How to Get Acrylic Paint Out of Clothes

Acrylic paint is a great tool for doing crafts and making art—but not when you get it on your clothes! Fortunately, there are a handful of household cleaners you can use to clean your garments and remove acrylic paint. Keep reading to learn how to remove acrylic paint fast and keep your clothes in great shape.

Things You Should Know

Scrape off any excess paint before you start. Then, run the fabric under warm water and blot it with dish soap.
For stubborn stains, use nail polish remover, hairspray, denatured alcohol, or paint thinner.
For old stains, soak the fabric in a mixture of baking soda, dish soap, and rubbing alcohol.
Treat the stain with stain remover before washing your garment like normal.

1

Remove any excess paint from your clothing.

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Use a spoon or a knife to remove the majority of the paint.^{[1]XExpert SourceSusan Stocker
Cleaning GuruExpert Interview. 8 November 2019.} If the paint is still wet, you need to act fast! Gently scrape the area with a spoon or knife, then blot up any excess with a clean paper towel.
- If the paint is dry, try gently scraping it off with a knife.

2

Run warm water over the area.

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Warm water helps remove stubborn, stuck-on paint. Grab your clothing and head over to the sink, then douse the area with warm water. Try to flush out as much of the paint as you can before moving on.^{[2]XResearch source}
- Try not to get the entire garment wet, as that can make the stain spread. Instead, focus the water on the area with the paint.
- If you’re working with light-colored fabric or a delicate item, spray the underside of the garment. This makes it less likely for the stain to spread.

3

Blot the area gently with dish soap and water.

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Dish soap’s degreaser can dissolve tough acrylic paint. Squirt 1 to 2 drops of dish soap onto the stained area, and gently rub it in with your fingers or a clean cloth. Then, rinse with warm water.^{[3]XResearch source}
- If you’re working with delicate fabric, like silk, use laundry detergent instead. Laundry detergent is less harsh than dish soap, so it has less of a chance of harming your clothing.

4

Dab tough stains with paint thinner.

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Paint thinner is made to break down and remove paint. Slide a piece of cardboard underneath the stained area to prevent bleeding, then dip a rag into paint thinner. Dab the area with the rag, and switch to a new rag every time it starts to pick up paint.^{[4]XResearch source}
- For really tough stains, pour the paint thinner directly onto the fabric and scrub it with a toothbrush.
- Paint thinner is flammable, and the fumes can be intense. Always work in a ventilated area, and store extra paint thinner in a cool, dry place away from an open flame.

5

Soak old stains in a baking soda mixture.

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Mix 1 c (240 mL) of lukewarm water with 1 tbsp (14.3 g) of baking soda. Add a few drops of dish soap and a few drops of rubbing alcohol for extra stain-fighting power, then soak the stained area of clothing in the mixture for 10 minutes. Scrub the stain with your hands before rinsing.^{[5]XResearch source}

6

Pat stubborn stains with nail polish remover.

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The acetone in nail polish remover breaks down paint. If soap and water just aren’t cutting it, dip a cotton ball into nail polish remover, then gently dab the stain with it. Rinse your clothing with warm water to get the paint out.^{[6]XResearch source}
- Nail polish remover is too harsh for delicate fabrics. If you’re worried about using nail polish remover, do a quick spot test on a hidden area of the garment. If you notice any warping or discoloration, pick a different method.

7

Loosen dry stains with hairspray.

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The alcohol in hairspray can dissolve stubborn acrylic paint. Check the ingredients on a bottle of hairspray, and make sure it has alcohol in it. Spray the stained area, then rub it vigorously with a sponge. If it doesn’t come out, repeat the process.^{[7]XResearch source}
- Try scraping the edge of the paint stain with a knife after you spray it with hairspray. The alcohol in the hairspray may have loosened it enough that you can simply scrape it off.

8

Rub dry stains with denatured alcohol.

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Alcohol helps break down acrylic paint. If the stain on your clothing is old or dry, dip a cotton ball into denatured alcohol. Gently rub the stain with the alcohol, then rinse the area with soap and water. ^{[8]XExpert SourceSusan Stocker
Cleaning GuruExpert Interview. 8 November 2019.}
- Denatured alcohol is similar to isopropyl alcohol, except that it has ethanol added to it. You can use whatever you have on hand—either product will work.

9

Treat the area with stain remover.

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Commercial stain removers break down set-in stains. Before you wash your clothing, spray a stain remover onto it and let it soak for up to 24 hours. The stain remover will gently pull the paint out of the fiber of your clothing to help it rinse out in the wash.^{[9]XResearch source}

10

Wash the item like you normally would.

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Wash your clothing in cold water to remove the rest of the paint. Check the tag on your garment to find the washing instructions, then throw it in the washing machine. Using cold water will help rinse out the paint without setting in the stain.^{[10]XResearch source}
- If your item is delicate or can’t be washed at home, take it to a dry cleaner instead.

11

Let your clothing air dry.

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^{[11]XExpert SourceSusan Stocker
Cleaning GuruExpert Interview. 8 November 2019.} Drying your clothing with heat has the potential to set the paint into the fabric. Instead, grab your clothing out of the washer and hang it up to dry.

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Question
How do I get dried acrylic paint out of my clothing?
Susan Stocker
Green Cleaning Expert
Susan Stocker runs and owns Susan’s Green Cleaning, the #1 Green Cleaning Company in Seattle. She is well known in the region for outstanding customer service protocols — winning the 2017 Better Business Torch Award for Ethics & Integrity —and her energetic support of green cleaning practices.
Susan Stocker
Green Cleaning Expert
Expert Answer
Use a spoon or knife to scrape as much of the paint off as you can. After that, you can try dabbing it with rubbing alcohol.
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If the acrylic paint has dried, can I still use one of the methods in the article to remove it?
Community Answer
Yes, you can use rubbing alcohol or 409 kitchen cleaning spray. Use a toothbrush to rub it in. This works on stains that have dried and have been on the clothing for months.
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How can I get dry paint out?
Community Answer
Use rubbing alcohol and 409 kitchen cleaning spray. Then use a toothbrush to rub it in. This works on stains that have dried and have been on the clothing for months
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Tips

Always spot test an inconspicuous area first to see how the fabric responds.
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Warnings

While some sites recommend Windex, vinegar, or ammonia to remove stains, experts warn that these products aren’t very effective at combating acrylic paint.
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