For many people, investing in acrylic paint is their favorite way to update their wardrobe or start painting! They love how easy it is to use and how durable most versions are.
But have you ever heard of someone trying to wash their painted jeans with water? It’s like washing silk shirts with alcohol!
Some artists even mix regular water with acetone (a chemical used for cleaning plastic) to try and see if they can remove the paint but none has been successful.
It depends on the paint
Many people believe that painting with acrylics will not wash off of your clothing, but this is not always the case. Different paints do different things, so it helps to know what kind of paint you have before determining if this is true or false.
Acrylic gel coats are very durable, which is why most professional artists use them. They hang up their paintings on canvas or stretcher bars and then sand or scrape away the coating to reveal the raw, painted surface. This gives the painting more depth and makes it feel special because you had to work for it.
However, these same qualities make it difficult to remove the coat when the painting is finished. If you want to try working in layers, start with a simple layer of gelcoat and see how it works for you!
If you love laying down many thin layers of color, then switching over to oils might be better for you. Oils are much thinner than gelcoats, so they can be spread out slightly faster.
You have to wash it properly
When washing your new coat, make sure you use an appropriate amount of water and do not pull the brush through too fast as this can create clogs.
Acrylic paint is typically very durable so if you are able to rinse off most of it then your painting isn’t spoiled!
However, some people believe that acrylic paints will always come out in pieces when washed which could be confusing for beginners.
This article will talk about how to clean acrylic paintings and what types of cleaning agents are needed depending on the size of the painting and the type of texture or pattern you want to keep.
You shouldn’t wear clothes that can be stained
Recent reports claim that using regular water or inexpensive washes will not remove all of the acrylic paint from your jeans! Some brands even recommend washing with fabric softeners to help prevent cracking and fading of the material!
This is totally false! Using alcohol or expensive gel cleansers WILL remove ALL OF THE PAINT FROM YOUR JEANS!
Acrylic paints are designed to stick to almost any surface, which is why it is very difficult to wash them off without removing some of the luster and texture of the painted area. Because they contain drying agents such as polymers, acetone, and ethanol, most types of acrylic paint will easily soak into the fibers of clothing to form a protective layer. This helps retain the color and texture of the new coat of paint you just applied!
If someone tries to clean you with plain water or an unscented soap, these chemicals in the paint would probably react with the dried down acrylic, stripping away some of its protection and leaving you with a grayish cast or possibly completely destroying the original color.
Some brands of jeans are stain resistant
Many people have been talking about whether or not acrylic paint will wash off of some types of denim clothing. This has got some creating controversy and discussions.
Acrylic is typically made out of polymers which combine together to form molecules. These molecules link up with other chemicals in water, forming compounds.
Some companies add an additional chemical compound to prevent this linking from happening so that you can’t actually see what your clothes are covered in!
This sometimes makes it hard to determine if your shirt is really stained or if it just looks that way because it doesn’t wear down easily. It also helps keep the fabric smooth and shiny like plastic instead of dull and matte like normal cotton cloth.
However, these additives may break down more quickly than typical powdery substances such as talc. That could leave bits of pigment behind which would show through later.
You should always test it on an inconspicuous place on the garment
Even though acrylic paint is considered a non-solvent material, that doesn’t mean you can throw it onto any surface and have great results. That isn’t practical or reliable, and wouldn’t work with most other types of painting!
Acrylic paints are usually mixed using a brush or palette knife and then applied to your canvas or project. Because they’re not dissolved in solvent like oils, glues, or watercolors, their consistency is much thicker than those materials.
That means if you try to wash them off the painted item, they’ll just run down the fabric instead. They may also smear or even soak into the underlayer of the clothing, changing how the piece fits.
Wash in cold water
When washing your painted jeans, make sure you wash them in cool or cold water to avoid fading or removing too much paint. Cold water also helps spread out any hairs that got stuck in the fabric while wearing it, preventing hairline cracks.
When drying your painted clothes, use a lint free cloth and hang them up using a hook or rack to prevent wrinkling.
Use a soft cloth
When washing your painted jeans, make sure you use a clean, lint-free cloth. A microfiber cloth is the best option as it does not contain latex or chemical fibers that could potentially be transferred onto other surfaces.
Acrylic paint can sometimes wash off of fabrics in an alcohol-based solution. However, this does not mean that it will never come back!
It may take several washes to remove all of the acrylic paint, but with the right care, it should only take one time. Make sure to rinse thoroughly and pull up any hairs that might get stuck in the fabric to prevent bald spots.
Let it dry completely
When washing your painted jeans, make sure to wash them as soon as possible after painting! Doing this before drying makes the paint more susceptible to being washed off.
After you have finished cleaning your painted item, let it air-dry for at least an hour or two before putting it in the washer. This will ensure that no water is able to soak into the acrylic coating which could cause fading or even damage the material.
Acrylic paints are designed to easily be rubbed off of clothing so if you ever see that happening try not to worry too much about it. They will usually come out in one piece unless there are very strong fibers like wool where they may begin to break down a bit.