If you want to teach how to get paint off hardwood floors , stick to one of these tested and true methods .

Grant Webster

Paint promptly update a home , adding the perfect tactile sensation of colour to make a elbow room stand out . However , painting also come with the risk of infection of drip mould , wasteweir , and splatters . If this occurs , it ’s of import to know how to take out pigment from hardwood floors . While some homeowners maypaint over hardwoodif the floors are n’t salvageable , small blemishes will likely ask to be removed to restore the hardwood . Here , discover four different methods for how to get paint off hardwood floors .

Using putty knife to remove dry paint from hardwood floor

Credit:Grant Webster

Before You Begin: Prepare the Area

Test the Paint

Before you come out make clean , debate the age of your dwelling house . If the house was built before 1978 , the blusher may contain leash . The   EPArecommends confer with a demonstrate steer professional to fix the best way to prove and take away the paint before seek to remove it .   If the home was build after 1978 , this step is n’t necessary .

After confirm that the paint does not contain tip , ready the area by clearing any furniture or objects out of the elbow room so that you have plenteous room to work . Next , open any windows or doors , and change by reversal on a fan to serve ventilate the quad .

give vent the space is crucial if you are using a paint stripper because it can cause injury to your skin , eyes , and lung .

Cotton ball of rubbing alcohol to remove paint from hardwood floor

Credit:Grant Webster

To avoid wasting time on method that wo n’t work on specific eccentric of paint , conduct a simple test to determine if you are run withwater - base or crude - based paint . Put on a pair of mitt , take a cotton fiber clump , anddip it into isopropyl alcohol , also commonly referred to as itch alcoholic beverage .

apply the cotton testicle to softly buff a spot on the paint for about 10 seconds . After buffing the paint , scrutinise the cotton ball for key residue . If there is key on the cotton fiber ball , the rouge is body of water - base , meaning that it should be able to be removed with a easy method , like mantrap soapor a mixture of lemon succus and isopropyl alcohol .

If there is n’t any blusher on the cotton ball , the paint is probable crude - free-base , which is much harder to remove . Plan to apply a backbreaking - duty removal option , like a heat gun , hairdryer , orpaint thinnerto get rouge off the hardwood floors .

Bowl of soap and water near hardwood floor paint stain

Credit:Grant Webster

What You’ll Need

Equipment / Tools

Materials

Instructions

How to Use Dish Soap to Get Paint Off Hardwood Floors

Mix Liquid Dish Soap and Water

H2O - based paint can usually be remove with a mixture of affectionate water andliquid ravisher soap . Depending on the amount of blusher , you may only need a pocket-size sports stadium to mix the solution , or you may want a bucket . Fill the selected container with ardent water and sum enough dishwashing liquid to make suds .

Clean Hardwood Floors

Dip a microfiber cloth into the cleaning root and scrub the hardwood floors in the focussing of the wood grain . As you work , use a ironic fabric to wipe forth any loosened paint .

Use a Putty Knife (Optional)

If the blusher seems to be loose but wo n’t fare off the hardwood story , use a plastic putty knife to gently scrape away the paint . Be careful not to practice too much pressure , or you might damage the floor . preserve call off , grate , and wipe the floor until all the key has been removed .

How to Use Isopropyl Alcohol and Lemon Juice to Get Paint Off of Hardwood Floors

Mix Isopropyl Alcohol and Lemon Juice

Another option for water - base paint remotion is a mixture of isopropyl alcohol andlemon succus . take a container that is appropriate for the amount of paint that needs to be removed , then blend three parts isopropyl alcoholic beverage with one part Citrus limon succus . Keep in mind that this result is stronger than the grievous bodily harm mixture , so you will not want as much .

Loosen Paint with a Cleaning Solution

Dip a microfiber material into the cleaning solution and place it over the painted area , allowing it to posture for several minutes . If you need toremove paintfrom the total floor , it ’s a good theme to have multiple material uncommitted so that one area can be soaking while you are scrubbing another area .

Scrape Paint with a Putty Knife

After about five bit , use the moist material and a formative putty tongue to skin away the blusher . Alternately , you may want to use a nylon - bristled chaparral brushing to help transfer the paint . Continue this process until the floor is paint - free .

Rinse Hardwood Floors

Once the floor is innocent of paint , rinse the hardwood to remove any remnant isopropyl intoxicant and lemon succus . Dip an unused microfiber fabric in clean water , then distort it out until it ’s damp . Wipe down the floorwith the cloth . Then , habituate a teetotal microfiber textile to buff and dry the floor .

How to Use Heat to Get Paint Off Hardwood Floors

Apply Heat and Scrape Paint

Heat can be an effective agency to withdraw water - base or oil - ground blusher , but you need to be heedful to stave off damaging the hardwood story . One option is to use a warmth gun to soften the paint , then scrape it off with a plastic putty knife .

If a heat gun is too powerfulfor the hardwood , another method is to utilize a handheld fuzz drier . It takes a bit longer for the paint to soften , but you do n’t run as high-pitched as a risk of damage the floor . After heating the paint , scratch it off with a shaping putty tongue or nylon - bristled scrub brush .

Scrub Hardwood Floors

Using heating plant and a putty tongue canremove most of the paint , though some small dripping or eyepatch may still be stuck to the hardwood . Use a mixture of dish soap and lovesome water to scrub any remaining urine - based paint .

If the paint is oil - found , dim a microfiber cloth in rouge stripper and softly scrub the floor to remove any remaining paint . After using a pigment stripper , rinse the hardwood with a damp textile .

How to Use Paint Stripper to Get Paint Off Hardwood Floors

Apply Paint Stripper

petroleum - based paintis importantly intemperately to remove from hardwood floor , so you may need to use a pigment stripper or paint thinner , like turpentine or mineral spirits . Before you begin , check the producer ’s directions for use and verify the area is well - ventilate .

Apply the key striptease accord to the manufacturer ’s directions , and then fray it into the blusher with a microfiber textile or rag . As the paint lead off to tease , expend a plastic putty knife and a microfiber cloth to wipe it away , let out the hardwood storey below .

It ’s a good theme to wear closed - toe shoes , long pants , a long - sleeve shirt , gloves , glasses , and a mask when working with a key stripper .

Wiping paint from hardwood floor with microfiber cloth

Credit:Grant Webster

After removing the paint , gargle the hardwood to get rid of any leftover paint - stripping answer . Dip a clean microfiber fabric into water and wring it out until it ’s moist . Wipe down the storey with the cloth , and then use a dry microfiber cloth to buff and dry the floor .

Frequently Asked Questions

Sanding can take away old paint , but you must be extra careful to avoid damaging the wood . This method acting is skilful for small projects . When you ’re hop to remove blusher from an integral room , other methods are much more time - effective .

If nail polish remover , or acetone , comes into contact with hardwood floors , then it can damage the polish . If it reaches the wood , it could end up warping it too .

Since vinegar is acidulent , it should n’t be used on hardwood floors . It can damage your finishing by blunt and etch the surface .

Scraping paint off floor with putty knife

Credit:Grant Webster

Rubbing alcohol and lemon with dried paint

Credit:Grant Webster

Cleaning paint with lemon and alcohol solution

Credit:Grant Webster

Using bristle brush to remove paint from hardwood floor

Credit:Grant Webster

Cleaning hardwood floor with microfiber cloth

Credit:Grant Webster

Scraping paint from hardwood floor while applying heat from hair dryer

Credit:Grant Webster

Cleaning hardwood floor paint stain with paint stripper

Credit:Grant Webster