How To Get Paint Out Of The Carpet [All Types Of Paint]

For whatever reason, you found some paint spilled onto your carpet.

It could’ve been your desire to call the inner Picasso out or work on some necessary home improvements after the winter months.

We will tell you exactly how in just a few simple steps with information that’s easy to skim and even easier to follow.

How to clean the paint out of the carpet?

1. First, fresh paint is always easier to remove; that’s why if you notice this spillage on time, you must act fast and immediately on the off chance that you cannot clean it right after you see it.  Block the area off with a white towel so that the towel can observe the paint and blot the area.

2. Second, it’s essential to know the type of paint you’re dealing with because there are many different types of paints that all act differently with chemical compounds, additives, or cleaning agents, which is why identifying and understanding which type you’re dealing with makes it easier for you to get the paint out of your carpet.

Below is the type of paint you might have:

• Acrylic
• Latex
• Oil-based
• Water-based

Suppose you can’t find out what type of paint you’re using even after looking at the labels or instructions. You might even try calling the merchant whom you bought this from.

Assuming you probably bought it from home depot, you can always contact them or take it to them so they can identify it for you.

Things you need to clean the paint off your carpet

Now even if you happen to notice this spillage on time, it’s better to not fret and run across your kitchen and the dirty spot every time you need a cleaning agent or cloth, or another brush to only make your life hard.

A knife	Needle-nose plier	White cleaning cloth
Dish soap, dishwashing liquid	Gloves	Vacuum
Floor cleaner	Carpet Cleaner	Paint cleaner
Soft-bristled brush	Protective glasses	Facemask

Depending on the type of paint, you might need another additive of some sort or better gloves and even, in some cases, glasses to protect yourself when dealing with solid chemical detergents.

Spot test

Because many of the products you’re most likely going to be using contain alcohol and other potentially harmful elements, like acetone and turpentine,  that can harm and discolor your carpets, you’re going to have to make spot test.

To make the spot test choose a small area that is not affected by the spillage and pour the smallest amount into that area, scrubbing it with a white towel. (make sure to use a white towel)  So that the color of the towel doesn’t transfer to the carpet. and also make sure not to use too much of the liquid.

Then wait for a few minutes and see how that affects you. Don’t worry you will be able to detect if it’s likely to harm or discolor your carpet and if it’s not.

Disclaimer: always make sure to wear safety glasses and gloves and even a face mask because usually those cleaning products often release harmful smokes which can cause irritation in your eyes or harm your skin if it comes in contact with it.

How to get acrylic paint out of carpet

While dealing with acrylic paint, you’re most likely going to be dealing with water-based paints. Although we classified this as a separate type of paint, most paints under this category are water-based.

Thus become water-resistant when they are dry, which is why it’s utterly important to dampen the area to deal with them.

It’s also worth mentioning that even though almost all acrylic paints are water-based, not all water-based paints are acrylic.  That is why heed caution to find out which type of paint you got on your carpet.

Things you will need to clean acrylic paint off your carpet;

Cleaning cloth	Toothbrush/ scrub brush	Needle nose pliers
Utility knife	Laundry detergent	Isopropyl alcoholic / citrus-based cleaning agent
Carpet cleaner	vacuum	Gloves and facemask

Steps to follow:

Step 1: Blot the area

• U a clean cloth and blot the stained area to get as much of the paint off it as possible. Make sure not to spread it even further if you have not noticed the paint spillage on time or could not tend to it on time, thus, dealing with dried paint.

• Then, take the needle nose pliers and pick off the top and the thicker parts of the carpet that has been affected.  A toothbrush or other brush with stiff bristles can remove the acrylic paint from your carpet.

• To keep it clean, you need to vacuum up the excess or the leftovers.

Step 2: Blot with a detergent

You can try hot water with a citrus-based cleaning agent, which is usually very effective in cleaning acrylic paint.

• So, blot the area with a wet cloth.

• Blot the area until you see the paint disappear considerably.

Suppose you tend to the spot with the paint when it is dry. Then simple laundry detergent might not help, or that homemade, hot water mixture.  You can try acetone, hydrogen peroxide, or any other cleaning agent or cosmetic item that contains isopropyl alcohol.

Step 3:  Clean with a carpet cleaner

Suppose you have not seen any progress with the laundry detergent mixture or the other mixtures we have mentioned.  Or you are not happy with how the carpet looks after your cleaning session.

You can try to use the particular cleaning agents that are meant for situations like this. The unique carpet cleaners are usually stronger than even acetone or any other dissolving agent you have prepared.

Of course, to try this, you need to own one like this or happen to have it before the accident; however, if you did not own one, you need to run to the nearest home depot, Walmart whatever place that sells this to buy it.

Safety Precautions: if you have to tend to the spot with a carpet cleaner, due to their stronger nature, they have more chemicals and other harmful agents for human health. You must use Facebook, with protective glasses and gloves.

How to get latex paint out of carpet

When dealing with latex paint, you don’t have to fret too much since this type of paint dries a bit slower.

Although they are pretty similar to acrylic paint, latex is usually a cheaper, safer option for acrylic paint. Latex paints are almost always water-based, which makes them more straightforward and easier to clean up.

