There’s nothing like a fresh coat of paint to make a room — or your whole house — look clean and new. There’s also nothing like creating something adorable with your very own craft skills. Sadly, paint doesn’t do the same favor for your clothes. Maybe you thought you could paint that wall without getting any of it on yourself. Maybe you simply forgot to change into your old jeans and t-shirt before you started the job. But either way, paint and clothing aren’t the best of friends. Since this is bound to happen to you at some point, here’s how you can actually remove paint from your clothes.
1. Remove as Much as You Can
Before you start with any stain removing tactics, you simply need to get as much of that paint away from your clothes as possible. It doesn’t matter if it’s craft paint, spray paint, or house paint; the first step is the same. If the paint is still wet, grab a dull knife, spatula, or spoon and scoop or scrape away as much as you can. If the paint is dry, grab a paper towel and rub as much as you can to loosen it up.
2. Treat the Right Way
The type of paint you’ve been using will affect the best removal technique. If your paint is water based, your next step should be rinsing the clothing in warm water from the back side until the color is as washed out as you think it will get. Then, run the item through the wash as you usually would. If the paint is oil based, you’ll need to use a few other steps. For oil paint, turpentine is the best initial stain treatment. Just be sure to pay attention to the safety precautions on the bottle. Apply the turpentine, then rinse it out well and pre-treat the stain with your regular detergent, without diluting. Repeat the rinse, and do this process again if necessary. When you’re satisfied with the results, wash the item again using your regular method.
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