How do you get acrylic paint off shoes? There are actually several ways you can do this, although you may find that there is a bit of staining left behind. This is fine if you are planning on painting the shoes anyway.
One of the best ways I know of to bring new life to an old pair of shoes is to give them a facelift. I love using acrylic paints and acrylic paint pens to create fun designs on shoes, and I’ve gotten several compliments on the uniqueness of my footwear.
One of the best designs I did on a pair of shoes involved covering a pair of black dress shoes with gold music notes. I had designed a dress with gold music notes and just had to have shoes that matched.
Just like with any other type of painting, I have made mistakes while painting on shoes. Then, I had to figure out how to correct those mistakes.
Then there are those times when I have spilled a bit of paint on my shoes, and I had to take quick steps to clean off the paint.
Getting acrylic paint off shoes isn’t easy, but it can be done. I know, because I’ve done it on more than one occasion. There are a few different ways that you can do this, and I have experimented with a couple of the methods, which I am going to talk about today.
Continue reading to learn how to get acrylic paint off shoes.
Four Methods of Removing Paint From Shoes
The methods of removing paint from shoes will work for both wet and dry paint. The soap and water method is best for wet paint, and the other methods will work if the paint is wet or dry.
I have used all of these methods to get paint out of clothing and shoes, even leather shoes.
Can You Remove Paint From Canvas Shoes?
You can also use any of these methods to remove paint from canvas shoes. If the shoe has been dyed and is not white, you will need to be careful that you don’t get any of the solvents on the dyed part of the shoe.
The solvents could cause that color to fade, and there won’t be much you can do to fix that (besides painting a cool design on the shoes to hide the mistake, which will give you a new, cool pair of shoes).
#1. Try Soap and Water First
Before you try using any solvents to get rid of the paint, try using soap and water. This works quite well if the paint is still wet.
Use a very gentle soap or dish liquid and mix it with warm water. Dip a clean cloth into the water and then rub it onto the area where you made the mistake.
Gently rub the area until you see the paint lifting off. Keep doing this until you have gotten rid of all of the paint, and then rinse with clear water. Allow the shoe to dry before you start painting again.
#2. Use Acetone Nail Polish Remover
Another trick that often works to remove wet paint from shoes involves using nail polish remover. If you are going to try this, make sure that the polish remover contains acetone. Non-acetone polish remover will not work.
The first step is to make sure that you don’t end up getting the polish remover on the soles, especially if they are rubber. The acetone will cause the rubber soles to pretty much melt and turn to goop.
So, cover the sides of the soles with masking tape. This will not only prevent you from getting acetone on them but also some of the paint you are trying to remove.
Once the soles are taped, apply the polish remover to a piece of cotton or a scrap of clean cloth. If the mistake is small, I suggest using a Q-Tip to avoid getting the acetone on the paint that is near the mistake.
Rub the polish remover all over the area where you made the mistake. This should remove most of the paint. Make sure you don’t rub too hard, as you could end up damaging the shoe when your ultimate goal is to make the shoe look cool.
If there is still some paint remaining, use an X-acto knife to scrape it away. Now you should be able to go back and paint over it and fix the mistake.
#3. Get a Bottle of Goo Gone
There is a product that many people use to remove sticky residue from price tags, tape, etc from items. Goo Gone is a blessing in disguise, and it really works. It can also be used to remove paint from shoes.
Again, be sure to cover the sides of the soles with tape to make sure you don’t get the Goo Gone on the soles. Once you have covered this area with tape, apply the Goo Gone to the area you need to fix.
This is a spray, so be careful to not get any of the Goo Gone onto other parts of the shoe. Use a Q-tip to make sure it covers the entire area you wish to repair.
Sit back and relax for a few minutes while the Goo Gone dries. Once it has dried you can use an X-acto knife to scrape away any excess paint.
#4. Rubbing Alcohol May Work
Another option is to try using rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol acts as a solvent, and it can be used to remove paint from many objects.
You don’t have to worry about taping off the soles for this method, because the alcohol isn’t likely going to damage them in any way.
Apply a little bit of the alcohol onto a cotton ball, and then rub it onto the area where you made the mistake. Make sure that you start at the outside of the mistake and work your way to the middle.
If you work from the middle and go outwards, you could end up getting the alcohol on areas where you don’t want any paint removed. You may need to repeat this process a few times to remove as much of the paint as possible.
After you have removed the paint, clean the show with warm, soapy water to get rid of any rubbing alcohol residue.
Remove Dried Paint From Shoes
The methods I have mentioned work well when the paint is still somewhat wet. But, what if the paint has dried? Can you still remove it from the shoe?
While you may not be able to get rid of all of the paint, you can remove enough of it to be able to paint over the area and fix the mistake.
First, brush off as much of the dry paint as possible using a toothbrush. You may be able to use an X-acto knife to pick off smaller stains.
Once you remove the dried layer, you will be able to start removing the stain that is left behind. Mix one part mild dish liquid with one part warm water, and apply it to a clean cloth.
Rub the soap and water mixture onto the area and work it into the stain. Keep repeating this until you have gotten all, or at least most of the stain out.
Conclusion
If you get paint on your shoes, or you make a mistake while painting a pair of shoes, don’t panic. While it does take a bit of effort, it is possible to remove the paint.
As I mentioned, be sure to always tape off the sole of the shoe so you don’t get any solvents on the rubber. Also, only work in small areas to make sure you don’t end up ruining a design you have painted, or any other part of the shoe.
This is particularly important if you have spilled paint because you don’t want to get solvents on the unpainted parts of the shoe.
Sari Green is a semi-professional artist and professional writer. She has been hosting paint & sip parties for the past couple of years, and truly enjoys helping other people to create their very own masterpieces. She loves to create, and you never know what she’s going to come up with next!