Hot water	Steam iron	Spray bottle
Mild dish soap	Needle-nose plier	Vacuum
Putty knife	Vinegar	Cloth, paper towels

Steps to follow;

Step 1: Get as much excess as possible with a knife

• To get this much of the paint possible, you might consider scooping.
• Doing it with a regular knife is possible, but a putty knife does the job better.
• It’s also easier to always follow a singular motion, like from top to bottom or left to right.
• This way, you’ll be scooping off the excess in an organized manner that is easy to eliminate later.

Step 2:  Blot the area

• At this stage, you can pick up the already prepared cloth, which is white, and blot the area carefully not to scrub or rub, which can push latex paint deeper into your carpet, making it only harder to clean it later.

Step 3: A cleaning solution

• At this stage, you must make the solution yourself by mixing one teaspoon of mild dish soap and lukewarm water into a spray bottle.

• You must apply this solution directly to the spot and leave it for a few minutes.

• Now make sure not to saturate if you’re dealing with water-based paint however, if you find out that your acrylic paint is, in fact, not water-based, and it’s oil-based. Then you’re going to want to make sure to saturate it and use more than just a mixture of soap and lukewarm water.

Step 4:  Blot the sunken area again

• You need to repeat this process to get the problematic stains off your carpet, but sometimes this doesn’t even help. In those situations, you can consider using another solution or vinegar and blotting the area again.

• Make sure to use different towels each time and newer ones or the area that hasn’t been affected yet.

• After this, leave the area to air dry for a while. You may consider opening your windows or doors to fasten the process if your carpet is closer.

Step 5: Vacuum it away

• Even when carefully scooping the paint and then blotting the area with the towel, there’s always the carpet fibers that have been downtrodden. All you need to do now is to vacuum them out and vacuum the area after it’s been dried by pressing on the area harder so that you get those fibers that could have potentially stuck deeper inside your carpet.

How to get oil-based paint out of carpet

If this spillage on your carpet happens to be oil-based paint, then you need to be a little bit more careful when cleaning it because oil-based products are made of natural or synthetic oil, which makes it resistant to moisture.

Thus to clean up the spot, you will need to use more than just a mixture of hot water with the laundry detergent. You will need to definitely use a particular carpet cleaner or any other such robust cleaning solution; Acetone and hydrogen peroxide can be sometimes used as alternatives before getting started with the carpet cleaners straight up.

Putty Knife	Clean Cloth as always	Dishwashing detergent
Gloves /Face mask	Turpentine, Acetone	Steam Cleaner
Needle nose pliers	Vacuum

Steps to follow:

Step 1: scrape the paint off the carpet,

If you discover spillage of oil-based paint afresh, you can scoop it off with a putty knife. Do not scrub it before scooping it off. Then you only end up spreading the paint all around.

When dealing with dried oil-based paint, you should spot-clean that area with a carpet steamer/or steam cleaner. Because that steam will make the paint softer and, thus, easier to clean.

If you see big chunks of paint, then use needle-nose pliers to break them apart; you can also use scissors like so;

1. Open both blades wide
2. Turn the sharp side against the chunk
3. Pull from bottom to top carefully to avoid damaging your hands or other body parts.

Step 2: dab the spot

Use a towel moistened with a special solvent, paint thinner or white spirit, acetone, or turpentine.

Step 3: Blot the area

When you have moistened or applied the solvent with a towel, it’s time to blot the area with another towel or clean cloth. You should repeat the process until most of the paint comes off.

Step 4: wait for the area to dry

You can use another clean cloth to dry and vacuum the area so no remains are left.

How to get water-based paint out of carpet

As mentioned earlier in the article, water-based paints are easier to clean. All you will need is some hot water with a rag. But dishwashing detergent and/or vacuum cleaners could help you clean the area like it was never affected.

White Cloth	Hot water	Dull knife
Dishwashing detergent	Web vacuum Cleaner	Carpet steamer

Steps to follow:

Step 1: Blot the spot

Like you have done with other types of paint,s you should start by blotting the area with some clean cloth or towel. As always, avoid rubbing the area. Also, you can skip the blotting if the paint is dry.

Step 2:  Saturate the spot

Use the cleaning solution you have prepared with hot water and dishwashing detergent. You can also pour that into a spray bottle for better control and an easier way to saturate the exact spot. Once you spray it, wait a few minutes to let the solution sit there.

Step 3:  pick up the paint

We say pick up the paint because it will have been much looser and easier to remove the carpet; you can use a dull knife to scrape it off. If the area is not wet enough, consider pouring more solutions.

Step 4: carpet steamer/ time to vacuum

Make sure to steam off the area to get rid of all the paint, including those stubborn ones. Also, vacuum it afterward to keep the area clean.

Final thoughts

Cleaning the paint out of the carpet is not an easy process. However, with the right tools, cleaning solutions, and knowledge, you will find that it is as simple as following a few steps of instructions.

We do hope that this article was helpful to get the help you in getting the paint out of your carpet and make your carpet look like it never had any paint whatsoever.