Acrylic is a beautiful, vibrant material that can be painted onto almost anything! However, like any other materials, it comes with its own set of limitations. One such limitation is how long acrylic paint will last depending on the use.
Acrylic paints are very durable but they cannot stand water for too long of a time period. When painting with acrylics, make sure you do not soak your item in water or expose it to liquid for longer than needed as this could cause the paint to run, smear, or even wash off!
Some people believe that some brands of acrylic paint are water resistant and others are not, so here we will discuss whether or not regular, average quality acrylic paints are able to withstand water! Let’s find out together!
Disclaimer: This article should serve only as general advice for creating artwork using acrylic paints. Although these tips seem helpful, please remember that we are no experts in professional grade art supplies so please exercise caution when handling them.
What is acrylic paint?
Acrylic paints are some of the most popular painting mediums out there! They’re characterized by their smooth, glossy surface and rich depth of color. Like any other kind of paint, they can be washed with water or not.
Acrylic paintings that are left exposed to air will eventually dry, but those who painted using them before knew that already!
However, recent reports indicate that many brands of acrylic paint are actually an oil base instead of an acid-base one. These types of oils need to be heated in order to melt down and wash off, making it more difficult to accurately predict how long they last without being touched.
Given this information, it may be best to avoid washing your paintwork unless you are sure what products you have and how they work. We recommend reading our article about the different types of brushes so you know which ones are waterproof!
Warning! Acrylic Paint May Be More Hazardous Than You Realize!
As mentioned above, some brands of acrylic paint contain oils as a base rather than vinegar or alcohol. These oils require heat in order to completely dissolve, making it harder to determine if a brush was used previously. If possible, we suggest buying bronzers, white, or soft pastel style acrylic paints to reduce the risk of having to rewash your painting later.
Difference between oil and acrylic paint
While some types of liquid acrylic paints are water-soluble, this does not apply to all brands or varieties. As mentioned before, most acrylic paint is made up of two components: polymer and solvent. The solvent that works with different colors varies from brand to brand.
Some types of alcohol solvents will not work with certain shades of acrylic paint because they are too strong of a solvent. These types of liquids can be mixed into your painting with no problems, but it may take longer for the paint to fully dry.
Water is the universal solvent, which means that it will dissolve any kind of paint! Mixing one bottle of acrylic paint in a glass bowl full of water will remove all of the paint’s protective layers and chemicals.
However, taking extra precautions can prevent this from happening. Only use a small amount of water, test a little bit on a non-important area first, and let sit for only a few minutes before washing off.
Can I wash my acrylic painting?
When talking about whether or not you can wash your acrylic painting, there are two main questions to ask yourself. First, is it possible to remove all of the paint from the surface? And second, will washing the painting affect the texture and look of the piece?
It is very easy to take clean water and wipe off most paints using a soft, porous material like paper towels. Just make sure that you do not use alcohol-based cleaners as they may react with the resin in the paint.
Some artists believe that leaving your painting alone is the best way to preserve and enhance the integrity of the work. Others feel that cleaning your canvas is an integral part of the creative process.
How to wash your painting
When washing your painting, make sure you use a soft brush or palette knife to apply water!
Acrylic is a chemical compound that contains polymers which create its unique qualities. As it dries, the molecules link together to form solid layers of paint. This makes it durable, but also creates one more thing for your skin or hair to stick onto if any part of your painting comes in contact with it!
The easiest way to avoid this is to use a soft brush or palette knife when applying water. A soft plastic blade can be used to gently scrape off excess acrylic without using abrasive chemicals such as alcohol.
After cleaning your painting, let it air dry carefully! Don’t try rolling it up under a heavy object or letting it soak into porous material like cardboard, because this could cause damage to the surface.
Will my painting wash off?
While some brands of acrylic paints are designed to be water-resistant, this does not mean they can’t be washed with water!
Acrylic paint is usually made up of three main components: pigment, resin, and solvent. The proportions of these components determine the colors and qualities of the finished product.
The solvent component can sometimes include additional agents such as softeners or stabilizers that help make the paint more durable. However, these additives do not prevent the paint from being washed away.
In fact, many artists believe it is important to use oils or alcohol as a cleaning agent for your paintings because the alcohol breaks down the residual adhesive in the painted surface and allows for easier washing.
However, there are some types of acrylics that contain special chemicals which work like glue and cannot be removed easily without using strong solvents. These kinds of paints should be used with caution unless you have proper training and know what will affect the texture and look of the final piece.
Will the paint damage my surface?
Most acrylic paints are not water soluble, which means they will eventually fade or even completely wash off your painting! This can be a good thing or bad thing depending on what you want to do with your piece.
If you want to restore the painted area, then using alcohol or other solvent cleaners may work. Just make sure it is pure alcohol (never mixed with another liquid) and no lye (sodium hydroxide).
Acids such as vinegar also cannot be used because they will eat away at the protective coating of the acrylic paint.
Will the paint damage my clothing?
Although some brands of acrylic paints are made to be water soluble, this does not mean they are safe for use with wet clothes or materials. Some types of acrylic gel coatings contain chemicals that can actually bond to porous surfaces such as silk, cotton, wool, and leather, so do not try washing these fabrics in water if you can avoid it.
Acrylics containing polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) will usually break down into components that are either dissolved in water or melted away, but there is no guarantee what kind of chemical residue remains. Since most people wash their clothes in hot water, this could also potentially burn or irritate your skin.
Are all acrylic paints washable?
Technically, yes! Most brands of latex or waterbased acrylic paint are “washable” in that you can take a wet brush full of paint and wipe it off against any surface.
That means you can clean your painted object using a damp cloth or paper towel. But this is extremely discouraged because it may damage the paint!
Acrylics contain chemicals called polymers which help them stick to other materials like skin, hair, etc. When you wash the paint off, these bonds are broken, so the paint will come off more easily. This could also cause your skin or clothing to become stained from the acids in the paint.