Acrylic paint is water-based and should be easy to remove from wooden surfaces, especially when it's still fresh. Try to deal with the paint spot as soon as it occurs. Old or dried acrylic paint can be removed from wooden surfaces, but in most cases some of the wood finish will also come off due to the removal process.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Fresh Stains of Acrylic Paint
Step 1. Clean the fresh paint with a damp cloth
Try to remove as much paint as possible. Change the cloth if necessary.
Step 2. Dampen a cloth with warm water, putting a little glycerin soap over it
Step 3. Gently rub the remaining paint with the soapy cloth
Keep scrubbing and adding more soap until all the paint is removed.
Step 4. Clean the area with a damp cloth to remove the soap residue
Step 5. Use a dry cloth or towel to dry the area
Step 6. Polish or wax the wood surface as needed
Method 2 of 2: Old or Dry Stains of Acrylic Paint
Step 1. Scrape off the dried paint with a putty knife or paint scraper
Remove as much paint as possible without damaging the wood.
Step 2. Rub the remaining paint with steel wool (number 0000) or fine sandpaper
Do this very gently to remove the paint exclusively.
Step 3. Apply alcohol to a cloth
Step 4. Gently rub the remaining acrylic paint with the cloth
Continue adding alcohol to the cloth and continue wringing until all the paint is gone. Replace the cloth if necessary.
Step 5. Moisten a clean cloth with some water and wipe the area to remove any remaining debris
Step 6. Dry the surface with a dry towel
Step 7. Refine the affected area after 24 hours if necessary
Advice
- You can use acetone instead of alcohol.
- Use mild soap on the wood.
- To remove acrylic paint from the entire surface of a wooden cabinet, use a commercial water-based paint stripper and follow the instructions on the package on how to use the product.
