How to get paint out of clothes fast

It's hard not to get paint on your clothes, even if you're extra careful. Here's how to remove those paint stains.

Updated on September 17, 2022

Whether you're in the midst of a crafts activity, working on a DIY project, or fulfilling a full-scale room makeover, you'll probably end up with paint on your clothes, at least a small splatter. But there's no need to stress about the mess and throw away your ruined outfit. With just basic tools and a little time, you can erase the stain and return your clothing to good as new.

Use our expert-tested tricks and smart cleaning tips to get rid of even the most stubborn paint stains—from acrylic to emulsion varieties, oil- and water-based splatters, and wet and dry stains—as well as solutions for other common spots and smudges.

Remove excess paint.

Before starting on any kind of stain solution, get rid of as much excess paint (or other stain source) as you can. If the paint has dried, use a paper towel to wipe away the dried residue. If it's still wet, use a dull knife or a spoon to remove as much as you can.

• If the paint has dried, use a towel to wipe away the dried residue.
• If it's still wet, use a dull knife or spoon to remove as much as possible.

Treat the stain and rinse.

When deciding how to treat the remaining paint stain, consider which type of paint you're dealing with:

• For water-based paint, the solution is simple: Rinse the clothing in warm water until the paint color subsides, and then launder that item the way you normally would (washing machine or hand-washing, for example).

• For oil-based paint, the fix entails a few steps: First, treat the stain with turpentine, rinse it out, and then pretreat the stained area with detergent. Next, rinse it out again and launder the item as normal.

Fix other common clothing stains.

What if your clothing is stained from a different household material? We have fixes for those spots and smudges, too.

Ink is a common culprit.

To get a ballpoint mark out of your clothing:

1. Use petroleum jelly to create a "dam" around the stain to keep the ink from spreading.
2. Use a clean toothbrush to dab the spot with rubbing alcohol. Be sure to open a window to the room ventilated.
3. Dip a cotton ball in mineral spirits and dab the area again.
4. Let it dry, and then rinse with a solution of 1 tablespoon clear dish soap and 10 ounces water.

For a permanent marker ink stain, there's an easy fix: Use a clean toothbrush to rub a stain remover (like Amodex Ink and Stain Remover, $14, amazon.com) into the spot.

Makeup is another big source of clothing stains.

The secret to getting rid of lipstick smudges? Hairspray! Simply spritz the spot with hairspray and let it sit for 10 minutes, and then remove any residue and what's left of the stain by wiping the area with a damp cloth.

Got some foundation on your shirt? Use a cotton swab to apply rubbing alcohol to the stained area, and then blot it with a cotton ball, repeating as needed.

Nail polish stains can be trickier, especially if the clothing fabric is acetate or triacetate—in that case, your best bet is to take the piece to a dry cleaner. To tackle a nail polish smudge yourself, place the stained area facedown on a few clean paper towels, and then apply nail polish remover to the back of the stain. (Depending on the stain's size, you may need to replace the paper towels to soak up the liquid.) Repeat as needed, and then finish the task by rinsing the piece in cold water.

Despite your family's best efforts to stay mess-free, you're likely at some stage to have to learn how to remove paint from clothes. Kids frequently forget to roll their sleeves up before painting, or you might have accidentally stepped in a tray of emulsion 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:

1. Check the label on the paint for specific details and any cleaning instructions the manufacturers may have provided.

2. Check the care labels on your garments and choose an appropriate cleaning method and detergent.

3. Scrape off any dried paint with a blunt-edged implement.

4. Use a cotton bud to gently lift off any excess wet paint.

5. Avoid rubbing the stain as this may make it larger and will push it further into the fabric.

6. Test any stain removal techniques on an inconspicuous part of the garment first.

7. Protect your hands with gloves to avoid coming into direct contact with stain-removal products.

Want to learn more about removing poster, acrylic or emulsion paint stains? Keep on scrolling...

How to Remove Poster Paint from Clothes

Most poster paints are water-based, which means the stain-removal process is likely to be successful, even if the stain has had time to dry. Persil small & mighty liquid detergent is a good choice for poster paint stains as it completely removes yellow washable paint in a normal 40 degree wash and is highly effective on blue paint stains even in a low-temperature wash.  

You should:

1. Run clean warm water through the back of the stain to flush as much of it out as possible.

2. Pour a small amount of Persil small & mighty Bio directly on to the stain using the Stain Eraser Ball.

3. Rub the stain with the bottom of the ball – this will help to loosen the stain.

4. Rinse clean and reapply as needed.

5. Finally, apply a commercial stain remover (if necessary), and put the garment in the wash

6. If any of the stain remains, follow steps two - four a second time, and consider consulting a dry-cleaning professional.

How to Remove Acrylic Paint from Clothes

Acrylic paint is also water-based, but once it has dried it is harder to remove as it contains plastic to give surfaces a glossy finished effect. If you've managed to catch the acrylic stain before it's dried, follow the removal instructions for water-based paints above. If the stain is dry you should:

1. Apply an alcohol-based cleaner, like nail-varnish remover, hairspray, or rubbing alcohol to the stain with a clean dry cloth to break down the dried plastic surface. (Remember to test the solution on a hidden area of the garment first).

2. Then, follow the instructions above for removing water-based paints.

How to Get Emulsion Paint Out of Clothes

Emulsion paint is generally used for decorating purposes and can contain different ratios of ingredients, so it's important to check the side of the tin to find out how the manufacturer recommends you remove stains. Often, emulsion paints that are oil-based can be effectively removed with paint-thinners like white spirit or turpentine. You should:

1. Place the stained garment upside down on kitchen roll and blot the stain from the back with a clean dry cloth and the recommended stain-remover until the stain vanishes.

2. Apply Persil small & mighty Bio directly to the stain and then place the garment in hot soapy water to soak over night (be sure to check the garment’s care label to know how hot the water can be).

3. In the morning, apply detergent a final time and gently scrub the stained area (avoid this if you're washing delicate or natural fabrics that might damage with too much agitation).

4. Wash the garment as normal and repeat the above method if any stain remains.

There you have it – knowing how to get paint out of clothes is easy with the right products and techniques! And, we’ve got even more stain removal advice for you here: just use the handy Solve Your Stain Tool and you’ll be a laundry pro in no time!