Are you the proud parents of creative, independent coloring geniuses? While your child’s latest creation is sure to win awards, we’re sure you don’t want that artwork to last forever in your carpets. Their art is a sign of their talent, but don’t let those paint and crayon spills stop your carpet from looking its best.
Stains in general are tricky to remove because you have to figure out what the main ingredients are before you can properly assess how to remove the spill. We have some good news for you: if the stain you’re attending to is paint from your child’s latest art project, that paint is actually one of the easier stains to remove! We’ve laid out some steps to help you remove the paint spill from your carpets until you can help your children understand where not to paint:
Tips for Treating Wet Paint
When you’re handing stain removal projects, you should never scrub, but rather soak up the moisture. This same approach will do you well when you’re removing the wet paint from your carpet. Instead of getting stressed about the spill, simply grab some paper towels and soak up as much paint as you can.
Instead of pressing down, ‘blotting’ the paint, try just laying the paper towels over the wet paint and give it some time to soak up as much as possible. Repeat until there isn’t any moisture left. At this point, most of the paint should be removed. Your next step is to let the remaining paint completely dry overnight. Don’t worry; it’s all part of the plan!
How to Remove Dry Paint
We’ve got a couple options for you to try removing the dry paint, and both options require a razor or sharp knife. You can choose either nail polish remover or some WD-40 and then proceed to the following steps. Remember, this is not an end-all solution; we’re simply helping you get an advantage over the spill with a ‘quick-fix’ before you can get a professional stain remover in to thoroughly remove the stain.
- If you’re using nail polish remover…use a nail polish brush (or one of your child’s discarded paint brushes) to apply copious amounts of nail polish solution to the stain. Use a simple brushing motion and apply a fresh coat every other minute or so. As the color of the paint begins to fade, you will be able to dab the area with cold water and a rag. After the majority of the paint has been removed, you can vacuum your carpet as a last step. If you haven’t completely removed the paint, call Complete Chem-Dry of Lake Orion to get the stain professionals in to discuss your stain removal options.
- If you’re using WD-40…use this spray lubricant to break down the components of the spilled pain. Generously coat the affected area with WD-40 and let it sit for about 25-30 minutes. Take a rag and scrub the paint until you see it come off in bits and pieces on your rag. Continue scrubbing vigorously until there is very little residue left on the carpet. If the stain still persists after vacuuming, contact Complete Chem-Dry of Lake Orion for a little extra help.
If happy, healthy carpets are your goal, then consider Complete Chem-Dry of Lake Orion to help you restore your carpets to their original glory, even in spite of your budding Picasso!