We've got the tricks for acrylic, latex and oil-based paint too.
Whether you're painting a landscape on an easel or changing the color of your bedroom, painting can be a relaxing pastime or a satisfying DIY project. Regardless of the kind of painting you're doing, the cleanup can be a real chore, especially if you've gotten paint on a surface you didn't intend to. It may be tempting to just ditch your now paint-stained jeans, but in the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab, we spend a lot of time getting things dirty to find the best way to clean them, including paint-stained clothes. Auto Paint Resin Hardener
The trick to removing paint from clothing is treating it as quickly as possible because once the paint dries it may be impossible to remove. Knowing the kind of paint you're trying to remove is also important — this will determine what you use to remove it. Another thing to keep in mind: While some materials may be able to stand up to these stain treatments, more fragile ones, like silk, may be permanently damaged. To make sure your cleaning products and method won't do more harm to the material, always do a spot-test first.
Expert Tip: When in doubt call in a professional. A dry cleaner will be able to treat stains without causing any damage to your precious garments.
Water-based or emulsion paints are the most common type for interior home painting. They’re also relatively easy to remove from clothing if you spot stains quickly enough.
Expert Tip: Don't dry garments until as much of the stain as possible is gone. The heat from the dryer will cause stains to set into the fabric and may make them impossible to remove.
There are a lot of DIY methods online for removing paint from clothing. Vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol and even baking soda are touted as being effective. Hydrogen peroxide is great for removing fresh blood stains from clothes and vinegar is the first ingredient in many good DIY cleaners, but they likely aren't strong enough to completely rid garments of paint stains. You’ll have a better chance at removing them using one of the methods above that use dedicated paint thinners, stain removers and soaps that have been formulated to tackle these kinds of messes.
If you tried treating a dried paint stain and had no luck, you may have to accept that your garment is lost. Once paint dries, it is notoriously difficult to get off of fabric and it may even be impossible to remove. In fact, you may just cause more damage trying to remove the stain.
Lauren is a senior editor at Hearst. She was previously the senior editor at WomansDay.com and the home editor at GoodHousekeeping.com and HouseBeautiful.com. Her book club, ramen, and jean jackets are a few of her favorite things.
From 2021 to 2023, Jodhaira (she/her) was a product reviews analyst in the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Home Care & Cleaning Lab, where she tested and wrote about home appliances, cleaning products and cleaning tips. Prior to joining GH, she graduated from Hofstra University with a bachelor’s degree in forensic science and spent two years as an analyst in an environmental lab in Queens.
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