Acrylic paint is widely used in art, repair and construction. It often happens that drops of paint fall on surfaces that did not need to be painted. It can be clothes, hands, furniture and other surfaces surrounding us. When this happens, the question arises as to how to wash off acrylic paint.
This article describes what methods can remove acrylic stains from a variety of surfaces.
Fresh stain removal
Fresh spots on which the film has not yet begun to form can be removed with a rag or sponge moistened with warm water. In this case, do not click on the surface, and wash the paint with light sliding movements.
But can acrylic paint be washed off if more than an hour has passed and a film has formed on the surface of the stain? Yes, at this time it is possible to remove traces of paint with the help of degreasing agents - detergents for washing dishes, alcohol, acetone or a solution of citric acid.
It is necessary to impregnate abundantly with one of these substances a paper towel or cotton pad and dab the stain. After 2-3 minutes, you should get wet with a napkin, cotton wool or paper towel, but do not wipe so as not to stain a clean surface near the stain. If the paint does not come off completely, it is worth repeating the procedure.
If your clothes get stained, then in the first minutes you can just wash the stain and the paint will come off, but if more than half an hour has passed, then it is worthwhile to saturate the fabric with plenty of the same degreasing agents, wait a few minutes and wash in the usual way.
Hand Removal
When working with acrylic paint, it’s easy to get your hands dirty if you don’t wear gloves. To get rid of stains, you can just wash your hands with soap and gently rub it with a soft brush or sponge. If this does not help, then you should dry your hands well and apply baby or vegetable oil and wash them with soap and water after a few minutes.
Another option is to use acetone or alcohol to remove traces of paint. Of course, there are special chemicals, but before rinsing off the acrylic paint with them, you should remember that they contain aggressive substances and can damage the skin or cause irritation.
Removing paint from brushes
As soon as the work with the paint is finished, the brushes should immediately be soaked in warm water for 20 minutes, then rinse under running water. But if for some reason this did not work out and the paint on the brush dried up, then you need to soak it in alcohol, acetone or gasoline. After 20-30 minutes, also rinse under running water.
You can also use specialized tools for removing acrylic paint, which are sold in construction and hardware stores, but gloves should be worn when working with them.
Removing paint from the fabric
My clothes got dirty during work or creativity, but don’t know how to wash off acrylic paint from a fabric if some time has passed? To do this, you can use the means at hand - a window cleaner or hair spray. It should be applied to the fabric and rub with a sponge, and then wash in the usual way.
If the spots of paint are very old, then you will have to use more powerful chemicals. One such remedy can be prepared at home. To do this, you will need 1 part of 9% vinegar, 1 part of ammonia and a pinch of soda. The first step is to soak the cloth in cold water for a couple of minutes, then wipe the contaminated areas with a prepared solution with cotton pads. When traces of paint no longer remain on the discs, you can wash your clothes.
Attention! Before rinsing off acrylic paint using the suggested methods, be sure to check the product on an inconspicuous area of the fabric to be sure that the clothes will not be spoiled.
Removing paint from furniture
When acrylic gets on wooden furniture, you need to be careful not to spoil the surface, so the cleaning options below should be checked in a small area to make sure that it does not damage your furniture.
First, try to scrape off the paint with something sharp and flat, such as a knife or blade. But it’s worth acting very carefully, trying not to scratch the surface.
If this method is not suitable, then before you wash off the acrylic paint from the tree with chemicals, you should try the thermal method. It consists in the fact that you need to moisten a stain of paint with soap and water and heat this place with a hairdryer or steam from an iron and then carefully pick it up with a knife.
There is still the option to use chemicals, such as gasoline, alcohol or acetone, but they are likely to damage the surface.
Removing paint from the carpet
When paint gets on the carpet, fear may arise that getting it out will be a very difficult task. But in fact, it’s not so difficult.
In order to remove stains of acrylic paint from the carpet, it is worth wetting the stained area with alcohol and leave for 5 minutes. After it should be blotted with a paper towel, but do not rub or smear. These steps should be repeated until all the paint has come off.
Removing paint from glass
If paint gets on glass or a mirror, it becomes very noticeable, even the smallest droplets are striking. To clean, spray the glass detergent over the entire surface, paying particular attention to stains and drops of paint, and wait a couple of minutes. Then just wipe it with a soft cloth. If necessary, you can repeat the procedure.
But how to wash off acrylic paint from glass if there is no special detergent? You can use acetone or a solution of boric acid. To wash the paint with their help, you need to soak the stain with the product and leave it for 20 minutes, then wipe it with a rag.
Removing paint from the wallpaper
It’s very difficult to clean the wallpaper if acrylic paint has got on them. The main aspect of successful cleaning is time. Immediately after getting paint on the wallpaper, you need to wet this place with a damp sponge and leave to dry.
You can also use vegetable oil by applying it to a clean rag and dabbing a stain of paint with it. After a few minutes, wet this place carefully, without rubbing.
Removing paint from linoleum and plastic
To clean plastic or linoleum from paint, you can use a sharp object such as a knife or blade to scrape it off the surface. The main thing is to act carefully so as not to leave scratches.
How to wash acrylic paint from plastic or linoleum if you do not want to resort to mechanical stress? You can use acetone or white spirit. It is necessary to blot the stain with the chosen product and rinse off after a few minutes. You can also purchase special washes, which must be used strictly according to the instructions.
Before resorting to chemicals directly in the contaminated area, it is worth checking them in an inconspicuous place and making sure that the surface is not damaged.
Removing paint from the laminate
If acrylic paint got on the laminate, then there is nothing to worry about. You can remove it with any detergent that does not contain abrasive substances. To do this, apply the product on a damp cloth and leave it on the stain for several minutes, after which we wipe this place.
It is worth considering that some types of laminate do not tolerate long-term exposure to moisture, so if you have one, do not leave a wet rag on the floor for too long.