Your Guide to Getting Paint Out of Clothing - Fast and Safe!

If you have been involved in a paint project, you know that you could be left with some paint on your clothes when your job is done. Typically this is a worry for many people because they have no idea how to get paint out of their clothes fast and safely.

The question of how to get paint stains out of clothes has a lot more to do with knowing which method works best on your specific fabric than it does with having a surefire solution for your clothing. There's no getting around the fact that if you have a particularly stubborn stain, you'll find yourself doing some extra research into the fabric to see what kind of treatment is recommended.

Luckily, we have compiled the best ways to get rid of paint stains from clothes without causing further damage to your apparel. Continue reading on for more information about safely removing paint stains from any fabric.

What To Do Before Removing Paint From Clothes

Paint stains are one of the worst. No matter how careful you try to be, you'll wind up getting paint on your clothes at some point. Of course, there are times when it's worth it to get paint on your clothes — after all, what is the Mona Lisa other than a giant canvas?

But if you're the kind of person who prefers to keep their clothes clean at all times, getting rid of stains is important. Below, we will list the following steps to getting paint stains, or other similar types of stains like hair dye stains, off your clothes.

Scrape Off Excess Paint

First, you must get rid of all the excess paint that is on your clothes. This will be helpful because sometimes the remaining paint can smear more and cause worse stains than what you began with.

So, remember, first and foremost, it's important to scrape the excess paint off because sometimes the paint will smudge and spread more if you try to remove it later. Once this is completed, you can move on to the next step of paint stain removal.

Flush Stain With Cold Running Water

Use cold water next to your remaining stain. You should use cold water to remove paint stains from your clothes because hot water can make the stain set into your clothes even more than what it already was when you first got the stain on them.

Use Any Options Listed Below

Once the two steps listed above are completed, it's time to choose the remover of your choice. We will give the pros and cons of utilizing each of these options for paint removal, along with the best ways to make these products get rid of paint stains.

Dish Detergent

If you have a paint stain with latex-based paint, then dish detergent will be the easiest way to remove it. Or, alternatively, if you have acrylic paint stains, then dish detergent is a great option to remove stains. At any rate, for these two types of paint, you need to follow the steps listed below for the best chance of getting rid of paint stains. 

First, after completing the two main steps above, you must get a washcloth and get it covered with warm water. Next, dip this washcloth in liquid dish soap and begin dabbing it over the stain. From here, you can scrub the paint stain as needed in order to get rid of the stain. 

When you have finished this process and the stain is gone, clean the piece of clothing in cold water, and rinse off all excess soap. Your stain should disappear quickly. However, with this option, it's important to ensure that your clothes are color safe, or else you may experience running colors. 

Rubbing Alcohol

Even though you may think this is a harsh remover, it should be the go-to stain remover for all pieces of clothing. To remove the stain with this method, you need to get your wet garment with warm water and follow these steps. 

First, soak a cotton ball or toothbrush in rubbing alcohol and scrub the stain using gentle strokes. Rinse it with warm water and repeat the process as needed. Once you have treated the stain, throw the item of clothing into the wash to remove any trace of alcohol and allow it to air dry.

Laundry Detergent

Known as the simplest solution, laundry detergent is a great way to remove paint stains on clothes. Using our eco-friendly laundry detergent slips from Tru Earth, you can get rid of any paint stain quickly, easily, and safely! 

All you need to do is take one of our unscented laundry detergent strips and soak it in warm water. Next, take a clean washcloth and dip it into the detergent solution. Simply rub the paint away using the detergent-dipped washcloth as hard as you need to. 

Because our laundry detergent slips are eco-friendly and sustainably made, you won't need to worry about damaging your clothes further by using this method of paint stain removal. And once you feel as though the stain has been removed from your clothes, you can stick it into the washer and utilize another laundry detergent strip for further satisfaction. 

Hand Sanitizer

Similar to the option above, hand sanitizer has traces of rubbing alcohol in it, which makes it a great option for stain removal. This method is very easy and similar to that of the one listed above. Ultimately, you will need to take your article of clothing after washing it in warm water and removing the excess paint, and dab generous amounts of hand sanitizer on it. 

From here, you can then use a toothbrush to scrub off the remainder of the stain. You can always add more sanitizer if needed, and use the toughest toothbrush you can find to ensure that your item of clothing is clean. Once this has been completed, you can wash your clothing to remove any access sanitizer and stains. 

Paint Be Gone - Give These Tips a Try On Your Clothes 

The best way to prevent paint from ruining your clothing is to take precautions and ensure that you don't spill any paint on your clothes. However, accidents can and do happen, which is why we recommend cleaning the stains as soon as you notice them. 

The faster you act, the better your chances of successful stain removal will be. And, the better products that are used, the better your clothes will look in the end.