How To Get Paint Out Of Clothes Like a Pro

To get paint out of clothes, act fast and match the method to the paint: scrape off the excess, then for water-based or acrylic paint rinse with cold water and work in dish soap or rubbing alcohol, while for oil-based paint use hot water and, if needed, mineral spirits or the solvent named on the can. Always start with the gentlest method and don’t put the item in the dryer until the stain is gone — heat sets it permanently.

Few things are worse to see on clothes than paint stains. Whether your kids came home from school doused in acrylic or you brushed against a freshly painted wall, knowing how to get paint out of your clothes can save your favorite outfit — without the cost of dry cleaning.

What makes paint stain?

Before getting into how to clean paint stains, a few facts about paint:

1. Painting is a large and growing trade — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics counts hundreds of thousands of construction and maintenance painters, with employment projected to grow about 4% from 2024 to 2034.
2. All paint has three major components: pigments, binders, and solvents. Pigments are the color, and highly pigmented paint is more likely to stain clothing.
3. Americans use over 1.34 billion gallons of paint a year — so accidental spills are common.
4. Some paints contain toxic compounds that can be dangerous to inhale — not a big issue for stains on clothes, but worth keeping in mind when buying paint.

Now, let’s learn how to remove paint stains.

What should you do before you start painting?

Prevention beats cure, so take a few simple precautions when working with paint to avoid getting it where you don’t want it.

• Wear old clothes

Whatever you’re painting, from home renovations to following along with Bob Ross, assume some paint will end up where it shouldn’t. Wear old clothes you don’t mind staining, or invest in painter’s overalls.

• Keep cleaning solution and rags handy

Check the type of paint and have the right cleaner ready to lift it immediately. Water-based paints can be treated with fresh water or isopropyl alcohol; oil-based paints need dish soap, rubbing alcohol, or the recommended solvent. Check the can’s instructions, but always test an inconspicuous area first, since most paint thinners aren’t designed for fabric.

What should you do before cleaning paint from clothes?

If you do get paint on clothing you want to save, don’t reach straight for the strongest cleaner you can find. Many paint-removing cleaners also damage fabric — bleaching it, making colors run, or destroying fibers. Instead, start with the least invasive method and work up until you find one that works.

If nothing works, you may have to consult a dry cleaner or accept that the stain is permanent.

How do you get wet paint out of clothing?

Wet paint is easier to remove than a dried-in stain. When you notice it, scrape off as much wet paint as possible, then wet the stain with a little warm water to keep it from drying out. Almost any detergent or stain remover works before it dries.

Don’t soak it too much, or the paint may run. Laundry detergent is a good choice, or dish soap in a pinch — though dish soap can make colors run, so start with a little and watch how the stain responds, and try not to soak the surrounding area. Rinse with warm water to remove the last traces, and wash normally.

Pro Tip: How clean is your washing machine? Check out our ultimate guide to cleaning your washing machine.

How do you get dried paint out of clothes?

Dry paint is harder to remove because the pigments stain fabric, and some paints are water-resistant once dry. Start with the gentlest method (soap and water) and work up through harsher solutions.

Step 1: Remove as much paint as you can with a stiff brush while it’s still dry.

Step 2: Rinse with warm water. Turn the garment inside out and run water from the underside of the stain, pushing loose particles back the way they came.

Step 3: Make a 50/50 mixture of laundry detergent and warm water, and use it to blot and scrub the stain. Depending on the paint, this can take a while.

Step 4: Rinse out the detergent, use a stain remover per its instructions, then wash on the normal cycle.

Step 5: If the stain remains, try a little non-acetone nail polish remover, hairspray, or rubbing alcohol. Test a small area first, apply to the stain, leave 5 minutes, then wash again.

How do you get dried paint out of jeans?

Dried paint is especially hard to remove from denim — the features that make jeans hard-wearing also make paint stick fast. The upside is denim can take harsher treatment than other fabrics. If the methods above didn’t work, try these:

• Use a blunt knife

Before cleaning, or after the fabric dries again, scrape away as much paint as possible with a blunt knife.

• Use a toothbrush

Once you’ve removed as much as possible, return to the cleaning solutions above and use a toothbrush or stiff brush to scrub them into the fabric.

• Use liquid glycerin

A Pro’s best friend — glycerin is very effective on oil and paint stains. Apply it to the stain and leave for an hour or two, or overnight. Then add a little water and dish soap, scrub with a toothbrush to create a lather, and launder as usual.

• Use solvent or paint remover

This may be necessary for oil-based paint that won’t respond to water-based treatments. Oil solvents are least likely to discolor denim, but spot-test an inconspicuous area first.

Pro Tip: Check out how to treat all kinds of stains on fabrics.

Which cleaners work on which paint?

The type of paint is the biggest factor in how easily a stain comes out, since different paints respond to different solutions. If you know what got on your clothes, it’s easier to find a method that works.

Pro Tip: Spring is here! Don’t miss our spring cleaning checklist.

How do you get washable paint out of clothes?

Washable paint is one of the easiest to remove, since it’s designed to come out with soap and water. Check the manufacturer’s instructions, or try these steps:

Step 1: Scrape off any excess wet paint.

Step 2: Turn the garment inside out and rinse thoroughly with hot water.

Step 3: Wash on a hot, heavy cycle with your normal detergent.

Step 4: If a stain remains, soak the clothing in a solution of 2 tablespoons OxiClean to 2 cups water (scale up at 1 tablespoon per cup) for 10 minutes, then wash again.

How do you get acrylic paint out of clothes?

After washable paint, acrylic is the next easiest because it’s water-based and can be diluted without harsh chemicals.

Step 1: Scrape away excess paint with a paper towel (if wet) or a spoon (if dried).

Step 2: Rinse with cold water — hot water sets the stain.

