Removing fabric paint from clothes is by no means an easy task, but it is still possible depending on the severity of the situation and the type of fabric itself. The most important thing to remember is to act as soon as possible. It is much easier to remove the paint while it is still fresh than it is when it has dried in the fibers. If the damage gets worse and you can't get rid of the stain, you can do some "tricks" to save the dress.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Remove the Fresh Paint
Step 1. Deal with the stain immediately
The sooner you deal with it, the more likely you are to recover the dress; if you have fresh paint on your clothes, take off your clothes immediately and try to wash them.
If you can't take your clothes off, try washing off the stain while holding them on your body; it is definitely better than waiting and letting the color dry
Step 2. Do not apply heat
Many fabric paints set precisely with heat, which means that they do not completely harden until they are exposed to high temperatures, such as those of an iron. To keep the stain from becoming indelible as you try to remove it, avoid heating it until you have removed all traces.
- Do not use hot water to wash the garment.
- Do not put the dress in the dryer or use the hair dryer to dry the washed area, unless you are absolutely certain that the paint is really gone.
- If the type of paint you used does not set with heat, you can try using very hot water to rinse it off, but carefully read the instructions on the package to make sure.
Step 3. Remove any paint that has not been absorbed
If a large amount of color has fallen on your clothes and not all of it has penetrated the fibers, try to remove as much as possible before washing the garment; by doing so, you prevent the stain from spreading to clean areas.
- To remove the paint from the surface, try dabbing it with kitchen paper or gently scrape it with a putty knife.
- Try not to rub it on the fabric as you go.
Step 4. Rinse the area
Once most of the paint has been removed, place the dress in the sink and rinse the affected area under running water until it runs clear. It is best to let the water fall on the reverse side of the stain to prevent the paint from penetrating further.
- Remember to use cold water to keep the color from setting.
- Always read the label on the dress before proceeding; generally, always report dry cleaning when needed, and if so, you shouldn't try to rinse the stain off.
Step 5. Wash the fabric by hand with detergent
Once the area is rinsed, apply some soap and scrub; for best results dilute the detergent with an equal amount of water.
- You may need to scrub and rinse it several times to get rid of the paint.
- Dish soap or laundry soap should be effective.
- If hand action isn't enough, try using a sponge or brush; an old toothbrush is perfect for small stains.
Step 6. Put the laundry in the washing machine
Once you have removed most of the color by hand, place the dress in the appliance and wash it in cold water with plenty of detergent; in this way, you had to get rid of the last residues.
- Do not use hot water or tumble dry the fabric unless the stain has completely disappeared. If you notice any traces after the cycle in the washing machine, allow the garment to air dry and follow the instructions for the dry paint.
- Do not put clothes that need to be dry cleaned or hand washed in the washing machine, as this could damage them; always follow the instructions on the label.
Step 7. Consider professional cleaning
For delicate items that you cannot treat at home, the only option is to take them to a dry cleaner, which may be able to remove fresh or dry stains from delicate fibers, such as silk, although there are no guarantees of success.
If you have not obtained good results, you can also contact a professional to treat the washable garments
Method 2 of 3: Remove the Dried Paint
Step 1. Scrape off as much paint as possible
Before attempting chemicals, you need to physically eliminate as much of them as possible; Depending on the size of the stain, you can use a blunt tool such as a putty knife, or you can use a brush with metal or stiff nylon bristles.
Be careful not to cut the fabric; if the color doesn't come off, move on to the next step
Step 2. Apply a solvent
Once you have removed the excess paint with the brush or scraper, you need to soften the residues with alcohol-based solvents. Chances are you already have these products at home; pour a small amount directly on the area to be treated.
- Denatured alcohol, turpentine, and white spirit are effective solvents on acrylic paints.
- If you don't have any of these products on hand, you can give it a try with acetone-based nail polish remover or even lacquer (as long as it contains alcohol).
- If you don't get any results, go to a paint shop and buy a specific cleaner for the type of paint you need to remove.
- For stubborn stains, you need to let the solvent work for a while before rubbing.
- These substances are very aggressive, so be careful when using them on delicate fabrics; acetone damages some fibers, such as those in acetate or triacetate. Natural materials such as wool and silk are easily damaged, you should always do a test on a hidden corner of the garment (inside a seam) before using the solvent.
- If the garment cannot be cleaned this way, take it to a dry cleaner for professional cleaning.
Step 3. Rub the stain
When the paint molecules start to decompose and soften thanks to the solvent, try to scrape off as much of it as possible; use a stiff bristle brush for best results.
Once most of the stain has been removed, you can take the fabric to the sink and continue washing it with cold water and detergent
Step 4. Put the clothes in the washing machine
After hand washing, put your clothes in the machine and wash them cold with plenty of detergent.
Remember not to apply heat to the fibers until the stain has completely disappeared
Method 3 of 3: Retrieve Non-Stain Removable Clothes
Step 1. Sew the hem
If the paint has fallen on the bottom of your pants or on the cuffs of a shirt, you can modify the dress slightly to get rid of the stained area. Simply lift the hem to transform the pants into a caper style or to bring long sleeves to three-quarters.
If you know how to sew, you can do it yourself or ask a seamstress to do it professionally
Step 2. Make the stain look intentional
Fabric paint is designed to adhere to fabrics, so one way to "save" the dress is to apply more color. Create a fun design that incorporates "damage"; no one will ever know that you did not intend to color the dress.
Do not try to hide the stain with a paint of the same color as the fabric, the result is not satisfactory at all
Step 3. Cover the affected area
If you don't want to apply more paint, find other ways to cover the stain; for example, sew a decorative patch or sequins.
If you don't like sewing, you can find patches that can be ironed on
Step 4. Reuse the fabric
If you don't find a way to save the dress, but you really like the fabric, you can turn it into something else. For example, if you have your favorite blouse dirty, you can make a pillow with the clean part of the fabric; you can also cut a large stained shirt into smaller pieces and pack one for the kids.
This method requires tailoring skills and you can find patterns online; if you don't know how to sew, find a seamstress who can make clothes with your fabric
Advice
- Sometimes, it is simply impossible to remove fabric paint from clothes, especially those that are delicately made.
- If you don't get satisfactory results, try soaking the garment in soapy water or a solvent.
- In the future, always wear work clothes when painting.
Warnings
- Always read the labels on clothes before trying to remove stains; delicate fabrics may not withstand aggressive cleaning methods.
- Solvents may cause the fabric colors to discolour, so you should test a hidden area of the dress first.
- If the paint is still fresh, wash the garment separately in the washing machine.
