We’ve probably all been there: you’re adding a fresh coat of paint to walls or furniture when you accidentally spill some on your clothes.
There’s no need to stress about the mess – and it doesn’t necessarily mean the end of your favourite t-shirt or jeans. Resene paint expert Murdo Shaw says there are steps you can take to get paint stains out of clothing.
“The key thing to remember is to act quickly,” says Murdo. “The longer you wait, the harder it will be. Unfortunately once the paint dries, there’s a good chance you might not be able to remove it.”
For water-based paint
What you use to get the stain out depends on what kind of paint you’re dealing with. Around 98% of paint used in our homes is water-based, says Murdo. That includes indoor and outdoor acrylic paint, finger paints, acrylic craft paint and poster paint, all of which is usually easier to clean up than oil-based paint.
“If you have a fresh spill of water-based paint on your clothes, immediately blot the stain with a wet cloth to remove the excess and stop it drying – it dries VERY fast on clothes. Then get the garment under running water ASAP. If you have one, a soft brush, even an old toothbrush, is perfect for getting residue out of fibres.”
Murdo also suggests trying an American-made product stocked by Resene, Motsenbocker’s Lift Off. This acrylic paint remover is used to remove old and fresh acrylic paints and wood stains from carpets, wood, furniture, clothing, concrete and tiles.
“Lift Off will remove acrylic paint that has well and truly dried. Simply spray the area and cover with plastic film to keep the remover wetter on the stain for longer. After 10 minutes or so, you can gently scrub the area with a scrubbing brush.”
