Tips To Remove Paint Stains From Carpets

Whether you are remodelling your whole home, or touching up the paint job in a single room, there is a good chance that if paint is involved, there is going to be some collateral damage. Paint is notoriously hard to get out of carpets, even more so when you don't know what you are doing. Different types of paint require different techniques and cleaning agents. Knowing which is best will make the difference between permanent stains and a close call. Below are some tips to remove different types of paint stains from your carpet.

Using WD40

WD40 is multipurpose, meaning you can use it to remove a wide range of different paints from your carpet. This method is relatively straightforward. You will need WD40, a razor blade or knife, gloves to protect your hands, liquid dish soap, a clean white rag, and a hard bristle brush. First clean as much of the paint up with the razor as you possibly can, then apply the WD40 and work it in with the rag, allowing it to sit for 20 minutes, before scrubbing it away with the rag. Use the dishwashing liquid to clean up any remaining WD40 and voila, paint gone.

Dried Latex Paint

The best thing about latex paint is that even if it has been dried into the carpet for a couple of days, you can still remove it fairly easily. First, you need to try and saturate and dissolve the paint using hot water because it needs to be soft before it can be removed. After you have softened the paint, lay a rag soaked in hot water over top of the stain and leave it for a couple of minutes. Begin by blotting up the moisture and slowly keep adding hot water to the stain until the paint is fully gone.

Water-based Paint

This method also involves blotting up as much of the paint as you possibly can with a clean, wet rag. Be careful not to scrub because this will only ingrain the paint further into the fibres of the carpet. If the paint has already dried, employ a razor or knife to scrape as much of the crusted paint off as you possibly can, and then apply hot water and detergent to clean the rest away.

A paint stain can be alarming and make you feel as though you have permanently ruined your carpet. Not the case. If you get to the stain quick enough, and more importantly, if you know the correct procedures for removing different kinds of paint, a paint stain can be little more than a temporary inconvenience.