How to get paint off laminate flooring easily

One of the first aspects to be seen in a house is the paint with which its walls are decorated. This is one of the most important elements in achieving a warm and welcoming home. Once a room is built and ready, the next step is to choose a color to paint it, and this is where the problems begin. Although the task of painting walls is not difficult, it is somewhat problematic. Even if newspapers or other protective elements are used, the floor can be stained in the process.

This can vary in severity depending on the type of floor and how quickly the paint drips are removed. If you haven’t been able to react in time, you may need this little guide on how to get paint off laminate flooring.

The main problem arises when the paint has already dried and remains as a stain on the floor. Most users will choose to use mild cleaners in these cases, but they are not aware that this could be a mistake.

Despite the superior strength of the laminate floor, it still needs to be treated with care if you don’t want the remedy to be worse than the disease. And unfortunately, water is probably no longer useful in these cases.

Today you will learn a way of cleaning that will not compromise the condition of your floor, and that is as effective as the more abrasive techniques. The best thing is that you will only need common cleaning implements and basic protective equipment.

Here are some of the most commonly used methods to remove paint from laminate floors.

How to get paint off laminate flooring using homemade methods

The perfect mixture of vinegar and alcohol

The first recommendation to remove paint from laminate floors is an option that you can make by mixing a couple of common ingredients. You will mix equal parts of water, rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol), and white vinegar. To this abrasive mixture, you will also add a bit of liquid soap, and you will mix it again. The compound will be ready when it begins to foam abundantly.

Before removing dried paint from the laminate floor, you should make sure to clean it to remove any possible debris. Otherwise, specks of dust or other dirt may scratch it when you use a cloth to spread the previously made homemade solution.

Now that you have a clean laminate floor, you can proceed to clean the paint stains with the homemade mix. To use it, simply moisten a rag or paper towel with the compound and scrub the affected area multiple times in a circular motion.

If the dried paint does not come out easily from the floors, you can try making the mixture denser in one of its compounds depending on your need. For example, if the paint that caused the stain is water-based, you can add a few drops of vinegar to the mix. If it’s oil-based or latex paint, adding a little more rubbing alcohol or soap should be the answer.

Dish soap is perfect for smoothing stains

Dish soap is a component that weakens the grip of stains on surfaces. This is what makes it so effective when cleaning dishes.

In the same way, dish soap can be used for different maintenance in the home. One of its best uses is as a dry paint stain remover.

Its biggest advantage is that it is a soft product. It will not damage the integrity of the surface where it is applied no matter how many times it is used.

Nail polish remover is your best friend

A classic homemade solution to remove paint is the use of acetone found in nail polish remover. This compound is widely used as a paint thinner thanks to the chemical action it generates.

Its application is simple: you just have to place a little of the nail polish remover on a cloth or rag and scrub the floor as the previous method. However, this time you will let the compound act on its own on the surface for at least 10 minutes. This should make the paint separates from the surface and easy to remove.

Sometimes you may have to repeat the process multiple times to remove dried paint. If the stains still don’t come off, you just need to apply a new layer of nail polish remover each time it evaporates. If after several attempts it still does not come off, then you will have to try another method.

Increases abrasiveness with the use of ammonia

If the acetone fails, you will have to increase the cleaning intensity. We will start by testing the softest commercial product to avoid damaging the floor.

The first on the list is ammonia. This compound forms an alkaline solution capable of passing through layers of sulfur and other chemicals. It is for this reason that it is added to many cleaning products.

The most recommended way to use it is in the form of a window cleaner. You will only have to spray the floor you want to clean with the window cleaner and let it sit for a few minutes. Similar to acetate, ammonia should soften paint stains so they are easy to remove with a cloth.

You can help with the removal process by applying a little warm water with the cloth. In addition, a soft-bristle brush will help to remove larger sections of the stain.

How to get paint off laminate flooring using paint remover

In case none of the methods mentioned above have worked to remove dry paint stains, the next solution is to resort to a specialized product.

A paint remover is the best option in case a stain doesn’t finish coming out using the previously mentioned methods. This is not extremely abrasive enough to damage the floor, but it can be somewhat more expensive and delicate to use.

Its application is similar to that of other options. Pour the product on the floor you want to clean, wait a couple of minutes for it to take effect, and then remove it using a cloth dampened in warm or hot water.

Some manufacturers have specific instructions to follow for using the remover, so it is advisable to read the labels.

Likewise, if the remover doesn’t do its job on the first try, you can reapply it a couple of additional times. Remember to always rinse the area before attempting to walk on it.

A rather dangerous last resort

Once the above methods have failed, one last cleaning solution appears: the use of mineral spirits and paint thinners.

First of all, you must bear in mind that both mineral spirits and solvents are dangerous products that must be carefully administered. Not only are they highly abrasive chemicals, but their odor can be toxic if inhaled directly for long periods.

To use them, you will have to ventilate the room where the stains to be removed are located. In addition, you must wear gloves at all times.

Is paint thinner dangerous to the laminate floor?

Being so abrasive, paint thinner and mineral spirits have the fame destroying everything they touch. This, unfortunately, is not far from the truth.

If you follow the instructions provided by the product manufacturer, you should have no problem removing the paint stain. However, you should be aware of something: both paints thinner and mineral spirits can also damage the integrity of the laminate floor. They are a drastic option that you should use at your own risk.

Now you know how to get paint off laminate flooring

Certainly, in most cases, removing paint from laminate flooring is not a very difficult thing to achieve. However, it is quite annoying at the time of having to do it. It is best to prevent this problem and to make sure that the area to be painted is well covered with papers or disposable objects. Not only will this save you the hassle of trying these methods, but it will also help keep your home from losing its charm.

However, now that you know how to get paint off laminate flooring, you will not have to despair every time you accidentally stain your floor. You will simply have to apply one of the previously mentioned options and you can regain the integrity of your coating.

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