If you can’t take your clothes off, try washing the stain out with them still on. This is better than waiting to deal with the stain and allowing the paint to dry.
Do not use hot water when washing your clothes. Do not put them in the dryer or use a hair dryer to dry the area you washed unless you’re sure the stain is really gone. If your fabric paint does not set with heat, you may use hot water when rinsing the stain out, but be sure to read the bottle thoroughly to make sure.
To remove paint from the surface of the fabric, try blotting it up with a paper towel or gently scraping it off with a putty knife. Try not to rub the paint into the fabric as you do this.
Remember to use cold water to avoid setting the stain. Always read the care instructions before you start washing your fabric. If tag on your garment says that dry cleaning is required, do not attempt to wash out the stain.
You may have to scrub and rinse several times to remove the paint. Dish soap or laundry detergent should both do the trick. If rubbing the stain with your hands is not effective enough, try scrubbing the area with sponge or a brush. An old toothbrush works well for small stains.
Do not use hot water to wash your clothes or put them in the dryer unless the stain is completely gone. If the clothing still has a stain after it comes out of the washing machine, let it air dry and follow the steps for removing dried paint. Do not machine wash garments that call for dry cleaning or hand washing, as you may damage the fabric. Always follow the care instructions.
You can also consider professional cleaning for washable fabrics if you were unsuccessful at removing the stain yourself.
Be careful not to rip the fabric as you try to remove the paint. If none will come off, move on to the next step.
Rubbing alcohol, turpentine, and mineral spirits are all effective solvents for acrylic paint. [10] X Expert Source Susan StockerCleaning Guru Expert Interview. 8 November 2019. If you don’t have any of these solvents on hand, you can try an acetone-based nail polish remover or even hairspray (as long as it contains alcohol). If none of these products work for you, try visiting your local home improvement store and buy a cleaning product that is specifically designed for removing the type of paint you are dealing with. For stubborn stains, you may have to let the solvent sit on the fabric for a while before you start scrubbing. Solvents are very harsh, so be careful with delicate fabrics. Acetone will damage certain fabrics, among them, those made of acetate or triacetate. [11] X Research source Natural fibers like silk and wool are also easily damaged, so always test the solvent on a hidden area like an inside seam before using it. If your garment cannot be treated with solvents, take it to a dry cleaner to be professionally cleaned.
Once you’ve gotten most of the paint out, you can move the garment to the sink and continue scrubbing it with detergent and cold water.
Remember to avoid applying any kind of heat to your clothing unless you are sure that the stain is gone.
You can hem your own clothing if you know how to sew, or you can take it to a tailor to have it professionally done.
Don’t try to cover up the paint stain with a new paint color that matches the fabric. This may not come out well.
If you don’t like to sew, you can find iron-on patches for clothing.
This will require sewing skills. You can find patterns for making clothes online. If you don’t know how to sew, find a tailor who will make custom clothing with your fabric.
