While latex paint comes out of fabrics much more easily than oil-based paint, it will dry more quickly. Within one or two hours, the paint will dry completely. This is when you should resort to using hairspray. If you catch a latex paint stain before it dries, scrub it with soap and water. After a few rinses and a trip through the washing machine, it will probably be removed.
If you’re not seeing immediate results with the use of hairspray, then you may have to purchase some proper rubbing alcohol to fully get rid of the stain. You can repeat this process in the exact same fashion that you would with hairspray.
You also can apply a bit of detergent and water to the stain after applying the hairspray. Because latex paint does not react negatively to water, you won’t run into the same “gumming” problems that you would with oil-based paint.
Always put a cloth or fabric underneath your damaged clothing. You don’t want it to bleed onto the surface that you’re operating on. Even if the paint is washable, you’ll avoid staining your countertop or table with any excess color.
Don’t wash your paint stained garment with another article of clothing, as the paint will bleed onto your other clothes. You don’t want to damage your entire wardrobe just to save a single item. If the stain is still present after a wash cycle, place a bit of acetone on the front of the garment and blot with a clean sponge. Do not put acetone on fabrics that also contain acetate or triacetate, as it will melt these fabrics on contact. [3] X Research source
Even though turpentine is less toxic than most paint thinners, there’s no harm in being safe and wearing the proper gear when cleaning fabric with it.
Keep in mind that oil-based paints take a significantly longer amount of time to dry than washable or latex paints. [5] X Research source After an oil-based paint has dried completely, it’s a much larger pain to get rid of. If you notice an oil-based paint stain on your clothing, you should rub it out immediately. Your chance of saving the fabric will increase exponentially if you can treat these stains early. If the stain has set, you can even use a knife or other sharp object to scrape the dried paint from the fabric. Be careful not to stab into the garment and damage it.
You will have to change out this backing pad a few times throughout the cleaning process. If the paint has bled through completely and stained the pad, then you won’t be able to avoid staining other parts of your clothing. Make sure to be conscious of how much paint the pad has been absorbed. If you think the pad will start leaking soon, you should swap it out.
If you are still wearing your rubber gloves, you can use your fingers to apply the detergent. If not, don’t let your bare skin touch the paint thinner. Many thinners can be quite toxic to your skin, and you want to avoid any potential risk.
If you see a significant change in the coloration after the first attempt, then it’s worth repeating the process again. [7] X Research source If not, however, the stain may be permanent. This means you may have to throw the garment out. The more times that you apply the thinner or turpentine to the fabric, the larger the risk of further damage to the material.
