How to Get Oil Paint Out of Carpet

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When it comes to painting with oil paint, I always tell my painting students to work in an area with no carpeting. 

If this is not possible, I also give them tips on how to get oil paint out of their carpeting if they happen to spill any. Once that paint is dry, it is even more difficult to clean.

It is also important that you use the products properly. For instance, it is always better to blot than to scrub, because scrubbing will just rub the stain even deeper into the carpet fibers.

It is important to use the right products and methods to get paint out of carpeting. Luckily, you don’t need to spend a lot of money on expensive cleaning products to remove oil paint from carpets. You can use many household cleaners that you probably already have.

Keep reading to learn more about how to get oil paint out of a carpet after a painting party.

#1. Make Your Own Carpet Cleaner

I like to make my own carpet cleaner for cleaning oil paint. I always give this recipe to paint and sip party guests so they can make it later if they are working on other painting projects.

This carpet cleaner works much in the same way as Goo Gone, which is used for cleaning adhesives. This solution must be used with cold water rather than hot or warm water because cold water works better at getting rid of stains.

You will need to have some paint thinner, mineral spirits, dishwashing liquid, and hydrogen peroxide to create this cleaning solution, along with a clean rag.

Mix a few drops of the mineral spirits with a few drops of dishwashing liquid and a few drops of hydrogen peroxide. You may need more or less, depending on the size of the stain. I recommend using equal amounts of each ingredient.

Apply the mixture to the stain and dab it into the area with a soft cloth that has been dampened with paint thinner. 

Blot for a couple of minutes to loosen the paint. Then, use a sponge soaked in cold water to blot the area to get rid of any remaining paint. Allow the area to air dry.

#2. Use Turpentine to Remove Paint From Carpeting

Turpentine is often used as oil painting brush cleaner.

You can also use turpentine to remove paint from your carpeting. The only drawback to this method is that the fumes are pretty strong. This is not ideal if you have allergies or respiratory issues.

I recommend doing a spot test before cleaning the entire stain just to make sure that this method will work for your carpet.

You will need turpentine, paper towels, a clean cloth, and some dish detergent. Dab the cloth into a good amount of turpentine (I usually just pour the turpentine right onto the cloth). Blot the paint stain repeatedly until the paint lifts from the carpet fibers.

Use cold water and dish detergent to clean the turpentine from the carpet.

#3. Try Using Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol can also be used to remove paint from carpeting. Use a dull knife or a pair of pliers to pick off as much of the dried paint as possible first, then use your vacuum to get rid of paint chips.

Blot the stain with a piece of paper towel that has been soaked in rubbing alcohol. Do this for a few minutes, and then dab the area with a clean cloth that has been soaked in cold water to get rid of the rest of the stain.

Final Thoughts

There is one other method you can use to get oil paint out of your carpet, but I don’t recommend this for dark-colored carpets. Acetone will work, but it could cause the carpet color to fade.

The acetone will loosen the paint from the carpet fibers, and then you can easily clean it up. I suggest using a mixture of three parts cold water to one part acetone in a spray bottle. 

You can also learn how to use acetone to get oil paint out of clothes.

Cover the affected area with this mixture and blot with a clean rag. Once most of the paint stain is gone, you can dab the area with a piece of paper towel that has been soaked in cold water.

You don’t have to cry over spilled paint. As you can see, there are a few methods that will work to get the paint out of your carpet, and it will look almost as good as new again.

Don’t forget to check my guide on how to store oil paint to avoid spillage.

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