You’re likely at some stage, have to learn how to remove paint from clothes. People frequently forget to roll their sleeves up before painting, or you might have accidentally stepped in a tray of paint when sprucing up your home. Should you panic? Of course not! We’ve put together these how-to instructions to make removing paint from clothes as pain-free as possible, so that you and your family can get back to the business of being creative!

Paint? What Paint?

Before you attempt to remove paint from clothes you need to know the original source of the stain: what type of paint is it? Why? Because paints generally fall into two categories: water-based and oil-based (water-based paint is the easiest to remove). You then need to know when the stain occurred. All stains should be treated as soon as possible, before they have time to dry, otherwise they can set into the fibres of the fabric and will become much harder to remove.

Be sure to:

• Check the label on the paint for specific details and any cleaning instructions the manufacturers may have provided.
• Check the care labels on your garments and choose an appropriate cleaning method and detergent.
• Scrape off any dried paint with a blunt-edged implement.
• Use a cotton bud to gently lift off any excess wet paint.
• Avoid rubbing the stain as this may make it larger and will push it further into the fabric.
• Test any stain removal techniques on an inconspicuous part of the garment first.
• Protect your hands with gloves to avoid coming into direct contact with stain-removal products.