Gentle and Effective Ways to Wash Painted Clothes

Painting your clothing is a creative way to add beautiful pieces of art to your everyday outfits. When your clothes get dirty, it can be tough to figure out how to wash them without ruining all of your hard work! By keeping in mind a few simple tips, you can wash your garment by hand for the most gentle option or machine wash it for a more thorough clean. If, on the other hand, you want to get paint out of your clothes, you can use dish soap and water to scrub it out.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Hand Washing

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1
Fill a bucket with cold water. Use as much water as you need to cover the piece of clothing completely. Cold water will help to protect the integrity of the paint, so try to go a little lower than room temperature.^{[1]XResearch source}
- If you just painted your clothing, wait at least 5 days for the paint to dry before you wash it.^{[2]XResearch source}
- Hand washing is the best way to preserve painted clothing, especially if it’s a large area.
- With any hand-painted item, it’s best to wash it as little as possible. The more often you wash it, the higher chance there is of your paint fading or rubbing off.
2
Add a few drops of water-based laundry detergent. Alcohol-based detergent and bleach will make the paint come off, so make sure your detergent is water-based. Add a few drops and agitate the water until the soap foams up.^{[3]XResearch source}
- Fabric softener could also make the paint come off, so stick to detergent only.
- If your clothes have any tough spots or stains on them, spot treat them with a stain remover before you wash them.
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3
Soak your clothes for about 15 minutes. This will help the majority of the dirt and grime come off your clothes without damaging the paint. Make sure your piece of clothing is fully submerged, then set a timer for 15 minutes.^{[4]XResearch source}
- If your clothes are really dirty, you may see the water turn a different color. That’s okay! It means your soap is working.
4
Scrub any areas that are still dirty. Pick your garment up out of the water and check it for any spots and stains. If you notice any, use your hands to gently rub the soap into the clothing and scrub out any marks.^{[5]XResearch source}
- The less you touch the painted areas, the better! Try to scrub the other areas of the garment to protect the paint.
- Areas where sweat collects, like the armpits, are usually dirtier than other areas. Use your hands to scrub the clothing really well with soap, dunking it back into the water as you go.
5
Rinse the clothing out with cold water. Take your garment over to a sink or bathtub, then rinse it until the water runs clear. Wring it out gently to get rid of the excess water so it’s not dripping wet.^{[6]XResearch source}
- Try not to wring out the part of the fabric that has paint on it—instead, wring out all the areas around it to get rid of the excess water.
6
Hang your clothing out to dry. The heat of the dryer can be a little too much for fabric paint, so it’s best to let your clothes air dry. Set them out on a clothing rack or a hanger and leave them for 24 hours to dry fully.^{[7]XResearch source}
- If you set your clothing in the sun, there is a potential it could fade. Try to keep it in a shady but warm area for the fastest drying time.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Machine Washing

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1
Check the bottle of paint to see which temperature it can withstand. If you still have your bottle of paint around, look on the back for washing instructions. Most paints can withstand a temperature of 40 °C (104 °F), but you should double-check yours just in case.^{[8]XResearch source}
- You should always heat set your paint before you wash it in a machine. Flip your clothing over once the paint is dry, then use an iron on it for 5 minutes. This will make the paint more durable and it will last longer.
- You can use fabric paint or acrylic paint mixed with a fabric medium to paint your clothes.
2
Turn your piece of clothing inside out. This will help protect the painted parts from getting too agitated in the washer. Pull the arms or legs of your garment inside out so the painted part is on the inside of the clothing.^{[9]XResearch source}
- If your garment has any rhinestones or embellishments on it, stick to hand washing instead. The washing machine may be too harsh on the extra decorations, and they could fall off.
3
Add your clothes to the machine and set it to a gentle cycle with cold water. This cycle won’t agitate your clothing too much, so the paint should be more protected. The cold water will be more gentle on your clothing to protect the longevity of the paint.^{[10]XResearch source}
- If it’s your first time washing your painted clothing, don’t put anything else in the washer with it in case the paint bleeds. After the first time, you can wash your painted clothing with your regular clothes.
- If your garment is super dirty, you can use warm water. Just make sure the temperature doesn’t go above what the paint can handle!
4
Add a mild detergent and run the machine. Bleach and fabric softener can strip the paint off your clothing. Use a mild water-based detergent to keep the paint intact as it cleans your clothing.^{[11]XResearch source}
- Check the ingredients in your detergent before you use it. If it has bleach or fabric softener in it, go for a different one.
5
Hang your clothes up to dry. Once your washing cycle is done, take your garment out and put it on a clothes rack or a hanger. Leave it to dry fully for about 24 hours before you wear it again or store it.^{[12]XResearch source}
- The heat from the dryer can be a little too hot for painted clothing, so it’s best to let it air dry.