Acrylic paint is a versatile medium that can be used to create almost anything, from artworks to garments. However, as with any other fabric dye or paint, it can also leave your clothes permanently marked. This is especially the case when these clothes are made of natural fibers such as cotton or linen. Luckily, it’s possible to remove acrylic paint from clothing. Here’s how you can get dry acrylic paint out of clothes with ease.
How To Get Dry Acrylic Paint Out Of Clothes?
Use Shaving Cream
Shaving cream is a mild soap and works wonders on acrylic paint stains. It is not only great at removing dry paint but also liquid paint when applied quickly. The foam present in the cream helps break down the acrylic’s chemical bonds and neutralizes the chemical reaction that leads to staining. The process is simple. Take a clean sponge, apply shaving cream over the stain, and rub it gently until the stain is removed. If the stain is fresh and you act quickly, you may be able to get rid of it by just sponging it off. Or, you can also wash your clothes in the usual way.
Try Dish Soap And Baking Soda
Dish soap is your friend when it comes to removing stains from clothes. It is mild and works great on acrylic paint. Combine it with baking soda to make an extra-effective stain remover. Just mix equal amounts of baking soda and dish soap and apply the mixture to the stained area with the help of a sponge. Gently rub it with a back and forth motion until the stain is lifted. Wash your clothes as usual after that. You can also add a drop of essential oils to the soapy water to infuse your clothes with a fragrance. Some good choices for this are lemon, orange, lavender, and peppermint.
Use Dryer Sheets
Dryer sheets are known to not just freshen the clothes but also remove acrylic paint stains. What you need to do is soak the stained area of your clothes in warm water. After that, add a few dryer sheets to the water. Leave it for about 20 minutes. The stain should lift after that! To make sure the stain is completely gone, launder your clothes as usual. You can also add a drop of your favorite essential oil to the water to add a pleasant fragrance. Some good choices for this are lemon, orange, lavender, and peppermint.
Dry The Clothes In The Sun
This may sound strange but it works. The sun’s UV rays have a bleaching effect on acrylic paint. You can either dry your clothes outside on a clothesline or use a large dryer that has an outside door. Make sure to put your clothes out while the sun is out and at its peak. Also, make sure the clothes have no contact with other clothes so the paint doesn’t transfer. The sun can also help you get rid of wrinkles.
Try Cola
Cola is a miracle drink. It’s good for health, and it can also be used to remove acrylic paint from clothes. Mix equal amounts of cola and water and apply this solution to the stained area. The carbon dioxide present in the cola will break down the chemical reaction that causes staining. Leave the mixture on the clothes for about 20 minutes. Then, wash your clothes as usual. Cola is also a great fabric freshener. You can also add essential oils to the solution to impart a fragrance to your clothes. Some good choices for this are lemon, orange, lavender, and peppermint.
How To Know If Your Clothes Are Dry Or Wet Acrylic Paint?
Smell
First of all, you can smell your clothes to find out if they are dry or wet. If your clothes smell like wet paint, they are obviously still wet. If your clothes smell like paint but also have a dry smell to them, this is a sign that your clothes are dry. This method does come with some limitations, though. The smell of the paint is not going to be the same for all paints. Also, if your clothes have been washed a lot, the smell may not be there anymore.
Touch
Another way to tell if your clothes are wet or dry is by feeling them. Wet clothes will have a different texture from dry clothes. Dry clothes will feel smooth, whereas wet clothes will have a certain stickiness to them. This method does come with limitations, too, though. If the clothes have been drying for a long time, they may have lost some of the stickiness. Also, if the paint has dried on the clothes, you may not be able to feel it.
Color Changes
If you notice that the color of your clothes changes while they are drying, they are probably still wet. Dry clothes will retain the same color that they had before they were washed. This is because water molecules are smaller than paint molecules. They will travel through the paint and evaporate through the fabric. This method does come with some limitations, though. Depending on the type of paint you use, it may be hard to notice a color change. You also need to be very careful when looking at the color of your clothes. You don’t want to accidentally damage them.
Shrinkage
If you put your wet clothes on a drying line, they will instantly start to shrink. If your clothes are already dry, they will not shrink while they are drying. This method does come with some limitations, though. Not all types of fabrics shrink while they are drying. If they are thick fabrics, they may not shrink at all. This method only applies to thinner fabrics such as t-shirts and socks.
Drying Time
The best way to tell if your clothes are dry or wet is by calculating the drying time. If you have hung your clothes out to dry, you need to know the average drying times for the types of fabrics that you are drying. This method does come with some limitations, though. You need to know the average drying time for the types of fabrics that you are drying. You also need to account for factors such as whether it is sunny or rainy, and what time of the year it is.
Dry Acrylic Paint On Cotton Clothes
Cotton is a highly absorbent fabric that is porous by nature. This means that anything applied directly to it will soak in immediately. This makes it especially susceptible to paint stains. However, it’s also the most easily removed of all the natural fibers.
- First, soak the stained cloth in warm water with a little detergent.
- Next, use a soft toothbrush or a clean nail brush to gently scrub the garment.
- You can also use a soft-bristled paintbrush to scrub away the paint particles.
- Make sure that you keep the water in which you’re soaking the cloth warm.
- If the stain remains, you can try using a commercial stain remover.
- Once you’ve removed the paint, wash the garment in warm water with detergent to remove any residue.
- Dry the item in the shade on a clothesline.
- If the stain remains even after washing, you can try using a dry cleaning solvent that is safe for cotton.
Dry Acrylic Paint On Nylon And Polyester Clothes
- Nylon and polyester are synthetic fabrics, and acrylic paint will not soak into them as it does with cotton.
- However, these fabrics are also less porous than cotton and can therefore be more difficult to remove. You can use a mixture of dishwashing soap, warm water, and a non-abrasive sponge to gently scrub away the paint.
- You can also use a commercial stain remover and let the fabric soak in warm, soapy water. If the paint remains on the fabric, you can try using a commercial paint thinner or mineral spirits to remove it.
- Make sure that the solvent you choose is safe for nylon and polyester. You can also use a commercial dry cleaning solvent that is safe for nylon and polyester.
Tips To Avoid Having Dry Acrylic Paint Stained Clothing
- Use water-soluble acrylic paint if you’re painting with acrylic on fabric. Water-soluble paints are much easier to remove from fabrics than dry paints.
- Make sure that the garment isn’t too wet before you attempt to remove the paint. Wet fabrics are more difficult to handle, and the paint will likely bleed into the fabric.
- Avoid pressing the wet fabric.
- If the paint isn’t coming off with the first washing, then you can try washing the garment again.
- Avoid spraying the wet fabric with hairspray, as this will make the paint impossible to remove.
- Avoid putting the stained garment through a spin cycle in the washing machine. This will only serve to grind the paint deeper into the fabric.
Bottom Line
Acrylic paint is a versatile medium that can be used to create almost anything, from artworks to garments. However, as with any other fabric dye or paint, it can also leave your clothes permanently marked. This is especially the case when these clothes are made of natural fibers such as cotton or linen. Luckily, it’s possible to remove acrylic paint from clothing. There are several different techniques that you can use to remove dry acrylic paint from clothes. Make sure that you’re not attempting to remove the wet paint from clothing, as it will likely stain.