Spots painting

When doing various DIY tasks, regardless of whether it is a large or small project, some accidents such as paint stains can happen. Therefore, it is essential to take preventive measures to prevent them from occurring or be prepared to know how to eliminate them without stress and in an intelligent way.

A paint stain can happen when we least expect it or even despite steps taken to prevent it. Thus, it is an uncomfortable situation that can have different degrees of severity, depending on the size of the stain, the surface where it has occurred and the urgency with which we need to finish the task in progress.

Certainly, the best way to avoid a stain is to try to control everything so that it doesn’t happen, but this becomes almost impossible. When a paint spill occurs, it is best to assume the situation as maturely as possible and act intelligently and strategically so that the problem is resolved.

There are a series of tips that will help us get rid of stains sooner than expected and in a calm way, or at least with less stress. So, the following are some key tips for getting rid of a paint stain successfully.

Identify the type of paint, to choose the type of solvent

Before proceeding to clean the drops of paint, the fundamental step is to identify the type of pigment of the stain, because this is the best way to get rid of it in an easier way, since, knowing the type of paint, we will be able to determine which is the ideal solvent to remove it from the surface.

It is not the same to clean acrylic paint than one with a higher density or level of adherence. In the case of oil paints or similar types, the use of a universal solvent or even alcohol is indicated.

Likewise, if you’re doing any space renovation work , you probably already know what paint you’re working with. In other cases, one way to identify the type of paint is to look at the product label or then determine what pigment it is according to the material where it is applied, since not all surfaces will tolerate certain types of paint.

One stain, several surfaces

The surface is another of the most important aspects when it comes to a paint splash. For example, acrylic paint, one of the best known and most used types, has a high level of adherence to surfaces such as cement, iron, wood, ceramics, glass, etc. 

However, removing a stain from this type of paint will be a completely different process for each case. Therefore, it is essential to observe the surface material where the stain has occurred. 

Next, we will review the main ways to remove stains on various types of materials or surfaces.

Remove stains from the floor

Contrary to what is thought, removing stains from the floor can be easier than expected, especially if you complete the two steps described above, to try to know what type of paint the stain is and what type of floor it is on. find. 

If you don’t know how to remove dried paint stains on the floor, once you identify these two factors, you can easily determine the techniques for it.

If the stain is acrylic paint, it could easily come off by applying water (it can be hot water to enhance its effect), as long as the surface is ceramic, cement or other similar hard materials. In other cases, when the stain is too entrenched, it may be useful to use a putty knife to scrape lightly.

If it is marble, granite or a more delicate material, a steel cloth could be the appropriate tool, while the use of a solvent must be considered very carefully, to avoid damaging the appearance of the surface.

Remove stains on glass

Glass is another of the materials that are part of any home and is usually exposed to paint stains. However, it could be said that it is one of the surfaces where it is less difficult to remove drops of paint.

To learn how to remove paint from painted glass, just apply a generous amount of glass paint thinner on it, wait for it to act and, with the help of a soft cloth or sponge, wash it.

Likewise, there is an instrument called a glass scraper, which is nothing more than a type of spatula designed to work on the glass without damaging it, of course, requiring caution when using it. Its use or not, will depend on how deep-rooted the stain is and the type of paint in question.

Remove stains on wooden surfaces

To proceed to remove paint from wood, the recommendation focuses on trying to soften the stain initially. This can be done by applying water on it, or then a special solvent, which does not deteriorate the layer that covers the wood. 

On wooden surfaces, the use of a steel cloth or spatulas is not recommended, as it could damage the structure. Instead, a cloth or even some type of sandpaper can be used to try to fade certain very dense stains.

Remove stains on fabrics

To remove stains from a fabric, the procedure follows the same idea of ​​softening the stain in water and proceeding to remove it by rubbing a cloth, sponge or brush. However, since these are fabrics, you must be very careful not to end up damaging them. Certain solvents can cause the fabric to lose its color or characteristic softness. Therefore, if it is a deep-seated stain, it is best to go to a laundromat so that they can try to remove the stain professionally.

Protection to avoid stains: the main advice

The best way to avoid paint splashes is protection. Before starting the DIY tasks on a certain space, the ideal is to identify what type of furniture and surfaces are susceptible to stains, in order to cover them. By doing this, you will see that the time invested in this task, in relation to what would have to be dedicated to removing the stains, will be much less and less stressful.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a blue paint stain or any other color, the second helpful tip is to clean up immediately after it happens. This is because the stain will be fresh and will almost completely come off, leaving the surface ready to be mopped after the job is done.