How to remove acrylic paint from glass window

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Painting can be messy, and sometimes paint will end up in places it’s not supposed to be. With a little vinegar, hot water, a rag, and some elbow grease, you can get the window clean again. It's better to try out the vinegar scrub first, as it is safer and less likely to damage the glass. But, if the spill doesn't come out with this method alone, using a razor blade and soapy water should get the job done.

1. 

   1

   Boil vinegar and water. Put 3 tablespoons (44 mL) of water and 3 tablespoons (44 mL) of white vinegar into a pot and bring to a boil.[1] Put on rubber gloves to protect your hands.

2. 

   2

   Lay out a towel. Place a towel down next to the window you will be scrubbing to make clean up easier. You can set the pot of vinegar and water here as well.

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3. 

   3

   Apply the rag to the paint stain. Make sure the vinegar mixture has cooled enough so that it won't burn your hands. Dip the rag into the warm vinegar mixture, and use the rag to scrub the window pane.

   • The warm mixture should help loosen the grip of the paint.[2]

4. 

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   Scrub vigorously. Once you have done an initial scrub with the warm vinegar, the paint should begin to soften up. At this point, you can scrub it fairly hard in order to remove the entirety of the paint.

5. 

   5

   Clean and dry the window. As soon as all of the paint is gone, use window cleaner and a dry rag or newspaper to get the windows clean again. Some people prefer newspaper, as it tends to leave less streaks.[3]

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1. 

   1

   Prepare some warm soapy water. Lay out a towel beneath the window if you haven't already, and fill up a bucket with warm water and some dish soap. Place it by the window where you can access it easily.

2. 

   2

   Apply a warm soapy rag to the paint stain. Use your rag to sponge some of the water from your bucket onto the window over the paint stain.[4]

   • This will help prevent scratching from the razor blade.

3. 

   3

   Remove the paint with a razor blade. To start, hold the razor blade at a 45 degree angle against the window pane. Slowly and carefully, push the razor blade in one direction along the window pane. Pull the blade off and repeat this movement in the same direction.[5][6]

   • Double-check that the blade is smooth and not dented in.[7]
   • Continue scraping until the paint is fully gone.
   • Do not change the direction or angle of the razor blade, in order to better protect the glass.[8]
   • If the paint starts to dry, apply more hot soapy water as you work.
   • A utility knife will also work if a razor blade is not readily available.[9]

4. 

   4

   Wipe the window clean. Now that you've worked hard to get the paint off, you might as well make the glass shine like new. First, dry off any excess water, then grab out some window cleaner and newspaper to polish up the job.

   • Wipe the window clean with newspaper in circular motions for a streak-free shine.[10]

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Things You'll Need

• Rags
• Window Cleaner
• White Vinegar
• Razor Blade
• Newspaper
• Bucket

References

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