Paint Removal Tips: How to Remove Paint Splatters from Wallpaper

If you are painting in a room with wallpaper, it is somewhat inevitable that you will end up with a few paint splatters on your wallpaper. These tips will help you to quickly and effectively remove the paint without damaging your wallpaper underneath.

Remove Paint From Wallpaper: Don't Do a Whole Wall

If you have wallpaper that has been completely painted over, the best advice is to forget about the wallpaper. It will be nearly impossible to salvage it, and you are much better off simply removing the wallpaper and the paint together, and then buying new wallpaper for your room. Salvage attempts will take a long time, might not even work, and if they do, will leave you with wallpaper with a very distressed look. The tips below are for removing small splatters of paint from your wallpaper.

Remove Paint From Wallpaper: Blot, Don't Rub

The first general tip, no matter what method of paint removal you use, is to blot anything you're putting on the paint instead of rubbing it. Rubbing will work the paint into the fibers of your wallpaper, which is the last thing you want to do. Instead, blot lightly, trying to saturate the paint and surrounding wallpaper with the product you are using.

Remove Paint From Wallpaper: Remove Paint While it is Wet

If you get a spot of paint on your wallpaper and notice it going on, drop everything you are doing and get the paint off the wallpaper immediately. The longer it dries, the more difficult it will be to get off. Wet paint should come off with a sponge that has been saturated in warm water.

Remove Paint from Wallpaper: Try a Discreet Area First

If your paint is dry and you want to try one of the below methods, you will want to first use the method in another area of wallpaper that is hidden, just in case it damages the wallpaper. After testing the small area, you can then decide whether to try that particular method on your paint splatters.

Remove Paint from Wallpaper: Use Rubbing Alcohol or Acetone

One way to remove paint splatters from wallpaper is to saturate the paint in a soft cloth that has been dipped in rubbing alcohol or acetone. After a few minutes, see if the paint has softened at all, and dab the area with a clean damp cloth. Repeat until it all comes off.

Remove Paint from Wallpaper: Use a Putty Knife or Paint Scraper

A tool that can be helpful in removing stubborn spots of paint from wallpaper is a paint scraper or a putty knife. Work gently and try to get it under the dried paint, while being careful not to be too aggressive on your wallpaper. This should be used only as a last resort, as chemical cleaners are less likely to cause accidental damage to your wallpaper.