Things You'll Need
Broom or stick broom vacuum cleaner
Dust pan
Trash can
Dish washing soap
Bucket
Latex gloves
Scrub brush
3 cloths or rags
Mineral spirits
Dull putty knife
Trash bag
Large pot
Soft mop
Large towel or rag
Paint is an enemy of any surface it falls on including carpet, tile and flooring. If left to dry, spilled paint leaves a dry layer of paint and a stain underneath the paint. The paint stain removal process depends on the type of flooring the paint spilled on and how much paint was spilled. You don't want to use a cleaning solution that will damage the floor, but one that will remove the layers of paint as well as the stain and paint residue left behind.
Removing Water-Based Paint
Step 1
Sweep or vacuum the floor with a soft, plastic broom or stick broom vacuum (one without a beater brush) cleaner to remove any loose dust and dirt from the floor's surface. Use a dust pan to collect any debris if sweeping. Dispose of the debris in a trash can.
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Step 2
Mix 1 cup of dish washing soap and ½ gallon of warm water in a bucket. Wear latex gloves to keep your hands dry.
Step 3
Stir the soap mixture with a scrub brush. Dip a cloth or rag in the soap mixture. Wring out excess.
Step 4
Scrub the paint stains with the soap-mixture-soaked cloth or rag.
Step 5
Repeat steps 3 and 4 until the paint stains are gone. Dry the areas with a clean cloth or rag.
Removing Oil-Based Paint
Step 1
Sweep or vacuum the floor with a soft plastic broom or stick vacuum cleaner to remove any loose dust and dirt from the floor's surface. Use a dust pan to collect any debris if sweeping. Dispose of the debris in a trash can.
Step 2
Pour 2 cups of mineral spirits into a bucket. Wear latex gloves to keep your hands dry.
Step 3
Dip a cloth or rag into the bucket. Wring out excess mineral spirits.
Step 4
Scrub the paint stains with the mineral-spirits-soaked cloth or rag.
If removing paint stains from hardwood floors, do not use mineral spirits. Complete the steps in the "Removing Paint Stains from Hardwood Flooring" section of this article.
Step 5
Repeat steps 3 and 4 until the paint stains are gone. Dry the areas with a clean cloth or rag.
Removing Paint Stains from Hardwood Flooring
Step 1
Sweep or vacuum the hardwood flooring with a soft plastic broom or stick vacuum cleaner to remove any loose dust and dirt from the floor's surface. Use a dust pan to collect any debris if sweeping. Dispose of the debris in a trash can.
Step 2
Wrap a cloth or rag around the blade of a dull putty knife.
Step 3
Gently scrape the paint stains from the hardwood flooring. Place the paint debris in a trash bag.
Step 4
Fill a large pot with lukewarm water from a sink. Dip a soft mop in the pot. Wring out excess water. The mop should be damp--not dripping with water.
Step 5
Mop the hardwood floor with the damp mop. Dry the flooring with a large towel or rag.
Tip
If you are unsure of the type of paint present on your flooring, complete the steps in the “Removing Water-Based Paint” section first. If the paint stain doesn't come up, complete the steps in the “Removing Oil paint”-Based Paint" section unless your flooring is hardwood.
If removing paint stains on concrete, complete the steps in the “Removing Oil-Based Paint” section. You can use trisodium phosphate (TSP) in place of mineral spirits, if desired. TSP is available at hardware and home improvement stores as well as paint supply stores.
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