Step 3: Launder on a heavy, cold-water cycle with your usual detergent.

Step 4: If the stain remains, soak it with isopropyl alcohol.

Step 5: Work the stain out with a sponge or microfiber cloth and more isopropyl alcohol.

Step 6: Wash again to remove the last traces.

How do you get oil-based paint out of clothes?

Oil-based paint repels water, so you can’t easily dilute or wash it away. Many cans list a recommended solvent that thins the paint, but solvents can damage fabric — use as a last resort and always spot-test first.

Step 1: Scrape off as much paint as possible.

Step 2: Rinse with hot water — best for oily stains.

Step 3: Try washing with a heavy cycle and strong detergent.

Step 4a: If the stain remains, use ammonia or mineral spirits. For ammonia, mix equal parts water, clear ammonia, and dish soap or detergent, cover the stain, leave 30 minutes, then rinse and launder again.

Step 4b: For mineral spirits, soak a cotton ball and dab the stain, blotting with paper towels to lift the paint as it breaks down — don’t rub. Rinse and launder again.

Step 5: If the stain still won’t budge, try the solvent recommended on the can.

Pro Tip: Ammonia works by breaking down proteins and can’t be used on natural fibers like wool or silk.

Oil-based paint is one of the hardest things to remove from fabric, and you may not clear it entirely. If you still want to save the garment, consider covering the stain with a patch or consulting a dry cleaner.

How do you get dried wall paint out of clothes?

Wall paint can be water-based, oil-based, or latex. Many projects use latex because it’s fast-drying and easy to clean up. For water- or oil-based wall paint, use the tips above. Here’s how to remove latex paint:

Step 1: Remove any wet paint as quickly as possible.

Step 2: Rinse the fabric thoroughly with warm water.

Step 3: Scrub the stain with dish soap to remove as much as possible.

Step 4: Treat with a stain remover such as OxiClean and launder in hot water.

Step 5: If the stain remains, apply rubbing alcohol with a microfiber cloth and blot.

Step 6: Launder again in hot water.

Step 7: For a really obstinate stain, spray generously with hairspray, leave 10 minutes, scrub with a toothbrush, then launder a final time in hot water.

How do you get spray paint out of clothes?

First check whether your spray paint is water-based or oil-based — look on the can. If the instructions mention paint thinner or mineral spirits, it’s oil-based; otherwise it’s water-based. Acrylic spray paint counts as water-based.

Water-based spray paint

Step 1: Blot up as much wet paint as possible with paper towels.

Step 2: Run the fabric through cold water (hot sets the stain).

Step 3: Apply dish soap and scrub to remove it.

Step 4: Launder on a cold-water cycle.

Step 5: If a stain remains, treat with isopropyl alcohol and launder again in cold water.

Oil-based spray paint

Step 1: Blot the stain and rinse with hot water.

Step 2: Generously spray with a solvent such as WD-40, or hairspray, and let stand 10 minutes.

Step 3: Using a clean microfiber cloth, rub the stain to lift it, swapping in a dry cloth if it gets too wet.

Step 4: Launder on a hot-water cycle.

Step 5: If the stain remains, use mineral spirits or the thinner recommended on the can — spot-test first.

Step 6: Launder again in hot water.

Pro Tip: Once your clothes are paint-free, make sure your iron isn’t dirtying them again. Learn how to properly clean and maintain your iron.

How do you remove paint from clothes with baking soda?

No rubbing alcohol or other cleaners handy? You can still remove many paint stains with ordinary baking soda.

• For oil-based paint, mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda into a cup of boiling water and soak the stain.
• For water-based paint, make a paste with cold water and baking soda, spread it across the stain, leave 10 minutes, then scrub with a toothbrush.
• For old paint, sprinkle the fabric with baking soda, then spray white vinegar onto the soda and leave 10 minutes — the reaction helps lift the paint.

Final thoughts

Getting paint on your clothing is a pain, but it doesn’t have to be a disaster. With these Pro tips — and by matching your method to the type of paint — you’ll be able to remove it in no time.

FAQ

Does vinegar get paint stains out of clothes?

It can — it’s far more effective on water-based paint than oil-based. Treat the fabric directly with vinegar, or for tough stains soak the clothing in a mixture of two parts white vinegar, two parts ammonia, and one part table salt.1

Does paint stain clothes permanently?

Many paint stains are removable, but some aren’t. Water-based paint is less likely to stain permanently than oil-based, and a stain is more likely to set if it’s left untreated for a long time or the paint is heavily pigmented.2

Is it better to remove paint while it’s still wet?

Yes — wet paint is easier to remove than dry. It’s had less time to set, and the simplest techniques are most likely to work while it’s still wet.3

What if one stain-removal method doesn’t work?

Examine the stain after each attempt, while the fabric is still wet — drying sets the stain. Start with the gentlest technique (soap and water for water-based paints) and work your way up, checking after each try.4

Citations

1 Fazio, E. How to Remove Acrylic, Latex and Oil-Based Paint From Clothes. Retrieved July 15, 2025, from https://www.hgtv.com/lifestyle/clean-and-organize/how-to-remove-paint-from-clothes

2 Elliott, S. How to Get Paint Out of Clothes. HowStuffWorks. Retrieved July 25, 2025, from https://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/household-hints-tips/cleaning-organizing/how-to-get-paint-out-of-clothes.htm

3 Leverette, M. M. (2023, September 28). How to Remove Paint Stains from Clothes. Retrieved July 15, 2025, from https://www.thespruce.com/remove-paint-stains-from-clothes-2147142

4 Elliott, S. How to Get Paint Out of Clothes. HowStuffWorks. Retrieved July 25, 2025, from https://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/household-hints-tips/cleaning-organizing/how-to-get-paint-out-of-clothes.htm