Acrylic is one of the most popular mediums used for creating art. It is very easy to use, however, like any other materials, acrylic paints can leave some residue behind when you wash your clothes.
Acrylic paint will sometimes pick up dust or dirt while you are painting so it will not completely dry. This can result in some white streaks on your painted item which may be difficult to cover with additional layers of paint.
It is important to learn how to get rid of acryllic paint from clothing because it can become more than just an annoying cosmetic issue. If you let the paint run into your next project, it may even cost you money if you have to start over!
There are several methods that work quite well for getting acrylic out of whites clothes. Read on to find out what types of items cannot be covered in these techniques and what works best for them.
Use apple cider vinegar
One of our favorite ways to get rid of paint is by using acid! There are many products that claim to work, but we have found one solution that does not cost too much and works great.
Apple cider vinegar is an inexpensive natural product that you can use in your home to eliminate most types of paints. It removes glue as well!
You can mix it with water and apply it directly onto the painted area or use the cleaner already prepared. Let sit for a minute and then rinse thoroughly. Repeat if necessary.
ACV has been known to work for people who want to get rid of white under-eye concealers because its cream color makes it blend in better.
Use denatured (spicy) alcohol
For anyone who has ever tried to wash white clothing that got acrylic paint on it, you have probably given up. It can be tricky to get all of the painted layers out without ruining the fabric.
The trick is using denaturing agents to break down the acrylic gel. Denaturants are products like alcohols or acids that disrupt the bond between molecules in the material.
Some common denatureing agents include water, acetic acid, vinegar, and alcohols with high boiling points.
Use rubbing alcohol
For anyone who has ever tried to paint with acrylic paints, you have most likely run into a problem at some point. You start painting and then try to take your hand out of the can or dip it in an area where there is no can, and then water starts seeping out!
This happens because there is a thin layer of plastic coating the can that protects the liquid inside the can from interacting with the skin. When you wash your hands or dip them in an empty container, this protective layer breaks down which allows for wetting to occur.
So how do we solve this problem? Simply use rubbing alcohol! Rubbing alcohol works as a good solvent so it will dissolve the current coat of the paint and expose the liquid underneath. Apply small amounts directly onto the areas where there are drips and the alcohol will work to remove the paint.
Use regular oil
If you have not yet cleaned your white clothes from acrylic paint, then it is time to do so! Simply wash them in water with some of your favorite oil (sunflower or olive oil are great options). Once they are dried, apply the oil and leave it to soak in for an hour or two.
Then, take them out and roll them up in a new sheet of paper. This will pull off any remaining paint that has seeped into the fabric. Let sit overnight and repeat this process the next day until there is no trace left.
Use baking soda
If you are trying to remove paint or gel polish from white clothing, your best bet is using acdiclyl bsoda. Mix one part baking sodde with water in an empty glass bowl and apply it directly onto the surface of the paint.
Let it sit for several minutes until the acid and alkaline components work together and begin removing the top layer of the paint. Continue doing this as needed until no more changes occur. Then wash the item in detergent and water to cleanse it!
Acid-base chemistry is what allows us to do things like dissolve metals such as cleaning hard disks or computers.
Use vinegar
For anyone who has ever tried to wash their favorite white shirt or dress that got stuck or stained with acrylic paint, you have probably run out of options.
Acrylic is a very versatile liquid art medium that can be painted onto almost anything. It usually starts as oil paints which are mixed together and then heated until they turn into a solid state. A brush is used to apply the painting coat by coating the surface and letting some dry or set up before adding another layer.
When working with acrylics, make sure to let it fully cool down before washing it as otherwise the acidity in the water could react with the paint and start breaking down the structure. Unfortunately, most people do not know how to take care of dirty acrylic paintings so this is often the last option!
Luckily, there is an easy solution that does work! Just use distilled (or clear) alcohol instead of regular drinking water and see what happens. The alcohol will remove the paint easily without damaging the surface too much.
You may need to try this tip several times because it may go away more slowly than average.
Use water
For people who are more experienced with painting, getting acrylic paint out of white clothing can be tricky. If you do not treat your clothes properly, however, some colors may run or even wash away completely.
Acrylic is very fluid so it will soak into whatever material it touches quickly. That means if you try rubbing the paint off onto another surface, such as wood, it could bleed all over that area.
Instead, we suggest trying one of our many tips here for how to get rid of painted dirt from white shirts. The best way to remove acrylic paint from white cotton is by using an alcohol-based cleaner. You can also use dry shampoo instead!
Dry shampoo is a product designed to be used at the end of day to give your hair volume and bounce. It works by absorbing excess hairspray and other residue in the scalp.
Use a mixture of oils and water
If you have not yet painted your white clothing, there is something you can do to get rid of that acrylic paint! Simply mix some oil with water and use that as a wash to remove the paint.
You can choose from many types of oil such as olive or coconut oil to work better in this case.
After the wash has dried, repeat these steps for the second time to fully remove the paint.