No matter how hard you try accidents can happen when you are painting walls and ceilings. If you have spoiled paint on your vinyl floor you are likely to be going into panic mode about whether or not it will clean up okay.
Try not to worry, paint spillage on floors is very common and there are ways to remove all traces from your vinyl floor such as store-bought cleaning products, alcohol, and plain soap and water. We take a look at the best ways to remove paint spillage from floors including homemade solutions.
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Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl flooring is a common way to decorate floors and it is generally cheap and easy to fit as well as coming in a variety of styles and textures to add a splash of color to the home.
Vinyl is also water resistant and very durable making it a good option if you cannot afford hardwood or tiled floors. Due to the durable nature of vinyl, it can often be difficult to remove paint that has spilled onto it.
While most liquids will wipe off easily from vinyl, paint requires a little more elbow grease.
Removing Wet Paint off Vinyl Floors
The key to removing paint from vinyl flooring is to act quickly.
This may sound easier than it is as paint can be very messy but if you follow these 5 easy steps to removing wet paint from floors and you should remove any trace of frustrating spills.
- Wipe away as much of the paint as you can using paper towels, starting from the outside of the spill in a scooping motion so that the paint lifts from the floor.
- Continue to use fresh paper towels until all of the paint has been removed
- Use an absorbent cloth to wipe away any remaining paint residue and ring warm water.
- Wash the floor as normal with soapy water ( see below for other solutions) using a cloth or a wet mop
- Pat with a dry cloth or a mop to make sure it is safe to walk on
Cleaning Solutions
Soap
As stated above, soap and water is the quickest way to remove the wet paint from a vinyl floor. Soap and water work best when the paint is water-based and usually any brand of soap will work.
If you choose to use soap you should fill a large container with warm water and a good squirt of liquid soap but not too much as it may become too bubbly and slippy. You should put your cloth into the mixture and squeeze the excess water out before using it on the stained floor.
Rinse the cloth and take more of the mixture on as long as necessary. If you have a lot of paint on the floor you may need to make a fresh batch of soapy water where necessary.
[amazon box=”B07HKR2QP9″ template=”vertical”]Alcohol
Alcohol (Isopropyl) is commonly used to remove stains and can be useful for removing oil-based paints from vinyl floors. Before using alcohol to remove paint from the floor you should first get as much of the paint off with paper towels.
When you are ready to remove the remaining paint from the vinyl floor you should dab a cloth over the top of the bottle of alcohol then dab the cloth onto the floor to remove the paint. If there is a lot of paint then you may need fresh cloth.
Using rubber gloves will help protect your hands from getting dry or irritated from the alcohol. After using the alcohol to remove the paint you should give the floor a quick clean with soapy water to remove any traces of alcohol.
[amazon box=”B07J49CD76″ template=”vertical”]Liquid Wax
Liquid wax is a great way to remove paint from vinyl flooring if alcohol and soapy water does not work. You can find liquid wax in supermarkets and hardware stores and it is good as it can loosen the paint making it easier to remove.
After wiping the majority of the paint from the floor using paper towels you should use a piece of steel wool that has been dipped in liquid wax and lightly move in circles. It is important not to press too hard as the steel wool may damage the vinyl.
[amazon box=”B081489MTX,B074PVDSVQ” grid=”2″]Commercial Solutions
When you have tried all of the above solutions and the paint is stubborn you will need to use solutions that have been made specifically to remove paint from surfaces such as vinyl floors.
While commercial solvents are very effective they are toxic so you may want to make this your last resort if you prefer natural solutions. PEC-12 is a popular solvent that can remove paint from vinyl floors quickly but it is powerful so you will need to follow safety instructions.
To stay safe you should put on the protection that includes rubber gloves, goggles, and a face mask and open the room window for ventilation when using commercial solvents.
[amazon box=”B00SYHWAJK” template=”vertical”]Removing Wet Paint off Vinyl Floors
You may not always be able to get paint off when it is wet or you may have only noticed the spillage once it is dry. If you cannot get to the paint while it is still wet then you should wait until it fully dries and then removes in one of the following ways:
Scrape
Traditionally, using a scraper is the best way to get dried paint off the floor but you should make sure that you use the correct tools so that you do not scratch the floor.
A plastic scraper is usually best as it will not be harsh on the vinyl or you could use a plastic spatula. Holding the scraper at an angle you should press the edge between the paint and the vinyl and gently push forward to lift the paint.
You should work from the outside in until all of the paint is gone and then wash with soap and water following the instructions earlier on in the article. If there is a small bit of paint that cannot be removed with the plastic scraper you can carefully use a razor blade to tackle the most stubborn areas.
[amazon box=”B086JFHVQK” template=”vertical”]Mineral Spirits
Mineral spirits, also known as white spirits, are a liquid that is usually used for cleaning paint brushes or for thinning paint. It can, however, be used to remove stubborn paint marks from areas where paint has been spilled.
Mineral spirits do have a strong smell and are toxic so long-term exposure if not advised. You should use a mask and protective goggles to avoid any adverse reactions.
As the product is toxic you should test a small area on the vinyl to ensure it does not affect the color or pattern of your vinyl flooring.
[amazon box=”B01B21WQ9I” template=”vertical”]Nail Polish Remover
If you do not have mineral spirits at home and you cannot get to a store to buy some you can try nail polish remover instead. It will not be as strong as mineral spirits but it may work if the layer of paint is not too thick.
You will need a nail polish remover that contains acetone as this will work to remove stains. You should dab a little nail polish at a time on a clean cloth and rub it into the floor in a circular motion working front the outside in.
Another option is to use turpentine which is a less toxic and more environment-friendly solution. You should continue to dab and wipe until all of the paint has been removed and then wash with soap and water to remove any traces of solvents.
[amazon box=”B071R8N3L6″ template=”vertical”]Magic Eraser
Magic Erasers are made from dura foam and they can help remove marks and dirt from vinyl floors. If there is only a small spillage of paint then you can try rubbing the wet magic eraser over the dried paint.
[amazon box=”B07MF3DY3C” template=”vertical”]Summary
As you can see, there are lots of different ways that you can remove paint from vinyl floors. The key to removing paint is to get as much of the spillage up as quickly as possible using paper towels.
Once you have removed the majority of the paint form the floors you can use soap and water or, of required another solution including alcohol and liquid wax. If the paint has dried not the floor then do not lose faith as there are ways to remove it and save your vinyl floor.
The best way to remove dried paint from a floor is to use a gentle scraper so that it doe snot scratch the vinyl. You can also use mineral spirits, turpentine, and nail polish remover.
If you cannot get the paint off your vinyl floor with any of the above methods then you may need to call in an expert cleaner who will have experience in removing even the most stubborn of stains.
Farah Zeb is a mother of five, including two children with special needs. She shares practical parenting tips and resources to help other families navigate daily challenges and create supportive, nurturing environments.
