How to Remove Dried Paint From (12 Surfaces Solved!)

You have just repainted your walls and despite the protective tarpaulin, the paint ends up on your floor and even worse, it has dried.

Don’t panic, there are tips for removing paint stains from whatever flooring you have installed.

Jump to Content >> show

How to Remove Dried Paint From Floor

It often happens that during a painting session, the floor, furniture, or even adjacent walls receive accidental splashing. The cleaning techniques can be different depending on the type of paint used and the nature of the soiled support.

Here are some effective tips for removing paint stains from floors in general:

Remove paint stains depending on the type of paint.

The following tips are generally used to remove paint stains from most substrates. However, some surfaces require specific cleaning depending on their nature.

Remove water-based paint stains

Water-based paint stains are among the easiest to remove, even when they are dry. Indeed, this type of paint is devoid of fixer, which makes it less messy. Here are the steps to remove water-based paint stains:

Soak a clean, dry cloth with household alcohol;
Dab the impregnated cloth on the stains;
Leave the product to act for about 1 hour;
Rinse everything thoroughly with clear water;
Repeat the operation if necessary.

Removing oil paint stains

Oil-based paint stains are more stubborn to remove compared to water-based paint stains, as they knot a tight bond with your floor instantly.

However, it is still possible to get rid of it, to do this:

Pour a small dose of turpentine on the stains;
Leave the product to act for at least 1 hour;
Once the stains have dissolved, gently rub everything with soap;
Rinse with clear water.

Remove acrylic paint stains

Cleaning dry acrylic paint stains depends on the thickness and age of the stains.

In the case of recent stains:

Pour boiling water on the stains;
Rub the stains energetically with soap;
Rinse everything with clean water.

In the case of old spots:

Pour household alcohol on the stains;
Leave the product to act until the stains disappear;
Rinse everything with clean water.

Remove Glycero paint stains

Glycero paint is known for its adhesion to any substrate, which is why it is especially difficult to remove. However, this operation is not impossible, to do this:

Concoct a solution composed of white vinegar and white spirit in equal parts;
Soak a clean, dry cloth with the solution;
Leave the solution to act for about 30 minutes;
Rinse everything with clean water.

If the dirt left by the paint is particularly stubborn, you should know that the heat can facilitate their cleaning. So, pouring boiling water over the stains can be very helpful.

It should also be noted that the method of scraping paint stains offers a better infiltration of the stain and that paint solvents are also effective against the most stubborn stains.

How to Remove Dried Paint From Floor Tiles

First of all, be aware that it is recommended to clean the stains as soon as possible in order to obtain better efficiency. Ideally, wipe off the paint as soon as it falls on the floor if you notice it.

When the paint has dried, it will be necessary to use an aggressive product that will allow the stain to disappear.

Before you start, always do a test on an inconspicuous corner to check that the product does not cause discoloration on your coating.

Also since the paint is dried already, using a floor scraper blade will allow you to remove some of the paint before cleaning the surface. You can use any of these methods:

A dissolving varnish can be an easy option because you can readily find it in the market. Paint remover is also very helpful since it removes many types of paint.
The dried paint can also be removed using a solvent as the mineral spirit that will dilute the paint.
Try a “Decapex” type stripper, which can be purchased in a DIY store. But I will recommend you first test it in a hidden area to avoid discoloration. You can also go to stores specializing in flooring which sometimes have the necessary products.
If it is acrylic paint, a good cleaning with Saint-Marc can help remove stains from your floor covering.
The proficiency of acetone on tiles is well documented, so try to give it a try.
Another method that works quite well is using tile-specialized powerful cleaning agents such as “Clint bang”.

Spray the product on the traces and leave it to act for about half an hour. Then use a damp sponge to remove paint residue.

How to Remove Dried Paint FromFloorboards

If your floorboard has been soiled by a stain of water paint (acrylic, gouache, or watercolor for example), then cleaning it will be very easy. Water-based paints do not contain fixatives, so they are less likely to cause significant damage.

The paint will come off easily with a soapy cleaner, such as dishwashing liquid or soap.

To do this,

Pour a few drops of dishwashing liquid or water/soap mixture on a cloth;
Moisten all parts of the stain with this mixture;
Rub in a back and forth motion for several minutes;
Wipe off the stain with a dry cloth. If that is not enough, repeat the operation from the start.

Remove residue using a blunt tool

Hold the tool at an angle and apply light pressure.

I recommend the use of a wooden spatula, a small spoon, or, failing that, a credit or loyalty card and not a blunt knife-type tool as it may scratch the coating.

In the case of oil or glycero paint stains:

Unlike water-based paints, oil or glycero paints are much more difficult to remove. Thus they can only disappear with a specifically suitable cleaner (White Spirit, turpentine, acetone, etc.). We will now see how to remove this type of paint from floorboards.

