Don't Worry — It's Easy to Get Acrylic Paint Out of Clothes If You Follow These Steps

Picking up the art of painting is a wonderful hobby that can teach discipline and help you feel creatively unburdened. However, a somewhat inevitable consequence of painting is getting paint on your clothes (or, hopefully, just a smock).

Don't fret, as we have ideas to help you safely remove acrylic paint from your clothes so you can go about your day enjoying your hobby. It's always best to avoid harmful chemicals whenever possible, so we recommend checking the labels of your impacted clothes to ensure the cleaning methods below won't interact with the materials and make matters worse.

According to Better Homes & Gardens, getting wet acrylic paint out of clothes is significantly more doable than removing dried acrylic paint from clothes.

Once you notice the acrylic paint has made contact with your garment, remove it immediately. If a large dollop of paint is now calling your clothes home, an item like a zero-waste cutlery spoon can help scoop most of the offending stain before proceeding.

Then, you will want to rinse the article of clothing under cold water. Per Better Homes & Gardens, a helpful trick is to turn the clothing inside out and run the water through the back side of the clothing so that the water, ideally, pushes the paint away from the fabric as opposed to being embedded deeper within the fabric.

Be sure to remove as much of the stain as possible before pre-treating it with your favorite trustworthy laundry soap before laundering it. Remember that once the garment goes in the dryer, the heat will make the stain significantly more permanent.

Of course, cleaning an acrylic paint stain with cold water and pre-treating it with a touch of laundry soap is the ideal scenario, as no planet-damaging chemicals are needed. However, if the stain is a stubborn one and doesn't respond to the strategy above, there are still ways to save your garment and limit your use of heavy chemicals.

According to Art Supplies Australia, rubbing the stain with dish soap and rinsing the stain under warm water may do the trick.

If your eco-friendly dish soap alone isn't finishing the job, or if the stain has dried and has settled into the fabric, Art Supplies Australia also recommends the "powerful combination" of equal parts baking soda, dish soap, and rubbing alcohol until a paste is formed. Let the mixture settle into the stain for about 15 minutes after you've applied it, then scrub it carefully with an old toothbrush and rinse when you're done.

While some sources recommend paint thinners, nail polish removers, or more concentrated types of alcohol, the potential for endangering yourself, your loved ones, and companion animals is high — not to mention that these solutions may ruin your garment altogether.

Eco-friendly dry cleaners exist, and while their cleaning materials may be stronger than what you have at home, their practices are rooted in planet-friendly practices.