Can You Remove Paint from Carpet?

Is there a paint stain on your carpet? Don't panic! Accidents happen, whether you're painting your room or the kids got creative on the carpet. Paint on carpet might seem like an irreversible stain, but you can remove paint from carpet if you act quickly.

Read on for the best methods of removing the dreaded paint from your favourite carpet.

What you’ll need to get paint out of carpet:

• A butter knife or spoon to gently scrape off excess paint.
• Clean white cloths or paper towels, for blotting and absorbing excess paint and cleaning solutions.
• Warm water to help loosen the paint.
• Liquid dish soap to create a mild cleaning solution.
• Ammonia (optional) for more stubborn paint stains.
• Rubbing alcohol (optional) can help dissolve some types of paint.
• A soft-bristle brush or toothbrush for gently agitating the paint.
• White vinegar as an alternative to ammonia for stubborn stains.

3 top tips to remove paint from carpet

Act quickly

The sooner you deal with the paint spill, the more likely you will be able to remove it. Dried paint is harder to work with than fresh paint.

Scrape off any excess paint

Gently use a butter knife or spoon to scrape off any excess paint. Be careful to avoid damaging the carpet fibres.

Blot with a clean cloth

Put a clean white cloth or paper towel on the spilled paint area and carefully dab (avoid rubbing) to soak up as much paint as you can. Keep dabbing until no more paint comes off onto the cloth.

Using a cleaning solution

To remove paint from carpet, your best bet is a few drops of liquid dish soap mixed with warm water. A mixture of water and rubbing alcohol is recommended if the paint is oil-based.

For stains that are stubborn and not shifting, add a teaspoon of ammonia (or white vinegar) to your cleaning solution. Remember to be careful when using ammonia as it has a strong odour and can be overpowering.

It’s important to not soak the carpet with your cleaning solution, just moisten it enough to work on the paint. You can do this by dampening a clean cloth or paper towel to blot the paint stain.

When the stain is a solid lump of paint, use a soft-bristle brush or toothbrush to gently agitate it working from the outside of the stain toward the centre. This can help break up the paint particles.

Paint on carpet not budging?

If you need to get paint out of carpet and the stain is large or persistent, it may be best to consult a professional carpet cleaner.

The National Carpet Cleaner’s Association (NCCA) gives you access to a wide range of expert cleaners with excellent industry reputations and years of experience.

Contact us today on 01562 547754 or use our online directory to find a professional in your area.