Did you just paint your home interior and discover that you accidentally got paint stained on your carpet? Perhaps you freaked out that your carpet is ruined? Don’t be worried, you only need to learn a few tricks to get the paint out of the carpet. However, these tricks and tips largely depend on factors like the type of paint and how fresh or dried the stain is. Read this article to discover how to get paint out of your carpet just in time.

How to get paints out of carpet

Ideally, there are three types of paint used for interior designs. They include water-based, oil-based, and acrylic. These paints contain different ingredients, and their drying times vary. To get rid of these paints, you need to have a good understanding of how to do that differently; they have different features and functionalities. 

How to remove water-based fresh paint stains

You’ll need the following cleaning materials to proceed:

• Spray bottle
• Vinegar
• Brush
• Rags
• Lukewarm water
• Wet vacuum
• Nose pliers (needle)
• Disposable towel (or an old towel you no longer use)

Steps to getting water-based or latex paint stains out of the carpet

1. Use the damp towel to dab the paint stain and blot it.
2. Apply a carpet cleaning solution to the affected area. If you don’t have a commercially made solution, make yours with half vinegar and half hot water, put in a bottle.
3. You can use the needle pliers if you notice the stain is too much.
4. Finally, use a carpet steamer or a wet vacuum to take over any residue.

How to remove Oil-based fresh paint stains

Cleaning materials needed include:

• Turpentine
• Steamer
• Safety gloves
• Dishwashing detergent
• Paper towel
• Rags
• Steamer
• Small container
• Putty knife
• Turpentine

Steps to getting oil-based paint out of your carpet

1. Use the putty knife first to scrape out the oil paint. Do this until you remove as much paint as possible.
2. Then soften the remaining stain with a steam cleaner. After softening it, dab with the rag.
3. With turpentine on your rags, blot the paint stain. Turpentine will go the extra mile to remove the paint from the carpet. Remember to wear gloves before touching.
4. The next step is to make a solution of dishwashing liquid and cold water. Use it to clean the remaining paint.
5. Get paper towels and dry the wet carpet. Then vacuum if you wish.

How to remove Acrylic fresh paint stains

Get your cleaning materials before you proceed. The materials should include:

• Laundry detergent
• Acetone
• Rags
• Small brush
• Carpet vacuum
• Gloves or mask

Steps to getting acrylic paint out of your carpet

1. Wear your gloves and mask. Dab the affected area with a damp rag to moisten it. Avoid scrubbing as it will only make the stain spread.
2. The next step is to do a spot test to check if the detergent will stain the carpet. Then blot.
3. On the other side of the rag, add the acetone and clean the affected area. The acetone will remove the paint that the carpet absorbed. Keep applying the acetone and cleaning until the paint is out of the carpet.
4. If the acetone doesn’t work, use the carpet cleaning solution. But first, clean every trace of acetone.
5. Apply the solution and gently scrub the carpet with an old toothbrush.
6. Leave for about 7 minutes before rinsing the carpet with water.
7. Use a wet vacuum for the final touch. It’s not advisable to use a dry vacuum as it could break from absorbing liquids.

Getting dried paint out of your carpet

It might be easy to get fresh paint stains out of your carpet, but dried paints require a bit more effort. To get rid of dry paint stains from your market, you’ll need the following materials:

• Dishwashing detergent
• Warm water
• Carpet steamer
• Spray bottle
• Needle nose pliers
• Puffy knife
• Vinegar

For Oil-based dry paint stains, follow these steps

1. Use a carpet steamer to soften the stains
2. Spray a dishwashing solution on the carpet and let it sit for five minutes
3. If the paint still doesn’t come off, you might have to cut off the affected parts

For Water-based, latex-based, acrylic dry paint stains follow these steps

1. Use the knife to remove the paints carefully, so you don’t damage the fabrics.
2. If the paints are excess, use a needle nose plier.
3. Moisten the remaining paint stains by dabbing. Leave it to sit for 5 minutes.
4. Use a wet vacuum to clean the residual paint stains.
5. Respray the dishwashing solution on the affected part, and use a brush to scrub it. Keep scrubbing until the stain completely disappears.
6. Use the wet vacuum again to dry the moisture.

Tips to observe when taking out paints from your carpet

1. When you want to paint your walls, bring along your cleaning materials so you can immediately wipe off the paint. It reduces the struggle you’ll face when the paint gets dried.
2. Do spot testing before using any detergent or cleaning solution on your carpet. Your aim is to remove the stains from your carpet and not to add more. Spot testing will show if the solution is compatible with your carpet fabric.
3. After trying to remove the paint without success, cut out the affected part and replace a new carpet material but something that looks like the old one. If possible, the same color and pattern.
4. Remember to avoid scrubbing out the paint stains, as that will only make it spread to other parts. Dab and blot are the best ways to get them out gradually.
5. Also, take the manufacturer’s instruction of the carpet seriously. See if they permit using a vacuum or steamer on it.
6. Be careful when using the knife, so you don’t cut the carpet accidentally.
7. Oil-based paint stains are more difficult to remove compared to water-based or latex. So, ensure you clean the paint as soon as it gets to the carpet.
8. Get a professional carpet cleaner if you can’t handle the stress. Outsourcing never goes out of style.

Conclusion

Getting paint out of your carpet is something you need to do with care. Only ensure you have the necessary cleaning materials before you start cleaning. That way, you don’t have to stop halfway and ruin the process.