Keep Your Child’s Artwork on Paper, Not Your Carpet

Apr 27, 2018

Receiving a piece of artwork from our kids or grandkids is one of the best kinds of gifts to get. However, our carpets may also become a piece of that artwork. The good news is that you can save your carpet. Here are a few tips for cleaning paint, crayon and more from your carpet.

How To Treat Wet Paint on Carpet

Choosing which method to remove the stain depends on the severity of the spill. Paint is actually fairly easy to remove from carpet, so don’t you stress! There is a good chance that your carpets will look as good as new. Do your best to preserve as much of the carpet fibers as possible.

keep paint off the carpet
Most important, be sure not to scrub the spot! Scrubbing will make the paint go deeper into the fiber making it much harder to remove. Instead, first soak up the paint with a towel. Try not to panic and remove as much of the paint as possible with the clothe.

Avoid blotting the spot with the towel. As that will do the same as scrubbing the paint, it will push the stain deeper. Simply lay the paper towel and let it do the work. Repeat this process until most or very little moisture is left.

After soaking the spot, let the area dry over night. I know that it may seem crazy, but this is the best way to remove the stain.

Removing Dry Paint From Carpet

Once the paint has dried overnight, try one of the following options.

  • Now it would be appropriate to scrub the area with a rag. The dried paint should break up into pieces, which you can then vacuum up. Be sure to make a few passes to pick up all the paint pieces.
  • Use a knife or razor blade to pick off the chunks of dried paint, but be extra careful not to cut the carpet.
  • If the two previous options aren’t working, try nail polish remover. Use a brush or towel to gently dab it onto the dried paint. Avoid using too much. The solvent can eat away at the adhesive on the back of your carpet. The paint should begin to fade and become more fragile. Afterwards, go over the area with a vacuum to clean up the area.
  • WD-40 may do the trick. This solvent does a good job at breaking down the paint. Spray the affected area with the WD-40 then let it sit for about 25-30 minutes. Gently dab the area with a rag, rinse with water and then vacuum the remaining paint pieces.
  • After trying these methods, you should still have your carpets professionally cleaned to make sure the stain is entirely removed.

Contact Chem-Dry of Santa Clarita Valley for your professional carpet cleaning. We offer Healthy Cleaning Solutions that are safe for your little artists and work effectively in your home. Schedule your appointment today!