How to get paint out of the carpet
While this might feel like the perfect time to redecorate, updating your home doesn't come without its risks. And anyone who has ever spent an afternoon with a paint roller in hand will know the feeling of dread that comes with spotting a rogue paint splash on your beloved carpet.
Thankfully, if you've had an accident, all is not lost. Here, cleaning blogger Lynsey Crombie aka Lynsey Queen of Clean shares her top tips on how to get paint out of the carpet.
If you've just noticed a spot of paint, first of all, try not to panic. "Most paint comes out relatively easy," says Lynsey. But certain paint types behave differently, so knowing how to tackle each is important.
Latex or oil-based paint: "Warm water and washing-up liquid should be enough to remove latex or oil-based paint stains," says Lynsey. "If a stain is proving to be difficult to remove, applying a capful of white vinegar directly to the stain will help soften and release it. Alternatively, you can use a steam cleaner."
Acrylic paint: "Acrylic paint is harder get out," says Lynsey. "If you have some WD40 at home, add a squirt of this to the stain, let it sit for 30 minutes and then rinse and pat using warm soapy water and a paper towel. If you're nervous about using particular products on your carpet, test a patch under your sofa first."
Bill SykesGetty Images"If the paint is wet, before you grab a bowl of water and your cleaning products,try to soak up as much of the paint as you can," says Lynsey. "You can do this by using some paper towel. Don't rub – this will only make it worse – instead, place the paper towel over the paint stain and very gently pat down on the carpet. Make sure you're constantly moving or changing the paper towel as you do this so you're effectively removing the paint rather than reapplying.
"Once you've removed as much of the wet paint as you can, apply some water and a little washing-up liquid. Use a scrubbing brush and very gently scrub, working in the direction of your carpet, then cover with a white cloth or towel and gently pat. Using a white cloth means you'll be able to see how much of the paint you're actually removing from your carpet."
"If you spot a dry paint stain that has been there for a while and has hardened up, use a blunt knife to scrap away any paint that you can before scrubbing and patting, using the same method as above," says Lynsey. "If it's a really stubborn stain and is proving hard to remove, use a steam cleaner – the hot steam should help to release the stain and bring it back to the surface of your carpet, allowing you to then add the water and washing-up liquid and scrub."
So there you have it. You'll be smiling at your sparkling clean carpet in no time.The Easy Life: Quick Ways to Manage Your Home All Year Round by Lynsey Queen of Clean (£9.99) is available on Amazon
The Easy Life: Quick ways to clean and manage your home all year roundamazon.co.uk£7.79SHOP NOWLike this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox.
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