How to Remove Paint Stains From Clothes

Act fast to get out water- or oil-based paint on pants and other garments

How to Remove Paint Stains from Clothes

The Spruce / Joules Garcia

Project Overview
  • Working Time: 30 mins - 2 hrs
  • Total Time: 2 - 8 hrs
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $5 to $10

Paint stains can involve water-based paint (latex, acrylic craft paint, and finger paints) or oil-based paint (enamels, art oils, or model craft paint). These paint stains can be tricky to get rid of, especially if they are dry, so you must act quickly. If the spot is wet, do not grab a paper towel or rag and rub at the stain or you will embed it further into the fibers making the paint more difficult to remove. If you can't treat the stain right away, keep it wet until you can.

Read on to learn how to get paint out of clothing with a few simple household products you most likely already have on hand.

 Stain type  Oil-based, water-based
 Detergent type  Heavy-duty
 Water temperature  Cold to hot
 Cycle type  Varies depending on the type of fabric

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Dull knife or spoon
  • Soft-bristled brush (optional)

Materials

  • Liquid laundry detergent
  • Stain remover, gel, spray. or stick

Instructions

Materials to remove paint stains from clothes

The Spruce / Ana Cadena

How to Remove Water-Based Paint From Clothing

  1. Remove Solids

    Lift and remove, but do not rub, as much of the excess paint as possible carefully using a dull knife or spoon.

    Removing paint solids with a dull knife

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

  2. Flush the Stained Area

    As quickly as possible, flush the paint from the fibers from the wrong side of the fabric with a forceful stream of warm water. Continue to avoid rubbing the paint.

    Flushing the stain under warm water

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

  3. Treat the Stain

    • Work a solution of liquid laundry detergent and water into the stain, gently using your fingers to soap and rinse until the stain is removed. You may need to repeat this several times.
    • Then wash the garment as usual.
    Treating the stain with laundry detergent under water

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

  4. Check the Stained Area

    • Double-check the stained area before putting the garment into the dryer.
    • If the stain is not removed, do not dry the clothing as the heat will set the stain in, possibly permanently. Instead, move to the next step.
    Checking to see if the stain has lifted

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

  5. Treat With Stain Remover

    • Put a few drops of an enzyme-based stain remover (such as Zout, Shout, or Spray 'n Wash) on the stained area of the still-wet garment.
    • Use a soft-bristled brush or your fingers to work the stain remover into the fabric.
    • Allow the stain remover to work for at least 15 minutes.
    • Rewash the garment.
    Treating the area with stain remover

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

How to Remove Dried Water-Based Paint From Clothing

If the paint has dried on the garment, you may be able to remove it with a bit of rubbing alcohol. This method will only work for water-based paints. This works best on newer dried paint stains that have not yet been set by the heat of a dryer. Follow these directions:

  • Dip a cotton swab into rubbing alcohol and dab the paint stain, working from the outside of the stain toward the inside.
  • Scrape away the paint as it loosens from the fibers using a dull knife or the edge of a credit card.
  • Once the paint is removed, wash as usual.
  • If this doesn't work, try a commercial paint remover such as OOPS! and follow the instructions carefully.

How to Remove Oil-Based Paint From Clothing

Whether you are using oils meant for canvas, oil-based spray paint, or oil-based wall paint, it must be removed from clothing while it is still wet. If it dries, it is nearly impossible to remove, so keep it wet until you can start cleaning.

If the paint label lists a specific paint thinner to use, start with that or use some turpentine to remove oil-based paint from clothing. Follow these steps:

  • Work from the back of the fabric, and place the stain over a thick pad of paper towels or old white rags.
  • Wet the area with paint thinner, and tap the area with an old spoon or scrub brush to force the paint out. Keep changing the paper towels underneath to a clean area as the paint is absorbed into the towels. Be patient, as this will take time.
  • Once the paint is removed, saturate the area with liquid detergent and work it in well using a soft-bristled brush or your fingers.
  • Submerge the stain into the hottest water temperature recommended for the fabric and let it soak overnight.
  • Scrub again with some detergent and launder as usual.
  • Before tossing the garment into the dryer, check the stained area. If a stain still remains, do not place it in the dryer as the stain can permanently set. Instead, repeat the steps.

Additional Tips for Handling Paint Stains

Take a peek at the care label on the stained piece of clothing. For any garments that are labeled dry-clean only, grab a dull knife or spoon and try to remove any blobs of paint as soon as possible. Then take the item to a professional dry cleaner as soon as possible to point out and identify the stain.

FAQ
  • How can I get dried paint out of jeans?

    Dabbing rubbing alcohol on water-based paint stains will loosen them up so they can be removed.

  • How do you get old spray paint out of clothes?

    Spray paint can broadcast thousands of droplets all over a piece of clothing. Try scraping as much of the dried paint off the garment as possible using a hard-bristled brush. Apply a heavy-duty enzymatic liquid detergent as a pretreatment if it's a small spot. Or, if there is a lot of spray on the garment, wash clothes as usual with the detergent following the instruction label on the clothing. Before drying, see if the stain is gone, if not, repeat.

  • Will WD-40 remove paint from clothes?

    WD-40 has a lot of great uses and it can remove paint from many surfaces, but it can be hit-or-miss when it comes to removing paint from clothes. You may be replacing one stain with another oily stain, especially if you're trying to remove oil-based paint with WD-40. Stick to other methods that may work best.