Home Staging Tips: How Do You Remove Paint from Carpet?
Not so long ago we wrote about all the things a fresh coat of paint can do to help you stage your Waterloo Region home for sale. However, if, during the course of that painting project you spill paint on your carpeting it can seem like a bit of disaster, as this is one more ‘flaw’ to deal with as you attempt to make your home look its best.
A paint stain on a carpet can be a very unsightly thing (especially a dark color on a light carpet) and can also be rather hard to remove if it is allowed to dry. Dealing with a fresh paint stain on your carpet is a much easier task to accomplish but you still have to go about doing so in the right way to avoid causing even more damage.
Act Fast
Ideally, the removal of paint from a carpet should begin as soon as the accident occurs. Excess paint should be carefully blotted up with a clean cloth or plain paper towels but the area should not be rubbed or scrubbed as that will only spread the remaining paint around. Once you have removed as much of the excess paint as you can using this method you then have several options to help you achieve complete stain removal.
Removing Fresh Paint Stains from Carpet
Rubbing alcohol can be used on a small paint stain on a carpet. Carefully pour a small amount of rubbing alcohol onto a clean white cloth and blot the stain carefully. You should repeat this with clean cloths until there is no more color transfer. When using this paint stain removal method ensure that you do not soak the carpet with the rubbing alcohol as doing so can lead to the destruction of the carpet backing
An alternative to rubbing alcohol and sometimes more effective for a larger paint stain is the use of a hydrogen peroxide solution to get rid of the paint stain from the carpet. To use this method fill a spray bottle with a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution.
The paint stain should then be moistened with the solution but not soaked then allowed to stand for an hour. After this time has elapsed take a clean white cloth and blot the area carefully. If the method has been successful you should see the paint transfer to the cloth. Should you manage to successfully remove the stain take a few plain paper towels and lay them, weighted by a book, on the stain to absorb the excess moisture.
Dealing with Dried Paint Stains on Carpet
Once the paint has been allowed to dry onto a carpet removing it becomes a much tougher mission and one that many homeowners are rather scared to undertake.
To try to remove dried paint stains yourself you can either buy a product called Goo Gone at your local hardware store or use a little WD40. Work a small amount of either into the paint stain and allow it to sit fro 15 – 20 minutes. Next, using a clean white cloth rub the area very gently to try to work loose as much of the paint as you can. A small hard bristled brush can be employed to remove any remaining paint and in some cases, you may have to resort to the careful use of a pair of nail scissors to cut out single paint soaked carpet strands.
While both Goo Gone and WD40 work quite well on paint stains on carpet they do tend to leave behind a greasy residue that has to be removed right away. To do this make a mixture of one tablespoon of dishwashing liquid with one teaspoon of white vinegar. Apply the mixture to the stain with a clean sponge and then blot it up until paper towels come off the carpet dry. Finish by sponging the area with plain water and then blotting it dry again.