How to Get Acrylic Paint Out of Clothes

Working Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Skill Level: Beginner
Estimated Cost: $0 to $5

Water-based acrylic paint is a popular choice because of its versatility, quick drying time, and water-solubility, which makes cleaning brushes and hands easy. It's also less toxic than other paints, making it ideal for use around children and pets. However, when dry, acrylic paint becomes water-resistant, making it a difficult stain to remove from clothes. This guide explains how to get acrylic paint out of clothes, as well as methods for removing the paint when it has dried on clothing.

What to Know About Acrylic Paint Stains

The most important thing to know about how to get acrylic paint out of clothes is that acrylic paint stains are easy to remove when it's wet, but the stains are quite difficult to eliminate once the paint is dry. If at all possible, treat an acrylic paint stain as soon as it happens by flushing it with cold running water.

Once acrylic paint has dried on clothing, it may be impossible to remove it entirely. The pigment in acrylic paint is suspended in a polymer solution that is water-soluble when wet but water-resistant when dry.

Isopropyl alcohol is the best choice for removing dried acrylic paint from clothing. While other stain-removing agents, such as ammonia, acetone, or paint thinner, can be used to dissolve acrylic paint, they're best used for removing acrylic paint from hard surfaces rather than from textiles.

Additionally, avoid using products with a high concentration of water, like vinegar or window cleaner, because the water content will render them powerless against insoluble stains. When it comes to removing the paint from clothing, stick with isopropyl alcohol.

It's also important to be aware that isopropyl alcohol, ammonia, acetone, and paint thinner are flammable. When using one of these to pretreat stains on washable fabrics, take care to flush residue out with cold running water prior to laundering to avoid an appliance fire.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

Dried Acrylic Paint

1 Butter knife or scraping tool
1 Rag

Materials

Wet Acrylic Paint

Stain remover
Laundry detergent

Dried Acrylic Paint

Isopropyl alcohol
Stain remover
Laundry detergent

Instructions

How to Get Acrylic Paint Out of Clothes

When acrylic paint gets on an article of clothing, working quickly to flush the paint from the garment will prevent the paint from leaving a permanent stain.

Flush Paint with Cold Water

Flush the paint from the clothing by holding the garment under cold running water; it's best to let the water flow through the back side of the clothing so that the water pushes the paint off and away from the fabric rather than through it. If there is a large amount of paint, scoop it off the garment using a plastic spoon or paper towel before flushing it with water.
Pre-treat Stain

Use a laundry stain remover or liquid laundry detergent to pre-treat the paint stain.
Wash Clothes

Launder the item, as usual, using the hottest water temperature the garment can tolerate, according to the care instructions on its tag.
Check Stain Before Drying

Check that the stain came out in the wash before putting it in the dryer. The heat from a dryer will set a stain. If there's still a lingering stain, simply repeat the stain removal process.

How to Get Acrylic Paint Out of Clothes Once It Dries

Once acrylic paint has dried, it's difficult to remove from clothing. The following method may work, but before proceeding, it's worth considering whether the garment is worth salvaging.

Scrape the Paint

Use a butter knife or scraping tool to scrape the paint off the fabric.
Break the Paint Down

Use a rag to apply the isopropyl alcohol to the stain, rubbing gently to work it into the paint. Isopropyl alcohol can break down the water-resistant top layer of dried acrylic paint. If pigment transfers from the garment to the rag, the alcohol is working to break down the paint.
Pretreat Stain

Once the top layer of the paint has been dissolved, flush the alcohol from the garment with cold running water, and use a laundry stain remover or liquid laundry detergent to pretreat the stain.
Wash Clothes

Launder the item as usual, using the hottest water temperature the garment can tolerate, according to the care instructions on its tag.

Here's How Much Laundry Detergent to Use for the Best Results
Check Stain Before Drying

The heat from a dryer sets stains, so check that the stain comes out in the wash before putting the garment in the dryer. If there's still a lingering stain, simply repeat the stain removal process.