Painting a room is one of the most common do-it-yourself projects, and many homeowners find that putting a new color on the walls of a home can make their residence look like new. Unfortunately, there is always a risk of spilling paint on the carpet when a carpeted room is painted, and such paint spills must be treated immediately lest the paint dry and permanently stain the flooring. The methods of paint removal vary, and depend on the kind of paint spilled on the floor.
Before any attempt to remove paint from carpet begins, make sure to contain the paint spill. If this is not done, the paint can seep into a larger area, making it more difficult to clean the carpet later. Surrounding the paint spill with dry paper towels will keep the paint spill from spreading to a larger area.
If it is not a water-based paint that has spilled on the carpet, you are going to need to treat the area with some kind of chemical to get the paint out. Should the use of a chemical be necessary, it is a good idea to test the substance in an inconspicuous area of the carpet to make sure it will not stain the flooring.
No matter what kind of paint has spilled, begin your cleanup with dry paper towels. Blot the area where the paint has spilled so you do not spread the paint to areas of the carpet that have not been affected. Once you have removed as much of the paint as possible through dry blotting, the kind of paint spilled will determine the next step.
Getting out oil-based paints requires turpentine or mineral spirits, with turpentine being particularly helpful for paint that has already dried. Apply the liquid to the carpet using paper towels and a blotting action until the paint has come up from the carpeting. Following this step, blot the area with rubbing alcohol to remove any chemical residue. Finally, use a sponge with a mild detergent and then a sponge with clean water to finish the clean up. Do not use too much water, and dry the damp area with a towel or a wet and dry vacuum.
Acrylic paint removal involves the same steps, except that you should use glycerin instead of turpentine or mineral spirits and nail polish remover or acetone instead of rubbing alcohol. Water-soluble paint follows the same process but without chemicals. Instead, begin with clean water and paper towels, follow with mild detergent/dish soap, and then rinse with water. Again, avoid using too much water or the stain will dilute and cause it to spread.
Aside from turpentine and acetone, products like WD-40 and Goo Gone can be good for getting dried paint out of carpeting. It is often recommended you try to scrape as much of the dried paint as you can off of the fibers with a razor blade before applying such chemicals. Should paint be irremovable, you may have to repair the carpeting with a carpet patch.
Removing paint can take a little work, but anyone can do it if these easy steps are followed. A little time and attention is all it takes to make your carpet look like new again.
Acme How to: Getting Paint Out of Carpet — instructions on containing and cleaning paint spilled on carpeted flooring
Clean Paint Spilled on Carpet — one user’s tips on getting paint out of the carpet
Emergency Paint Removal — explains how to remove paint from carpet before it sets in
Essortment Paint Stain Removal Tips — brief guide for cleaning paint from your carpeting
Getting Dried Paint Out of Carpet — short guide for removing dried paint from your carpet
House-Painting Guru: Removing Dried Paint — how to get dried paint out of carpet when nothing else works
How to Clean Carpet — prescribes three different solutions for getting paint out of carpet
Learn How to Remove Paint -- learn how to get paint out of carpet with this handy guide
Removing Latex Paint from Carpet — getting latex paint out of your carpet
Tip Kings Guide to Cleaning Carpet — explains how to rid carpets of water-based and oil-based paints
