Home improvement projects like painting often carry the risk of staining your floors. Wooden floors, in particular, can be quite expensive to refinish or replace if they’ve been stained with paint.
It’s always best to clean a paint spill before it gets the opportunity to dry. However, that might not be possible sometimes. If you’ve accidentally missed a paint stain, don’t worry, there are many methods to remove it.
There are several methods you can try out to remove dried paint from wooden floors and get them looking brand new again. The most popular ones are using a paint scraper, soapy water, and rubbing alcohol, but there are also more aggressive approaches for the most challenging spills.
Read on to find out everything you need to know about removing paint from wooden floors!
What Type of Paint Are You Treating?
Not all types of paint can be removed using the same products and techniques, so it’s important to understand what type of stain you’re dealing with before you can remove it.
Water-based paint, such as latex, is commonly used for interior applications because it dries quickly and is rather easy to clean up. You usually don’t need more than soap and warm water.
Oil-based paint, on the other hand, is typically used for exterior applications because it’s more durable than latex. It takes longer to dry, and it’s also more difficult to remove.
To check what type of paint you’re dealing with, you can simply read the label on the can. Another option, if you don’t have the can anymore, is to carry out a simple test on the stain.
Grab a cotton ball and wet it in rubbing alcohol—it’s important not to use pure alcohol, or you might ruin your wooden floor’s finish. Then, rub it gently over the paint stain. If there’s any residue on the cotton ball, then you’re dealing with water-based paint. Otherwise, it’s oil-based.
What You’ll Need to Remove Paint from Wooden Floors
Once you’ve established the type of paint you’re trying to get rid of, it’s time to gather the necessary materials to remove the stain from your wooden floors.
For non-toxic methods:
- Paint scraper
- Warm water
- Mild dish soap
- Clean cloths
- Cotton Balls
- Rubbing alcohol
- Lemon juice
- Nylon scrub brush or clean toothbrush
- Electrical sander
- Sandpaper
- Heat gun
For chemical cleaning agent methods:
- Paint remover (make sure you get the right one for the type of paint you’re trying to remove)
- Paint Thinner (only as a last result and for oil-based paints)
- Cotton balls
- Clean cloths
- Rubber gloves
- Face mask or respirator
How to Remove Latex Paint From Wooden Floors
To preserve your wooden floors as much as possible and avoid inhaling any toxic fumes, it’s best to try all the non-toxic methods first. Only after you’ve exhausted all the options should you move on to the toxic methods, especially since dried latex paint is usually quite easy to remove.
Non-Toxic Methods
There are several non-toxic ways to remove dried latex paint from wooden floors, and they’re particularly effective if the stain is less than 24 hours old:
Paint Scraper
If you notice that the paint on your floor is already flaking off, grab a paint scraper to remove as much of it as possible. If you don’t have a scraper, you can use a putty knife or any object that has a straight edge, like a plastic kitchen spatula or an old credit card.
Remember to scrape the paint gently so as to not remove the finish of the floor.
Water and Mild Soap
If there’s still paint residue after scraping most of the stain, you can use water and soap to finish the job. You’ll have a bucket filled with a solution of warm soapy water and some clean rags you don’t mind staining. Once you’ve gathered your materials, this is what you should do:
- Dampen the cloth in the mixture of warm water and soap, and use it to wet the painted areas of your wooden floor. Be careful not to drench your floor, or you risk ruining it.
- Let the water sit on the paint for approximately 5 minutes to soften and loosen the paint.
- Grab the wet cloth again and rub on the stain back and forth until it comes off.
- Take a dry cloth and wipe away any remaining paint and excess water.
- If there’s still some paint left, you can try using a paint scraper again.
Rubbing Alcohol and Lemon Juice
Another option to remove paint from wooden floors is by using a mix of rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) and lemon juice. You mustn’t use any other kind of alcohol to avoid damaging your floor’s finish.
Keep a clean rag and a brush at hand to scrub the floor with. You can use a nylon scrub brush or an old toothbrush, as long as it’s clean. The process is quite similar to the previous one:
- Mix 3 parts of rubbing alcohol and 1 part lemon juice.
- Dip the rag into the solution and dampen the stained areas.
- Let the solution sit on the paint for approximately 5 minutes to soften and loosen it.
- Grab the wet rag again and rub on the stain back and forth until it comes off.
- Take a dry rag and wipe away any remaining paint and excess water.
- If the rag isn’t enough, it’s time to gently scrub the stain with a brush.
- If there still are some stubborn paint remains, try using the paint scraper to get rid of them.
Chemical Cleaning Agent Methods
If none of the previous methods worked to remove the dried paint from your wooden floors, then it’s time to up your game and move onto stronger options.
Paint Remover
Your local hardware or home improvement store is sure to have a wide variety of paint removers; just make sure to get one that’s specifically formulated for latex paint. Other than that, you’re going to need some cotton balls, a clean cloth, and soapy water.
