and will firmly cling to whatever you’ve spilled it on – this can even be fabric.
That is why you need to speed up the stain removal.
The more fresh a paint stain is, the more apt you are to remove it altogether without difficulty. Fabric does not always play in your favor as well: cotton and polyester tend to be more resistant to these kinds of stains, while wool and silk do not..
Act Fast Before the Paint Dries
Don’t rub the stain further into the material. The first few minutes following a spill are the most critical. Spoon, a flat butter knife, or a towel paper the stain back a spoon, flat dull knife, or towel as carefully as you possibly can without pushing it any further into a wider space.
At some point, flip your garment inside out and flush the stained area with cold running water from underneath the cloth; this can push the paint through the back.
Do not apply hot water because warm will set the stain with permanent.
How to Get Acrylic Paint Out of Clothes While It’s Still Wet
If the stain hasn’t dried, follow these simple steps.
Apply Liquid Laundry Detergent
- Place some unscented liquid laundry detergent on the stain and try rubbing a bit of it into the fabric with your fingers or a clean washcloth.
- Let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse it off in cool water.
- Many fresh paint spots will begin coming out with the first treatment.
Try Using Dish Soap
- If you don’t have laundry detergent on hand, you can use some gentle dish soap to help lift wet acrylic paint out of the fabric.
- Mix a few drops of it with some cool water and dab at the stain.
- Continue blotting until the paint starts to lift away.
Washing the Fabric
- Now that you’ve managed to lift most of the paint out, you want to wash the garment as you normally would in a washing machine with your regular laundry detergent.
- Before throwing it in the dryer, make sure you inspect the spot closely, as heat can permanently set any remaining acrylic paint.
How to Remove Dried Acrylic Paint Stains
- Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for people who work with paint to leave a spot on their clothing long after it’s dried and set.
- While it’s much harder to remove dry acrylic paint, it can still be done.
Removing Raised Dried Paint
- Your first task is to gently scrape off any raised paint from the fabric.
- Use a dull butter knife, old credit card, or some plastic to gently lift the acrylic from the clothing.
- Always take your time when doing this to avoid harming the fabric.
- Loose acrylic paint should always be removed before treating the clothing, as it will prevent the stain from becoming embedded in the fibers.
Using Rubbing Alcohol to Remove Acrylic Paint
Isopropyl alcohol is known to be an effective solvent for acrylic paint due to its ability to dissolve the acrylic polymer binder.
- Try using some rubbing alcohol to help loosen up the acrylic paint on the fabric.
- Dab some onto a clean piece of cloth and test it on an inconspicuous part of the garment to make sure that it won’t cause any damage to the clothing.
- Once the paint has begun coming out, use a clean piece of cloth to blot it away.
- Avoid rubbing, as that can cause the acrylic paint to become embedded in the fabric.
Repeating the Process
Stains that have been on clothing for a long time will require multiple treatments before they can be fully removed.
It’s usually best to patiently repeat the process until the stain is gone rather than trying to force it out with excessive pressure, which can hurt the fabric.
Alternative Methods for Stubborn Paint Stains
If the stain persists after treatment with laundry detergent or rubbing alcohol, try the following method instead. Make sure you examine the care instructions of the garment and test any stain removing solution on a small part of the fabric.
Use a Commercial Stain Remover
A lot of commercial stain removers are specially treated to take out paint, oil, and other difficult to remove substances. Apply the chosen solution and leave it on the stained area for the recommended period of time. Most of the time, it is necessary to treat the garment more than once, especially if the stain is old.
Try an Acetone-Based Nail Polish Remover
If the fabric is washable, try using a little acetone-based nail polish remover to take out acrylic paint. Note that such a solution may deteriorate some fabrics, especially synthetics like acetate, and may also damage the fabric’s dye. Test the product on a small spot before treating the whole stain. If you see any unfavorable reaction on the fabric after the experiment, give up on using it.
Mistakes to Avoid
Knowing how to get acrylic paint out of clothes also means understanding what not to do. Some common mistakes can make the stain much harder to remove.
- Don’t use hot water on a fresh stain. Heat can cause the paint to set more firmly into the fabric.
- Avoid putting stained clothing in the dryer. High temperatures may permanently bond any remaining paint to the fibers.
- Don’t scrub aggressively. Excessive rubbing can spread the stain and damage delicate fabrics.
- Never mix cleaning chemicals. Combining different household cleaners can be unsafe and may damage your clothing.
Fabric Care Tips
Different fabrics respond differently to stain removal methods, making it helpful to understand fabric care symbols and washing instructions before treating stains.
- Cotton and polyester: Usually tolerate most cleaning techniques well.
- Denim: May require repeated treatments because of its thick fibers.
- Silk and wool: These delicate materials should be handled carefully. Consider professional dry cleaning if the stain is significant.
- Blended fabrics: Always follow the garment’s care label before applying any cleaning solution.
If you’re uncertain about the fabric type or care instructions, it’s safer to use a gentle stain remover or seek professional cleaning advice.
How to Prevent Future Paint Stains
While accidents happen, a few simple precautions can help protect your clothing during painting projects, especially when using safe household cleaning tips to deal with unexpected spills.
- Wear old clothes or a protective apron.
- Cover nearby furniture and floors with drop cloths.
- Store paper towels and a container of water nearby for fast cleanup.
- Clean spills immediately before the paint begins to dry.
- Store paints securely to reduce the risk of accidental spills.
Taking these preventive steps can save time and help avoid stubborn stains altogether.
Conclusion
Learning how to get acrylic paint out of clothes is much easier when you act quickly. Fresh acrylic paint can often be removed with cold water, liquid laundry detergent, or mild dish soap before it has a chance to dry.Even dried paint spots can be removed using rubbing alcohol, commercial stain removers, or other means, though it often takes patience and multiple attempts.
The most critical tip is to avoid using any heat until the spot is gone, as heat can permanently set the paint into the fibers of the clothing. With some effort, most acrylic paint spots can be removed to make your beloved clothes wearable again.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How to remove hardened acrylic paint from clothes?
Acrylic paint that has dried can be removed from clothes with rubbing alcohol or other stain removers.
2. Do I need to use hot or cold water to treat paint spots on clothes?
Cold water is best when treating fresh acrylic paint spots because hot water can permanently set the paint.
3. Can I use vinegar to remove acrylic paint from clothes?
It can loosen some fresh acrylic paint spots, but overall, vinegar is unsuitable for removing acrylic paint from clothes.
4. Can I put acrylic paint-stained clothes in the washing machine?
You can, but only when the stain has been properly treated, and it is no longer visible on the fabric. Make sure not to use a dryer for clothes with acrylic paint spots.
5. Is acrylic paint permanent on clothes?
Often it is not permanent, and most acrylic paint spots can be removed if treated appropriately.
