There’s not much as devastating as a big, wet paint spill on clean carpet. You may think that a stain of this magnitude is completely irreparable, but fortunately, it’s not. With quick action and the right tools, you have a good chance of being able to completely remove even the worst paint spills.
Related: The Pros and Cons of DIY Carpet Cleaning
Be Gentle
The key to complete paint removal is to be gentle with your carpet. Never scrub a stain, as this will only work the paint deep into your carpet fibers and into the padding below. Instead, blot stains gently with a dry or damp towel to soak up as much liquid as possible.
Latex Paint
Latex paint is fairly easy to remove because it is water based. If the paint is wet, blot with a wet towel to remove the majority of the spill. Next, blot the area using a sponge or towel soaked in a mixture of hot water and dish soap. Work from the outside inward to avoid spreading the stain.
If the paint is dry, start by removing as many pieces as possible with a knife or needle-nose pliers. Next, soften the paint by soaking it with warm water. A wet towel laid over the area usually does the trick. Once the paint has softened, vacuum the area with a wet-dry vacuum to remove the majority of the paint.
For wet or dry latex paint, steam may be necessary to completely remove the stain. A handheld clothing steamer or iron with steam setting will usually work. Carefully steam the area and dab with a damp cloth until the stain is removed. Follow up with a vacuum to restore carpet to mint condition.
Oil-Based Paint
Oil-based paint is often much more difficult to remove than latex paint. As with latex paint, you’ll want to blot up as much wet paint as possible with a damp cloth or towel. Wet the area and blot with a towel.
In any case, stubborn paint stains, leftover oils, and dyes are much more difficult to remove. We highly recommend calling a professional in these cases because of the high risk of damaging the carpet and making things worse. Here at Dr. Chem-Dry, our professionals use only products that can remove even the toughest stains such as paint, gum, ink, red stains, pet stains, coffee, makeup, wax, and more.
Related: Can Stain Removers Ruin My Carpet?
If you are unsure how to remove a paint stain from your carpet, or if you have a stubborn stain that refuses to come up, it’s always safer to call a professional carpet cleaning company. These professionals come equipped with a variety of industrial-grade removers tailored to a variety of stains, including all sorts of paint spills and drips.
For same-day help removing paint stains from your carpet, give Dr. Chem-Dry a call at 480-582-1210.
I had no clue that you could get the paint out of a carpet like this. I was painting recently and I got a few drips of paint on my carpet! I was so mad at myself, but know I know there is some hope to get it clean again. Thanks for letting everyone know these great tips!
I spilt some paint on my carpet and was worried it would be permanet. I am glad that there are ways to get it out. I blotted the area and got most the paint out, then finished off with a steam cleaner. That did the trick!