How to Get Acrylic Paint Out of Clothes

• Scrape off any excess paint before you start. Then, run the fabric under warm water and blot it with dish soap.
• For stubborn stains, use nail polish remover, hairspray, denatured alcohol, or paint thinner.
• For old stains, soak the fabric in a mixture of baking soda, dish soap, and rubbing alcohol.
• Treat the stain with stain remover before washing your garment like normal.

Remove any excess paint from your clothing.

Use a spoon or a knife to remove the majority of the paint. If the paint is still wet, you need to act fast! Gently scrape the area with a spoon or knife, then blot up any excess with a clean paper towel. If the paint is dry, try gently scraping it off with a knife.

Run warm water over the area.

Warm water helps remove stubborn, stuck-on paint. Grab your clothing and head over to the sink, then douse the area with warm water. Try to flush out as much of the paint as you can before moving on. Try not to get the entire garment wet, as that can make the stain spread. Instead, focus the water on the area with the paint. If you’re working with light-colored fabric or a delicate item, spray the underside of the garment. This makes it less likely for the stain to spread.

Blot the area gently with dish soap and water.

Dish soap’s degreaser can dissolve tough acrylic paint. Squirt 1 to 2 drops of dish soap onto the stained area, and gently rub it in with your fingers or a clean cloth. Then, rinse with warm water. If you’re working with delicate fabric, like silk, use laundry detergent instead. Laundry detergent is less harsh than dish soap, so it has less of a chance of harming your clothing.

Dab tough stains with paint thinner.

Paint thinner is made to break down and remove paint. Slide a piece of cardboard underneath the stained area to prevent bleeding, then dip a rag into paint thinner. Dab the area with the rag, and switch to a new rag every time it starts to pick up paint. For really tough stains, pour the paint thinner directly onto the fabric and scrub it with a toothbrush. Paint thinner is flammable, and the fumes can be intense. Always work in a ventilated area, and store extra paint thinner in a cool, dry place away from an open flame.

Soak old stains in a baking soda mixture.

Baking soda is mildly abrasive, so it’s great for scrubbing stains. Mix 1 c (240 mL) of lukewarm water with 1 tbsp (14.3 g) of baking soda. Add a few drops of dish soap and a few drops of rubbing alcohol for extra stain-fighting power, then soak the stained area of clothing in the mixture for 10 minutes. Scrub the stain with your hands before rinsing.

Pat stubborn stains with nail polish remover.

The acetone in nail polish remover breaks down paint. If soap and water just aren’t cutting it, dip a cotton ball into nail polish remover, then gently dab the stain with it. Rinse your clothing with warm water to get the paint out. Nail polish remover is too harsh for delicate fabrics. If you’re worried about using nail polish remover, do a quick spot test on a hidden area of the garment. If you notice any warping or discoloration, pick a different method.

Loosen dry stains with hairspray.

The alcohol in hairspray can dissolve stubborn acrylic paint. Check the ingredients on a bottle of hairspray, and make sure it has alcohol in it. Spray the stained area, then rub it vigorously with a sponge. If it doesn’t come out, repeat the process. Try scraping the edge of the paint stain with a knife after you spray it with hairspray. The alcohol in the hairspray may have loosened it enough that you can simply scrape it off.

Rub dry stains with denatured alcohol.

Alcohol helps break down acrylic paint. If the stain on your clothing is old or dry, dip a cotton ball into denatured alcohol. Gently rub the stain with the alcohol, then rinse the area with soap and water. Denatured alcohol is similar to isopropyl alcohol, except that it has ethanol added to it. You can use whatever you have on hand—either product will work.

Treat the area with stain remover.

Commercial stain removers break down set-in stains. Before you wash your clothing, spray a stain remover onto it and let it soak for up to 24 hours. The stain remover will gently pull the paint out of the fiber of your clothing to help it rinse out in the wash.

Wash the item like you normally would.

Wash your clothing in cold water to remove the rest of the paint. Check the tag on your garment to find the washing instructions, then throw it in the washing machine. Using cold water will help rinse out the paint without setting in the stain. If your item is delicate or can’t be washed at home, take it to a dry cleaner instead.

Let your clothing air dry.

Air out your clothes to avoid the heat from the dryer. Drying your clothing with heat has the potential to set the paint into the fabric. Instead, grab your clothing out of the washer and hang it up to dry.