Hardwood floors are one of the most popular and admired types of flooring because of their natural beauty. However, If you discover the problem early enough, you can wipe the paint off the wood floor with a rag while it’s still damp. The drop is usually only discovered after it has dried. You can usually remove the paint without damaging the floor with just a few items and a little patience. Thankfully, these stains are straightforward to remove if you follow a few basic measures.
Table of Contents
Tips to remove paint stains
Dishwashing liquid
If you know the paint is water-based, combine a few drops of dishwashing liquid with two cups of very hot water. Wring out a microfiber towel after dipping it in the solution. Scrub the paint-splattered area in the direction of the wood grain. Wipe away the paint with a dry towel as it loosens. If the paint is loose but not flaking off, carefully scrape it away with a hard plastic putty knife or the edge of a credit card. If you use too much pressure, the floor will be scratched.
Using rubbing alcohol
In a small mixing bowl, combine three parts rubbing alcohol with one part lemon juice. Use a putty knife to carefully scrape off as much paint as possible. Place a rag in the alcohol mixture and place it over the paint splatters for five minutes. Scrub away the loosening paint with a moist rag. Dip an old toothbrush or a small nylon-bristled scrub brush in the solution and scrub the paint away if it still won’t budge. Wipe the area dry with a microfibre towel after wiping it with a rag dipped in clean water.
Use heat
If the paint won’t loosen even with rubbing alcohol, apply heat to soften it, then use soap and water to remove it. A heat gun directed at the splatters softens the paint enough to lift with a putty knife. Work rapidly with a heat gun since it can melt the finish of the wood floor if left in one location for too long. To avoid warming the floor, a handheld hair dryer is a smart solution.
Use paint thinner
If none of the preceding procedures is successful in removing paint spills and you know the paint is oil-based, try using paint thinner. To keep the place adequately aired, open windows and turn on a fan. Dip a rag in paint thinner and rub it over the paint until it disappears. You should avoid rubbing too hard on the floor because this could ruin the finish. If you don’t want to take any risk you can choose an expert cleaning service for safe and faster cleaning.
Alcohol pads
If the stain is minor, alcohol pads are the quickest way to remove paint from hardwood floors. These small packages of washing pads soaked in alcohol can be found at your local drug store. Wipe the stain back and forth along the wood grain with an alcohol pad. Use a new pad if the old one dries out or accumulates too much paint, and keep working on the stain until it disappears. Clean the area with water and dry with a clean towel.
Sometimes, the paint splatters may be more than what you can clean on your own. In such a situation, you can always rely on a reputed house cleaning company to clean for you.
