Home Garden

How to Get Paint Off a Fabric Chair

Whether you are painting a room and accidentally spatter paint or your young children leave a paint smudge after an art project, paint on a fabric chair is not a cause for alarm. After you determine whether the paint is water- or oil-based, some simple products and a little scrubbing should remove the stain and have your chair looking clean in no time.

Things You'll Need

  • Plastic putty knife
  • Water
  • Liquid dish soap
  • Sponge
  • Turpentine
  • Bar soap
  • Clean, white cloth
Show More

Instructions

  1. Water-Based Paint

    • 1

      Scrape as much paint off the fabric as possible, using the putty knife.

    • 2

      Mix a solution of 1 part dish soap and 1 part water. Dab a little of this solution on a small, inconspicuous spot of the fabric to test for colorfastness. Rinse and let it dry. If the fabric appears damaged or discolored in any way, stop and consult a professional cleaner.

    • 3

      Dab the stain with a sponge dipped in the dish soap solution. Rinse with clean water and repeat until the paint is removed.

    Oil-Based Paint

    • 4

      Scrape as much paint off the fabric as possible, using the putty knife.

    • 5

      Dab turpentine on a sponge and apply on a small, inconspicuous spot of the fabric to test for colorfastness. Rinse and let it dry. If the fabric appears damaged or discolored in any way, stop and consult a professional cleaner.

    • 6

      Dab the stain with a sponge dipped in turpentine. Rinse with clean water and repeat if necessary.

    • 7

      Rub the stain with a bar of soap, then rinse with clean water and a white cloth.