How to Clean Paint Off the Carpet

From the regular spills and muddy boots, your carpet goes through a lot of wear and tear.

When you have splattered paint, you may assume you’ve already got its match, but this always isn’t the case. At Pauls Cleaning Company (Melbourne) we know that for a cleaner carpet and overall clean living, you need to note the type of paint you have used.

Removing Latex/Water-Based Paint

If you have to clean water or latex-based paint, the first step is to blot the stain with wet paper to soak any excess.

To both use painting hacks & clean like a pro, don’t scrub the area because you’ll push the paint deep into your carpet fibres. If you do not find a paper towel handy, the other alternative to clean is using a cloth towel. 

If the risk is too big, just book professional carpet cleaning and leave nerves to the pros.

The best way to clean for less is by washing the spill with dishwashing detergent solution (237ml of lukewarm water and 15ml dishwashing detergent). Ensure that you add the solution to a white rag because coloured rags may end up staining your carpet. If the water-based paint has dried on your carpet, you should let the solution sit for five minutes before cleaning it. 

If you have a lot of paint to clean, use a scraper or knife to remove it. Once you’re done blotting the spill, use a dishwasher detergent solution before vacuuming the area.

You may also want to consider household products such as a wet vacuum cleaner to help you get even better results.

Removing Acrylic Paint

Begin by removing any tangible dry paint by scrapping the spot using a citrus cleaner or putty knife. You should then bloat the affected area with a clean cloth soaked in isopropyl alcohol/ acetone. Soak the area and leave it untouched for about twenty minutes to loosen the stain.

Acetone does a great job of breaking down the paint, making it easier to remove from your carpet. It is crucial that you add enough acetone to wet the area. It is still okay to use a nail polish remover that contains acetone. 

Take note that the area you are working on should be well ventilated because lengthy exposure may be harmful to your health. If possible, wear a mask when cleaning the stain from the carpet. While acetone does a great job if you want to clean and clear paint, a commercial carpet cleaner will give you even better results.

What’s more, it makes it easy to vacuum your carpet.

Removing Oil-Based Paint

Oil-based paints are easy to clean when fresh, which is why you need to clean quickly. Begin by dabbing a paper towel with a stain remover of your choice. You should be careful not to smear or rub into the carpet because it can get deeper into the carpet fibres. 

Ensure that you blot as much paint as you can until a certain point where the cloth isn’t removing the paint anymore. Soak the cloth you are using to bloat in turpentine to help separate oil-based paint from the carpet fibres. This way, you will remove paint without the need to scrub. 

This will also help you to remove more paint, if not all of it. For an overall clean house, it would help if you then cleaned the stained section of your carpet using cold water and dishwashing detergent. Take note that while blotting the paint with turpentine will remove the actual paint, you may want to clean the carpet off any discolouration. 

A mixture of half a litre of cold water and 15 ml of dishwashing detergent can help.

You need to dip the white cloth into the solution and sponge the area until the section of the carpet is clean. Using a towel, wash off any leftover solutions.

Your Carpet Cleaning Task Made Easy!

Take note that acrylics, oil, or latex-based paints are best to clean as soon as possible. That said, the methods highlighted in this guide are most effective if the stains are cleaned immediately after the spill.

Are you finding it difficult to clean your carpet following a home renovation project? The steps highlighted in this guide should help you get a clean carpet and a fresh home. If you have any suggestions or comments on how best to clean a carpet, leave your thoughts in the comment section below.