If you’re struggling to get paint off hardwood floors or don’t know where to begin, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, I will provide you with a few step-by-step guides on how to get paint off hardwood floors. So, next time you make a mess redecorating your home, you have a few different methods for cleaning paint off your hardwood floors.
Without further ado, let’s get into it.
There are a variety of different ways to remove paint from hardwood floors. That being said, before you get started removing paint spills off your hardwood floors, you will first need to establish what kind of paint it is.
This comes down to the fact that different paints require different cleaning methods, and it will be futile to waste your time on an ineffective method that isn’t meant for the type of paint that you’re attempting to remove.
To establish what paint you have stuck to your floor, dampen a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol and wipe it over the paint. If any residue is left on the cotton ball, then the paint is water-based. If nothing comes off when you swipe the cotton ball over the paint, then it is an oil-based paint.
Once you have established which paint you’ve got on your hardwood floor, you can set about choosing a cleaning method. Below are two cleaning methods for both water-based and oil-based paints.
A Guide On How To Get Water-Based Paint Off Hardwood Floors With Soap And Water
Step One– To begin, you will first need to mix dish soap with warm water in a bucket.
Step Two– Next, you need to take a clean cloth, and dampen the entire surface of the painted floor with the soapy water.
Although the surface should be damp, you should make sure that the surface isn’t soaking wet.
Step Three– Allow the soapy water to sit on the surface for a few minutes, allowing the paint to loosen a little before you begin to clean it.
Step Four – Once the warm soapy water has worked its magic, it’s time to take the wet rag and scrub the hardwood floor. This might require quite a bit of elbow grease, depending on how long the paint splatters have been left to dry on the hardwood floor.
Step Five – Keep scrubbing the floor until it is clean, being careful to ring out the wet cloth into the bucket every now and again to prevent the floor from becoming too wet.
Step Six– Use a dry cloth to wipe away any moisture and leftover paint splatters.
Step Seven– If some stubborn dry paint still remains on the floor, use a scraper to remove these last little bits being careful to not damage the floor.
A Guide On How To Get Water-Based Paint Off Hardwood Floors With Rubbing Alcohol
Step One – To start, you will need to make a rubbing alcohol and lemon juice mixture by combining three parts rubbing alcohol with one part lemon juice.
Note: The quantity of this mixture that you’ll require will depend on how much of your wooden floor is covered in paint.
Step Two– Taking a clean, dry rag and dipping it into the rubbing alcohol and lemon juice mixture, coat the paint and allow the mixture to sit until the paint begins to soften.
Step Three– Once you have allowed the mixture to work its magic, it’s time to get scrubbing. Scrub the paint with the damp rag with the addition of a small brush for the more stubborn paint to remove all the paint.
Step Four – Once you have removed the paint, completely dry and polish the floor up with a dry cloth.
Step Five– If any paint still remains, you can gently use a paint scraper to remove it completely. Clean up any dry paint with a vacuum cleaner.
A Guide On How To Get Oil-Based Paint Off Hardwood Floors With Paint Removal Solvent
Step One– Firstly, you will need to use a clean rag and dampen it with the bottle of removal solvent. Apply to the area of the hardwood floor that is covered with paint with removal solvent.
Step Two– Next, you will need to check the back of the bottle of the removal solvent for the recommended time. Leave the removal solvent to soak for this amount of time in order to break the paint down for you to be able to remove it.
Step Three– Using a dry cloth, wipe away the paint and excess solvent off your floors. Depending on how thick the paint is, this might take a little time.
Step Four– If there is still paint on the floor after this process, then you will need to carefully use a paint scraper to remove it.
A Guide On How To Get Oil-Based Paint Off Hardwood Floors With Paint Thinner
Step One– To begin, you will need to soak a bit of your clean cloth in paint thinner or mineral spirits.
Step Two– Once you have dampened your cloth in paint thinner, begin applying it to the paint on your hardwood floor.
Step Three– You will need to keep coating part of your cloth in paint thinner and rub the floorboards in sections, as paint thinners evaporate fairly quickly. Keep rubbing the area until all of the paint has been removed from the floor.
Step Four– You will need to wipe away any excess paint thinner from your floor once you’ve removed the paint.
Step Five– If there is any paint left, you can carefully remove it with a piece of sandpaper or a paint scraper, being mindful to not damage the floor.
Are Oil-Based Or Water-Based Paints Better?
Both oil-based and water-based paint have their uses. Oil-based paint is often associated with durability, as it dries harder and is therefore resistant to wear and tear.
Water-based paints, on the other hand, are less susceptible to cracking, as they are able to contract and expand during a variety of different weather conditions.
Which paint you use in your home is entirely up to you and your preference, but will also likely be determined by the project itself.
In Summary
So, there you have it. Hopefully after reading the various methods that you can use to remove paint off hardwood floors, hopefully you have a better idea of how to clean your hardwood floors.
Which method you use will depend on the type of paint that is on your hardwood floors, so be sure to use the cotton wool test beforehand to determine which type of paint you are removing.
