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Save Your Paint-Stained Clothes Using An Item You Already Have At Home
By MICHAEL ALEXANDER UCCELLO
Paint messes, whether from craft projects or renovations, are inevitable. Act fast and use hydrogen peroxide, a common household liquid, to tackle paint stains on clothes.
You can use hydrogen peroxide immediately on water-based paint stains, but should first pretreat oil-based stains with a solvent like turpentine to break down oily components.
Use a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide, a paint scraper, a clean cloth, and protective gloves. Test a small area of the fabric first to ensure it doesn’t affect the color.
For fresh stains, remove excess paint with a scraper before dabbing or spraying a small amount of the 3% hydrogen peroxide directly onto the stain. Let it sit for 10 minutes.
The hydrogen peroxide will soften the paint enough to gently scrape it off. Then, apply some warm water to the area and gently blot it with the cloth to absorb any loosened paint.
Once most of the paint has been removed, wash the garment according to the label. Avoid using an electric dryer, as the heat can set any remaining paint, and instead air dry it.
During this cleaning process, avoid mixing hydrogen peroxide with vinegar since it creates dangerous peracetic acid — and won’t help with the stain, per the Missouri Poison Center.