Cleaning Up Paint Spills

Spilling paint on your carpet or other fabrics can be frustrating. You can attempt to get it out, but make a mistake on cleaning the spill and it could become a permanent stain. If the paint has already dried there's really nothing that can be done to remove it. Paint is designed so that once it is dry, it can't be removed from any surface, including carpet. The only thing that can be done is to use scissors and cut out the dried paint.

If the paint is still wet, there are many solutions you can try. First, I want to mention a product Krylon makes called "Opps!" this is used to clean spills from latex paint. If you follow the directions on the can it can work quite well. Another excellent solution for cleaning up acrylic or latex paint is warm soapy water. Do not use cold water because it actually sets the paint in the fabrics faster. Using warm water and mixing a bit of laundry detergent or dish washing liquid works best. Scrub the area with a cleaning brush and then blot with a dry towel and repeat until the paint color has faded out of the fabric.

If you spill an oil base paint this will be more difficult to clean. Start by using a paint thinner or turpentine. You can apply it directly to the spill and blot it up with a dry towel. You want to repeat this until the color is gone or faded out. Then you should follow up with soap and warm water. Make sure you use paint thinner, not lacquer thinner. Lacquer thinner will make the paint spread and destroy carpet or whatever fabric you are trying to clean.
You may want to test the paint thinner in an inconspicuous area of the fabric first. If you are cleaning carpet make sure your carpet isn't glued to the floor. If it is glued don't use water on the paint spill, because water will cause the glue to become inactive and the carpet may lift up from the floor. One more thing about paint thinner is that the fumes can be toxic. Any rags or other fabric used for clean up should be completely air dried and thrown away. Paint thinner can be hazardous if left on rags and put in a dryer or near a heat source. Make sure and follow any safety warnings given on all cleaning products that you use.

sources:

http://www.sherwin-williams.com/do_it_yourself/painting_techniques/how_to_paint/interior/clean/