How To Remove Wet And Dry Paint Stains From A Sofa

If you are decorating and haven't taken the correct preparations, it can be easy to spill paint onto the fabric of your sofa. By the time you have finished the job, the paint mark has dried into the sofa. Or, perhaps paint was accidentally spilled and you need to remove it while it is wet. Knowing how to deal with both situations can help restore your sofa after a paint spill. Take a look at how to remove paint stains.

Oil Based Paint Stains On A Sofa

During the manufacturing process, white spirit is used to thicken the paint, and this is why oil based paints are more difficult to remove than latex based paints. Here's how to deal with wet and dry oil based paint stains:

• Wet paint – the wet paint should be scraped off the sofa with a spatula or flat faced instrument. Next, apply a small amount of paint thinner to the paint on the sofa, and dab at it with a clean towel. Spray some warm water on after you have been dabbing for a minute or so, and continue to dab after the water is sprayed on. To finish, mix some water and detergents and dab onto the area. Pat with a clean towel to dry.
• Dry paint – use a still bristled brush to remove the dry paint. Keep brushing till you have removed the outer crust and paint inside. Dip a corner of a clean cloth into paint thinner and dab at the area until it is clean. You can dab some water into the area before patting dry with a towel.

Latex Based Paint Stains On A Sofa

Latex paints are made with water during manufacturing, so this is the substance to turn to when removing this type of paint from a sofa.

• Wet paint- remove excess paint and dab at it until you have removed most of the paint. Spray tepid water onto the stain and dab with a cloth. Add a little detergent with some warm water, and spray this onto the mark. Dabbing dry with a towel should remove the paint.
• Dry paint – use a knife to try and remove the paint in one piece. If you do this, you can deal directly with the mark on the sofa. Dampen the sofa with some cold water spray and dab at the mark. Mix detergent and water together, spray onto the sofa, and pat dry with a towel.

It is important to dab at the paint and not scrub at it, as this will spread the paint around. For more information contact a business such as Busy Bell.