Let the paint stain dry.
Scrape it off with a tool that won’t damage the floor.
It is important to scrape the floorboard gently so as not to alter its finish.
Just like water-based paint, use a wooden spoon, spatula, or even a credit card.
Then clean the rest of the paint with a specific cleaner suitable for the paint used. For this, it is advisable to pour a few drops on a soft cloth and rub.

How to Remove Dried Paint From Hardwood Floors

Techniques for removing paint stains from hardwood vary, depending on the type of paint in question.

In the case of water-based or acrylic paint stains:

Rub the stains with a cloth dampened with soapy water;
Wipe everything off with a clean, dry cloth;
Apply linseed oil to the treated surfaces to restore shine to the wood.

In the case of oil or glycero paint stains:

Gently scrape the surface of the paint using a wooden spatula;
Rub everything with a cloth impregnated with soapy water;
If the soapy water does not work, use a cloth impregnated with a few drops of white spirit or a small dose of oven stripper ;
Rinse everything lightly with clean water;
Let dry.

While water-based paint stains on painted or varnished hardwood can be treated immediately, oil-based paint stains should be dry before cleaning so that they do not spread.

How to Remove Dried Paint From Vinyl Flooring

Start by trying to scrape off the stain with a craft knife blade.
If they are recent enough, you can rub them with an ammonia-soaked sponge (don’t forget to ventilate the room and wear protective gloves; then discard the sponge).
Rinse.
Then dry by wiping with a cloth.
If the stains are stubborn, repeat the previous operation with White Spirit (taking the same precautions).

How to Remove Dried Paint From Boncrete Floor

Thoroughly clean the concrete surface and allow it to dry.
Scrape off any peeling or crumbling paint.
Apply paint stripper and wait.
Remove the remover residue.
Reapply the stripper if necessary

How to Remove Dried Paint From Brick

To clean stains from terracotta or brick, it is usually sufficient to soak a mop in a special floor cleaning solution and then rinse well.

Depending on the kind of paint stain, here are the best methods to clean bricks:

Oil paint stains

Rub it with a cloth soaked in acetone (circular motions).
Sponge.
Leave to dry

Water-based paint stains (acrylic)

To remove a stain of water-based paint from a brick wall:

Apply the tip of a cotton swab moistened with methylated spirits to the stain.
Sponge.
Pass an absorbent cloth to remove the moisture.

How to Remove Dried Paint From Vinyl Siding

Being plastic, vinyl has one of the most straightforward cleaning methods.

To remove dried paint from vinyl flooring, apply a paste to the stain that you will obtain with starch and hot water.

Leave on for a good half an hour, then clean the surface and the paint stain will be completely gone!

How to Remove Dried Paint From Laminate Floor

Being special floors, laminate requires equally special treatment.

In these cases, we recommend removing the paint stain as soon as possible.

Rub with a clean rag, pad, or paper towel to remove as much paint as possible.
Continue cleaning with a mop and household cleaner.

If the stain does not go away with this method, you can try to remove it with a specific product: pour a little product such as acetone or White Spirit on a cloth and rub.

Be careful, however, not to put any product in the joints of your laminate floor!

How to Remove Old Paint From Kitchen Cabinets

Allow the paint stain to dry.
Remove the surface paint layer using a fine spatula.
Soak the wood with solvent and leave to act for a few minutes.
Dab with a clean terry towel to remove as much paint as possible.
Repeat the operation until all the paint is removed from the wood fibers.
Rinse with slightly soapy water without soaking the wood too much.
Dab again with another terry towel to dry the surface.

How to Remove Dried Paint From Mirror

Whether it is water, oil, acrylic, or glyecero paint stains, removing them from a mirror is tricky, since the latter can be easily damaged. Here are some tips to easily get rid of paint residue on a mirror:

Using acetone

To do this :

Soak a rag with acetone or nail polish remover;
Apply the rag to the paint stains;
Clean the glass normally with a glass cleaner.

Using alcohol

To do this :

Spray methylated spirit on the paint stains;
Leave the product to act for a few seconds;
Gently rub everything with a soft abrasive sponge until the stains disappear.

Using white vinegar

To do this:

Heat white vinegar for 5 minutes;
Apply the hot vinegar to a cloth;
Dab the stains with the impregnated cloth;
Wait about 10 minutes for the product to work;
Wipe everything off with a damp cloth.

For stubborn or old and very dry paint stains on the glass, here’s how:

Pass a sponge impregnated with dishwashing liquid on the glass to avoid scratches;
Scrape stains in one direction with a razor blade, avoiding back and forth movement.

Paint thinners should not be used on mirrors since they risk making the glass opaque.

How to Remove Dried Paint From Baseboards

Gently scrape the dried paint with a wooden spatula then remove the residue using a cloth soaked in White-spirit.