You might also want to wear gloves and a face mask to protect your hands from the chemicals and your lungs from the fumes. Ensure there’s proper ventilation as well. Consider opening the windows and the door for a nice cross-breeze.
To apply the paint remover and get rid of those stubborn stains, you should follow these simple steps:
- Soak a cotton ball with paint remover and use it to dampen the paint stains.
Be careful not to apply the product directly on the wooden floor and limit the application to the stained areas, so you don’t damage the surface.
- Let the product sit for approximately 15 minutes.
- Grab a clean, dry cloth and wipe out the paint and remover.
- You can use warm soapy water to clean any greasy residues from the paint remover.
Paint Thinner
You should never use paint thinner to remove latex paint from wooden floors. Thinner is oil-based, while latex is water-based, so they’re incompatible and don’t mix.
How to Remove Oil-Based Paint From Wooden Floors
Oil-based paint is formulated to last a very long time, but while removing it can be quite challenging, it’s not impossible to do.
Non-Toxic Methods
While the paint removing methods we’re going to describe don’t use any toxic products; you’re going to operate power tools, which can be dangerous if not used properly. Make sure you read the manufacturer’s instructions and wear your personal protective equipment.
Electric sander
If the stained area is large, using an electric sander is the best choice to remove oil-based paint. You’re going to need sandpaper of various grits for the sander (60-, 80-, and 120-grit), regular sandpaper, and a paint scraper. Then, you should follow these steps:
- Equip the sander with 60-grit sandpaper and start sanding.
- Remove most of the paint, and then use the 80- and 120-grit sandpaper to smooth out the surface and remove any remaining paint.
- You can use regular sandpaper to remove paint from between the floorboards and tight corners.
If the paint doesn’t come off easily with the sander, you might need to heat it up first with a heat gun to separate it from the wooden surface.
Heat Gun
Other than a heat gun, you’re going to need a paint scraper, warm soapy water, and a clean cloth. To remove oil-based paint from wooden floors with a heat gun, you should:
- Place the heat gun approximately 5 inches (12 cm) away from the paint at a 45° angle.
- Apply low heat for up to a minute to soften the paint.
- As you heat the paint, gently scratch the paint off with a scraper.
- You’ll need to work in small areas, heating each area and scraping the paint before moving to the next stained patch.
- When you’re finished, damp a clean cloth in a mixture of warm soapy water and wipe the area.
It’s important that you don’t heat the paint for too long or too close to the wooden surface because you risk damaging the finish.
Chemical Cleaning Agent Methods
You might need to consider a stronger approach to remove dried oil-based paint from your wooden floors: using chemical cleaning agents.
Paint Remover
Make sure to purchase a paint remover that’s specifically formulated for oil-based paint, as it’s the only one that will work. You’re also going to need some cotton balls, a clean cloth, and soapy water.
As regards your PPE, you should wear gloves and a face mask or respirator to protect your hands from the chemicals and your lungs from the fumes.
We’ve mentioned this before, but it’s worth repeating: ensure there’s proper ventilation by opening the windows and the door for a nice cross-breeze.
This is what you should do to apply the paint remover and remove oil-based paint stains:
- Soak a cotton ball or swab with paint remover and use it to dampen the paint stains.
Don’t apply the product directly on the wooden floor and only cover the stained areas to avoid damaging the surface.
- Allow the product to break down the paint for approximately 15 minutes. Always check the label for the manufacturer’s recommended time.
- With a clean, dry cloth, wipe out the paint and excess remover.
- You can use warm soapy water to clean any greasy residues from the paint remover.
Paint Thinner
Paint thinner should only be used as a last resort to remove paint from wooden floors because it’s a very harsh chemical solvent that can cause irreversible damage to the surface if applied incorrectly.
Just like with paint remover, using thinner requires that you wear rubber gloves and a face mask. It’s important as well that there’s proper ventilation in your work area to prevent the inhalation of toxic fumes.
This is what you should do to apply the thinner:
- Soak a cotton ball or an old, clean rag with thinner and dab the stained area.
- Once the stain is fully wet, gently rub the surface in a back and forth motion.
- Pain thinner tends to evaporate quickly, so re-soak the cotton ball or rag whenever you notice it going dry.
- Wipe the surface to remove excess thinner.
- If there’s still any stubborn leftover paint, use a paint scraper to finish removing it.
How to Remove Spray Paint From Wooden Floors
Spray paint is very popular for DIY projects. However, while you’re sprucing up your furniture, you might accidentally stain your floor. No matter how careful you are, overspray is an extremely common occurrence as spray paint is hard to control.
If you realize you’ve stained your floor, it’s best that you clean it immediately. However, that’s not always possible, particularly because spray paint dries extremely fast. But don’t worry, it’s not impossible to remove spray paint from wooden floors.
Non-Toxic Methods
We recommend that you start with simple, non-toxic methods to protect the wooden surface as much as possible.
