While painting your house, some amount of latex paint is likely to fall on your rugs or upholstery or other such surfaces. When you notice them at first, you feel that your fine piece of rug or upholstery has turned useless. Do not lose hope, there are some ways that can be effective for latex paint removal. It is possible to get rid of latex paint from the surface upholstery and from fabrics, with the help of some simple methods.
Removal of Latex Paint Spills
If there is an accidental spill on the carpet or upholstery, the first option that you should try is the use of a water-soluble paint thinner. There is always the risk of damaging the fiber due to the chemicals present in the paint thinner. Therefore, you should first undertake a test at any hidden corner of the carpet, like somewhere behind the furniture, to check if the chemical is suitable for the fabric. Firstly, try to scrape out some of the dry paint using a soft-bristled brush with a gentle hand so that none of the fiber is pulled out. Then, squeeze the area with the help of pliers so that the flakes of dry paint can separate from the fabric and fall off. Clean the debris fallen, with a vacuum cleaner. In this way, you can get a much thinner layer of paint that will require lesser effort to clean off.
Application of the paint thinner should start from the outer edges of the spill. This will help to keep the spill confined to the affected area only and will not move out of it. Apply a limited amount of paint remover on the spill and cover it with a clean cotton cloth to blot the wet paint. After some time, when the paint becomes soft, try to pick it up with a blunt knife. In case any paint is left behind apply another round of paint remover and put a sponge over it so that it can blot the remaining paint. Even after this, if you do not get desired result, put glycerin and keep it untouched for one or two hours and then blot it up with a cotton cloth.
When the paint mark has faded, apply dishwashing liquid solution so that the remaining part of the paint residue vanishes. Finally, clean the surface with a mild solution of vinegar and water and dry it up. You can use a paint thinner to remove latex paint from windows and ceramic tile flooring, as well.
Removal of Wet Stains of Latex Paint
The easiest way of latex stain removal, is to remove the paint when it is still wet. The more you allow it to settle on any surface, more difficult your task will be. Place a paper towel or a clean piece of cloth over the paint and allow the paint to get soaked. Take care that you do not rub the stain, as this will make the paint spread further and spoil greater area. Otherwise, the paint will go deep within the fabric and aggravate the problem. You should avoid rubbing as well because this weakens the fiber of the fabric.
After this process, if there is any stain still left behind on the fabric, you have to take the help of a detergent for the paint removal. Choose any mild detergent that does not contain any bleach or alkalies. Make a mixture of the detergent in one cup of lukewarm water and blot it on the stained area by a sponge. When the stain is gone, blot the area with a sponge dipped in clean, cold water in order to wash off the detergent. Then, dry up the wet surface with the help of paper towels so that all the excess water gets absorbed into the towel.
If the paint stain is too severe, then you can hire a professional who can help you with latex paint removal. You should try out all the possible options available to you before you think of discarding your furniture upholstery or carpet.
