How to get paint out of sweatpants

Q: How do I get dried paint out of clothes?

How Do You Get Paint Out of Clothes After Its Dried?.

Q: How do you get paint out of clothes without destroying the fabric?

Vinegar is an ideal solution if youre wondering how to get water-based paint out of clothes since it will not damage the fabric. However, this may not work with oil-based paints or dried acrylics. Mix one-part vinegar with four parts of water then soak the stained area for about 15 minutes.

Whether you're in the midst of a crafts activity, working on a DIY project, or fulfilling a full-scale room makeover, you'll probably end up with paint on your clothes, at least a small splatter. But there's no need to stress about the mess and throw away your ruined outfit. With just basic tools and a little time, you can erase the stain and return your clothing to good as new.

Table of Contents Show

Remove excess paint.
Treat the stain and rinse.
Fix other common clothing stains.
Ink is a common culprit.
Makeup is another big source of clothing stains.
How do I get dried paint out of clothes?
What removes paint from pants?
How do you remove wall paint from sweatpants?
How do you get paint out of clothes without destroying the fabric?

Use our expert-tested tricks and smart cleaning tips to get rid of even the most stubborn paint stains—from acrylic to emulsion varieties, oil- and water-based splatters, and wet and dry stains—as well as solutions for other common spots and smudges.

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Remove excess paint.

Before starting on any kind of stain solution, get rid of as much excess paint (or other stain source) as you can. If the paint has dried, use a paper towel to wipe away the dried residue. If it's still wet, use a dull knife or a spoon to remove as much as you can.

If the paint has dried, use a towel to wipe away the dried residue.
If it's still wet, use a dull knife or spoon to remove as much as possible.

Treat the stain and rinse.

When deciding how to treat the remaining paint stain, consider which type of paint you're dealing with:

For water-based paint, the solution is simple: Rinse the clothing in warm water until the paint color subsides, and then launder that item the way you normally would (washing machine or hand-washing, for example).

For oil-based paint, the fix entails a few steps: First, treat the stain with turpentine, rinse it out, and then pretreat the stained area with detergent. Next, rinse it out again and launder the item as normal.

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Fix other common clothing stains.

What if your clothing is stained from a different household material? We have fixes for those spots and smudges, too.

Ink is a common culprit.

To get a ballpoint mark out of your clothing:

Use petroleum jelly to create a "dam" around the stain to keep the ink from spreading.
Use a clean toothbrush to dab the spot with rubbing alcohol. Be sure to open a window to the room ventilated.
Dip a cotton ball in mineral spirits and dab the area again.
Let it dry, and then rinse with a solution of 1 tablespoon clear dish soap and 10 ounces water.

For a permanent marker ink stain, there's an easy fix: Use a clean toothbrush to rub a stain remover (like Amodex Ink and Stain Remover, $14, amazon.com) into the spot.

Makeup is another big source of clothing stains.

The secret to getting rid of lipstick smudges? Hairspray! Simply spritz the spot with hairspray and let it sit for 10 minutes, and then remove any residue and what's left of the stain by wiping the area with a damp cloth.

Got some foundation on your shirt? Use a cotton swab to apply rubbing alcohol to the stained area, and then blot it with a cotton ball, repeating as needed.

Nail polish stains can be trickier, especially if the clothing fabric is acetate or triacetate—in that case, your best bet is to take the piece to a dry cleaner. To tackle a nail polish smudge yourself, place the stained area facedown on a few clean paper towels, and then apply nail polish remover to the back of the stain. (Depending on the stain's size, you may need to replace the paper towels to soak up the liquid.) Repeat as needed, and then finish the task by rinsing the piece in cold water.

Ashley Abramson is a writer-mom hybrid in Minneapolis, MN. Her work, mostly focused on health, psychology, and parenting, has been featured in the Washington Post, New York Times, Allure, and more. She lives in the Minneapolis suburbs with her husband and two young sons.

published Oct 10, 2020

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1. Soften the dried paint with turpentine

First, soften the dried paint by blotting it with a white rag dipped in turpentine (or a paint thinner recommended on the paint’s label).

2. Remove any excess paint

Carefully scrape off any excess paint with a spoon or dull knife, then blot up as much as possible with a clean white cloth, then rinse with warm water. Don’t let the fabric dry.

3. Blot with turpentine

Turn the garment inside-out and lay the stained section on a thick stack of rags or paper towels. After you spot test, blot the stain from the back with a clean white rag dipped in turpentine (or whatever paint thinner is recommended on the paint’s label). Continue blotting until the paint is removed.

4. Treat with dish soap if needed

If stain remains, treat it with dish soap, then leave it soaking in a bucket of hot, soapy water (Johnson suggests a half dose of liquid laundry detergent per gallon of water) for up to 30 minutes. Add a white towel to the bucket to help keep the stained garment submerged in the solution.

If any stain remains after soaking, try a pre-wash stain remover.

5. Launder

Without rinsing off the detergent, place the garment into the washer with other items and wash on the hottest wash temperature you can.

6. Repeat if necessary

If the stain persists after washing, repeat the previous steps before tossing in the dryer, as drying will set the stain.

How do I get dried paint out of clothes?

How Do You Get Paint Out of Clothes After It's Dried?.

Scrape off as much of the dried stain as possible with a butter knife or the back of a spoon..

Spray the affected area with hairspray or saturate it with rubbing alcohol. ... .

Rub the saturated area with a butter knife to scrape the paint and lift it from the fabric..

What removes paint from pants?

Mix a solution of one part dish soap, like Dawn Ultra Dishwashing Liquid Dish Soap ($2, amazon.com), to one part warm water. Sponge the stain with the detergent solution, tamping it vigorously. Rinse and repeat this process until no more paint is removed. If the stain remains, try blotting with acetone.

How do you remove wall paint from sweatpants?

The process of how to remove paint from clothing goes like this: Start by flushing the stained area with warm water, then gently sponge it with a mixture of one part dish soap and one part warm water. Repeat this process until the stain is gone, then rinse and launder as you normally would.

How do you get paint out of clothes without destroying the fabric?

Vinegar is an ideal solution if you're wondering how to get water-based paint out of clothes since it will not damage the fabric. However, this may not work with oil-based paints or dried acrylics. Mix one-part vinegar with four parts of water then soak the stained area for about 15 minutes.