Water and Mild Soap
Just as with water-based paint, you can try using a mixture of warm water and mild soap to remove spray paint from your wooden floor. The procedure is exactly the same:
- Dampen a clean cloth in the solution and wet the stained areas of your floor.
- Let the water sit on the paint and do its job for approximately 5 minutes.
- Wet the cloth again and rub the stain off.
- Now, with a dry cloth, wipe away any remaining paint and excess water.
Rubbing Alcohol and Lemon Juice
If water doesn’t work, move on to the next option: a mix of rubbing alcohol and lemon juice. Remember that you shouldn’t use any other kind of alcohol, or you risk damaging your floor’s finish.
The steps to remove spray paint from a wooden floor with this solution is the same as with latex:
- As we’ve mentioned at the beginning, the proportions you should use are 3 parts of rubbing alcohol and 1 part lemon juice.
- Dampen a cloth with the solution and cover the stained areas. Since spray paint stains are usually small, you can use a cotton ball or a cotton swab instead. They’ll actually allow you to be more precise and minimize the potential damage to the floor.
- Allow the mixture to work for approximately 5 minutes.
- Once the paint is soft, rub the stain off with the cloth, cotton ball, or swab.
- Wipe away the remaining paint and excess water with a dry cloth.
You probably won’t need it, but you can use a brush to scrub the stain away if you can’t remove it with the cloth.
Olive Oil
If your spray paint is oil-based, then the aforementioned approaches might not be strong enough to get rid of the stains.
However, you can use a cotton swab to apply a small amount of olive oil on any overspray on your wood floors to “revive” the paint.
Allow the oil to permeate the stain for approximately 5 minutes and then simply use a paint scraper to finally get rid of the stain.
Chemical Cleaning Agent Methods
Again, there are even more aggressive methods to remove spray paint from wood. However, we recommend that you limit their use to large spills and very old stains, and only as a last resort.
Nail Polish Remover
The process is extremely simple and straightforward, but it can still compromise the finish of your wooden floor. Just soak a cotton ball or swab with acetone-based nail polish remover and gently scrub the overspray. Once the cotton ball or swab gets stained, switch to a new one to avoid reapplying the paint to the floor. Lastly, go over the affected area with a clean, dry cloth to remove any residue.
Paint Remover
There are some paint removers that are specially formulated to remove superficial stains while preserving the surface of a wood floor. Some of the most popular options are Goo Gone, professional strength Goof-Off, and OOPS, and all you have to do is follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the label.
How to Remove Paint From Laminate Wooden Floors
Even if your wooden floor is just vinyl and not real wood, you probably don’t want it covered in paint splatter. Thanks to the strong protective coating of laminate flooring, set-in stains won’t be an issue for you.
You can simply use warm soapy water and a paint scraper to remove most dried paint stains. If they’re stubborn, a small amount of acetone-based cleaner applied with a cotton swab can do the trick.
Tips and Recommendations
Remove Paint Before It Dries
It might sound strange, but the easiest and simplest DIY method to remove wet paint (other than a rag and water) is using a facial cleansing pad. Yes, you’ve read that right. Cleansing pads, especially those intended for oily or acne-prone skin, contain chemicals that can help break down the paint.
Identify the Type of Paint You’re Treating
Different types of paint are formulated with certain components that require specific products to break them down. Using soapy water to remove an oil-based paint stain, for example, is going to be a complete waste of time.
If you don’t know or don’t remember the type of paint you’ve used, just test the stain as we instructed at the very beginning of this article.
Clean the Wooden Floor First
This is probably obvious, but clean any dirt and grit from your wooden floor before removing the paint stains. Most of the removal methods we’ve mentioned here require that you scrub the area, and dirt can potentially scratch the surface of your flooring.
Avoid Harsh Chemicals
Paint remover, paint thinner, and acetone can get the job done very quickly, so it can be tempting to simply go for them and skip the non-toxic options. However, the harsh chemicals in them can cause great damage to your wooden floorboards. You might even need to replace them, which is exactly the unnecessary expense we were trying to avoid.
Household Items Can Be Useful
Sometimes the smallest and most common household items can surprise you. A credit card, for example, can replace a paint scraper, and a toothpick can be of great help if you need to lift up a corner of a stain or remove a very small one.
Moreover, if you don’t own a heat gun and don’t want to rent one, a hairdryer can be a solid alternative. Just use it as you would a heat gun, but using maximum heat instead, and it will help you loosen the paint from the surface of your floor. Keep in mind that using the hairdryer for a prolonged period of time might fry the motor, limiting the use to small stains.
Conclusion
Seeing a paint stain on your precious wooden floors might seem like an unsolvable tragedy, but before you replace the floorboards, you should consider following some of the paint removal methods we’ve suggested.
Sometimes using one approach won’t be enough, but likely, you can use a combination of several methods as long as they’re for the same type of paint.
Just remember to be gentle and avoid harsh chemicals as much as possible to protect the integrity of your floor!
