How to Remove Acrylic Paint from a Deck

Last Updated: September 15, 2021

When acrylic paint is spilled on a deck, it is easy to remove especially if still fresh. Removing a dried or old paint will require more work. The steps below will show you how to effectively remove acrylic paint from a deck, whether it be fresh or old paint.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Fresh Acrylic Paint

1
Wipe the fresh acrylic paint on your deck with a wet cloth. Get as much paint as you possibly can. Change the cloth when needed.
2
Fill a bucket with hot water and add some liquid dish-washing soap in it to make a detergent solution.

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3
Scrub the remaining paint with a scrub brush dipped into the soapy solution. Keep on scrubbing and keep on adding soap solution until the acrylic paint on your deck is completely gone.
4
Rinse the area with clear water using a hose.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Old Acrylic Paint on a Small Area

1
Use a putty knife or a paint scraper to scrape the old acrylic paint off your deck. Your goal is to remove as much paint as you can without damaging the wood.
2
Rub the remaining paint using steel wool (number 0000) or fine sandpaper. Do this very gently to remove only the paint.
3
Rub the remaining acrylic paint with a cloth moistened with alcohol. Keep adding alcohol on the cloth and keep on rubbing until all the paint is gone. Change the cloth when needed.
4
Rinse the area with clear water using a hose.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Old Acrylic Paint on a Large Area

Make sure to wear protective gloves, protective eye wear, mask and protective clothing if applying this method.

1
Apply a paint stripper on the old acrylic paint. You can use a paintbrush or a dense broom. Leave the stripper on the deck for about an hour. Be sure to check and follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to use the chemical stripper.
2
Rinse the paint off using a high-pressure hose.
3
Use a putty knife or a paint scraper to scrape the remaining acrylic paint.
4
Let the deck dry fully.
5
Sand the area using a random-orbit sander and 80-grit paper. This will completely remove all the remaining acrylic paint.
6
Apply a sealer to your deck's surface, if needed. The sealer will protect your deck from future stains.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I clean oil paint?

Community Answer

Oil paints are considerably harder to remove. First douse the area in turpentine (that might soften the paint), then scrape or sand it off.