Removing paint spills and splatters on carpet surfaces can be tricky, but there is no need to panic.
With the right tools, you can remove the remaining paint and carpet stains quickly & painlessly. Knowing how to get paint out of the carpet or damp rag is the first step.
Read on to discover our expert tips and tricks.
1. Identify If The Paint Residue Is Wet Or Dry
When you encounter a spill, it is vital to know whether it is wet or bone dry; this will inform your actions moving forward.
Remember not to panic, and maybe touch it gently if unsure.
2. Type Of Paint Spilled
The type of spilled paint in question will also inform how you remove it.
3. Prevent Long Term Damage With Dangerous Chemicals
Be wary of the chemicals you may use when removing paint, as they can bleach or damage your carpet.
Before using chemicals like nail polish remover or paint thinner recommended, we suggest doing a spot test in an inconspicuous location on the rug and using as little as possible.
If using harsh chemicals, always wear protective clothing and properly ventilate your space during use.

Removing as much Wet Paint Spills Before They Dry
Here is our guide provides the best homemade cleaning solution to remove excess paint stain or wet acrylic paint out of carpets:
For Water-Based, Wet Latex & Acrylic-Based Paint
- 1Lift the wet paint or excess wet hot water paint out of carpet with a spoon, putty knife, or other flat object and put it in a can or container.
- 2Mop up as much of the paint as possible with a cloth or paper towel making sure to dab and not scrub.
- 3Pour a small amount of hot water onto the area and wait a few moments.
- 4Add a small drop of dish soap and hot water solution to we paint, and gently work into a lather.
- 5Dab and blot gently, starting from the outside in.
- 6Keep going until the excess paint dissolves, soaking up the excess water with paper towels or clean white cloths.
- 7Once the excess paint is gone, dab with dry paper towel.
- 8Vacuum the area thoroughly.
For Oil-Based Paints
- 1Use a spoon or putty knife to lift the excess oil based paint stains to clean rag. Be careful not to scrub the carpet or push the paint into the fibers.
- 2Blot the paint out of carpet with paper towels or clean white cloths.
- 3Open the windows and put on protective gear.
- 4Wet the paper towel or cloth with a bit of paint thinner or turpentine on wet paper towel and keep blotting.
- 5Once the oil based stains or paint spill gone, add soapy water to the area and scrub to clean.
- 6Sponge and blot the area with dry paper towels and sponges after adding soapy water.
- 7Vacuum the area thoroughly.
How To Remove Dry Paint Stains From Your Carpet
Here are our guides for how to get dried paint stain out of carpets:
Dried Water-Based/Latex/Acrylic & Chalk-Based Paint Stain
- 1Scrape off as much as possible with a utility or putty knife. Needle the smaller paint chunks as much as possible without damaging the carpet.
- 2Saturate the dried paint stains with water and vacuum with a wet/dry vacuum.
- 3Repeat above as many times as necessary.
- 4Mix one cup of water with half a teaspoon of dish soap or white vinegar in a spray bottle.
- 5Spray the area with a mixture of dish soap and water solution and leave for a maximum of two minutes.
- 6Work up a lather using a stiff brush.
- 7Dab and blot the area with clean cloths until the excess paint is gone.
- 8Cut off the carpet tips if necessary.
- 9Vacuum the area.
- 10Shampoo the carpet if necessary.
Dried Oil-Based Paint Stains
- 1Remove the dried paint chunks with a utility knife or needle-nose pliers. Break up smaller parts with a needle.
- 2Vacuum the carpet to remove loose dried paint out of carpet and steam the area.
- 3Clean the area with an upright or handheld carpet cleaner and solution before rubbing alcohol.
- 4Wet a cleaning cloth with a small amount of dried paint remover and blot the area or rubbing alcohol until the paint dissolves.
- 5You can use 100 percent acetone or hydrogen peroxide to remove the paint this way. However, we recommend doing a spot test as hydrogen peroxide and acetone could damage your carpet.
- 6Shampoo the carpet fibers once the paint is gone.
- 7Trim the carpet fibers to remove paint-covered tips if necessary.
- 8Go over the area with a vacuum.
If you have an expensive carpet or find that none of the above works for you, we recommend contacting your local carpet cleaning specialist for tips or cleaning solution of carpet fibers.
Tips To Avoid Future Paint Spills On Carpet
Knowing how to clean the paint is all well and good, but how can you prevent paint spills from happening in the future?
We recommend doing some or all of the following during your paint job:

Common Paint and Carpet FAQs
Will baking soda get paint out of carpet?
According to Crayola, baking soda can be used to remove powder paint. Some say that mixing baking soda with a small amount of vinegar can remove paint from the carpet.
What is the most difficult paint stain to remove on carpet?
That depends on the type of spill, your carpet type, and a variety of other factors. Most people consider coffee, juices like Kool-Aid, blood, and pet stains to be some of the more troublesome stains to remove.
Does white vinegar remove paint from carpet?
White vinegar may remove some paint stains from carpet. Apply this solution with a cloth and blot repeating until gone. If the stain persists, try a carpet cleaner or get help from a professional.
Conclusion
When a paint deeper spill occurs, do not panic – you now know how to clean stubborn paint stains out of carpets.
Follow our steps above and remember not to scrub, and the stubborn stains should come away in no time.
As all circumstances are different, we recommend contacting a specialist if you still have issues after following our directions.