Let's face it: one of the main reasons that homeowners choose wood floors, other than their timeless beauty, is that they can be cleaned easily. We know that you lead a busy life with jobs, kids, pets, relatives, and who knows what else. And if we’re honest, most people can't devote their lives to obsessively cleaning their floors.
For the majority of wear and tear that life throws your way, hardwood floors can withstand the test of time with dignity, which is especially good since wood floors are often an expensive investment for the future. However, paint is one of the rare things that can seriously damage or mar your floors. If you're looking for ways to gently remove splattered paint without damaging the wood underneath, Hardwood Bargains will take you on a deep dive into removing paint like a pro.
Before You Go Any Further
When you want to get into the nitty-gritty of getting the paint off your floor, the first thing you want to do is thoroughly clean the area. Any dust, dirt, or grit needs to be swept and carefully mopped up, so you’re able to just focus solely on the paint drops. If you are able to, find out whether the paint is oil-based or water-based since that will affect the best approach for removing it.
One method is to wet a cotton ball with some rubbing alcohol and wipe it over the paint stain, then look at the cotton ball. If it's just as clean as before, you're looking at oil-based paint. If a little bit of the paint came off with your initial swipe, it's water-based paint.
As a warning, oil-based paint is much more difficult to remove without damaging the floorboards' finish underneath. If it’s possible, simply stick with the first solution we describe. Whenever avoiding using chemicals on your wood floors is possible, it’s always the best solution.
Plan A
Scraping the paint off is the first option to try before anything else. Since it doesn't involve any liquid or chemicals, it is the safest for your floor. It's also the least likely to be useful for oil-based paint. You'll need a proper scraper (not made of metal!), and you’ll have to put in a little bit of elbow grease, but if scraping up the paint up works, the most you would have to worry about are some small scratches.
If you're working with oil-based paint, try using a hairdryer and warming up the area first to make the paint easier to pry up. Be careful not to heat it too much; only hold the hairdryer over the paint for around 30 seconds. Once the paint is heated, it should be a little bit easier to scrape up.
Launder Your Floor
Okay, you don’t want laundry detergent, but a small amount of dish soap might be what you need to start dissolving the paint. Using a little bit of water, too, can get the paint completely off, although you'll need to scrape off the paint layer afterward. This scraping can be done with a dull knife to ensure that you don't leave more scratches than necessary. You might also consider sanding and refinishing the spot to ensure that every last speck of paint is gone and the detergent hasn't diminished your floor’s shine at all.
Shop Around
Commercial paint remover is fast and effective, but depending on your floors, it could be dangerous. Most products can be used with cotton balls and then left for 10-20 minutes to dissolve the paint before removal. Each hardwood flooring will have slightly different requirements in terms of cleaning and maintenance. They might also have recommendations for the type of commercial paint remover to use and information on whether using one would void your flooring's warranty.
DIY A Solution
A homemade mixture of water and vinegar might be just the thing you need to get that pesky paint off of your lovely floors. Check out this blog for the recipe, but it's safe to say that this mixture can be used to gently clean your wooden floors in all situations, paint or no paint. It's the perfect solution for gently cleaning your floor after you've got the paint out and want to restore the shine to your gorgeous hardwood.
Bring on The Booze!
Denatured alcohol will take about 20-30 minutes to thoroughly coat and soak into the paint droplets, but it should allow you to use a rough cloth and wipe it off once the paint has finished soaking. Remember that, like the cotton ball test above, this will only be effective with water-based paint. If you have oil-based paint droplets on the floor, you'll need something a little stronger than alcohol.
Perform First Aid
Rubbing alcohol pads are another way to scrub out the paint. Rub gently and slowly over the area to ensure that the alcohol is doing the work, soaking up the paint. This will work best with water-based paint since oil-based paint doesn't respond to alcohol. You may need a few of these to get all of the layers of paint out of your flooring, but it'll be worth it to bring your wood back to its previous, shining glory.
The Last Resort
Paint thinner is seriously your last resort. Most people with wood floors would balk at the idea of using paint thinner since it's common knowledge that it will damage your floors. Not might damage, will damage. The paint thinner is an extremely effective chemical which means that the paint and the hardwood finish will all come off together. Don't use this method on water-based paint, only on oil-based paint.
For a safety precaution, ensure that your room is adequately ventilated and wear a mask whenever you work with paint thinner. Some people are especially prone to becoming light-headed with paint thinner, so be on the lookout for any kind of negative symptoms. To avoid any unwanted symptoms, try mineral spirit to deal with the unpleasant smell.
If Nothing Else...
If you've tried everything and you just can't seem to get rid of the paint, a rug or runner is always a creative option to cover them up. If the paint is far enough to the side in a room that it would be weird to have a rug there, you could try a decorative piece of art or furniture or even some molding around your floors. Obviously, it's better if you remove the paint fully, but there are plenty of ways to cover it up if that’s not possible.
Remember, it's always safer for your floors to cover something than to try drastic cleaning solutions that might end up damaging the floor and some of the boards surrounding the paint.
In Conclusion
In addition to the options listed above, always consult with the manufacturer or retailer about your wood floors' specifics. With these excellent tips, you’re sure to get rid of that pesky paint in no time. Even if there isn't much paint, you know that your floors should shine like the day you first installed them.
How do you remove paint from your wooden floors? Do you have any homemade mixtures or tips and tricks that you want to share? Let us know below how you keep your floors looking fresh and bright no matter what life throws at you!
Sources:
How to Remove Paint from Wood Floors | Family Handyman
The Easiest Way to Get Dried Paint Off of Hardwood Floors Home | Home Guides
