How to Remove Paint from Vinyl

Co-authored by Jeff Baldwin

Last Updated: January 4, 2022

With do-it-yourself paint jobs, there is the potential for drops of paint or even large spills on your vinyl flooring. The spill can be removed by proper and quick action. To remove paint from vinyl, you will first need to determine the type of paint that was spilled. Then, follow the removal procedure whether it be for oil-based, water-based, or dried paint.^{[1]
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Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Taking off Water-Based Paint

1
Wipe up the spilled paint. Use a dry paper towel or soft cloth to remove as much of the fresh spillage as possible. Wipe it up until there is nothing else you can by simple wiping. If the spill is large, you can contain it with cat litter or shredded paper.^{[2]
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2
Use damp paper towels. After you’ve wiped up with dry paper towels, use damp paper towels to tackle the rest of the spilled paint. Go over the spilled area until as much of the paint has been removed as possible. The damp paper towels should remove most of the paint.^{[3]
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- You will have to go through several damp paper towels if the spill is large.
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3
Mix mild soap and water. To remove the remainder of the paint, mix several drops of mild soap into a bucket of water. Then, dip a clean cloth into the mixture. Use the cloth to clean up the rest of the spilled paint.^{[4]
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4
Use a cloth with rubbing alcohol. If the paint has still not been removed, pour rubbing alcohol on a soft cloth and gently rub it over the paint. Press the cloth on the stain and allow it remain for ten minutes if the stain has not been removed. Then, remove the cloth and rinse the area with water.^{[5]
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- Make sure the area is dry after you rinse it off. You can dry it off by patting it with a cloth or paper towel.
5
Repeat if necessary. The paint may not be removed completely on the first try. Repeat the process as many times as necessary until all of the spilled paint has been removed from the floor. Avoid using alcohol too many times on the floor, but you can use water and mild soap as much as needed.^{[6]
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- For really stubborn paint, try spraying a little latex paint remover on the spot. Let it sit on the paint for a few minutes before scrubbing it off with a wet cloth.^{[7]
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  Expert Source
  
  Jeff Baldwin
  Residential Painter
  Expert Interview. 26 February 2021}

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Removing Oil-Based Paint

1
Wipe up the paint with a clean cloth. Take a damp cloth to remove as much of the spilled paint as possible. Use the damp cloth scoop up the paint and wipe it, rather than spreading it around. Do this until you can’t remove any more paint with only the damp cloth.^{[8]
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2
Use a cloth with rubbing alcohol. After you’ve wiped up as much paint as possible, pour rubbing alcohol onto a cloth. Place the cloth on top of the area with the spilled paint. You may have to use multiple cloths if the area is large. Allow the cloth to sit on top of the paint for ten minutes. Then, wipe it up with a damp cloth.^{[9]
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3
Dip steel wool into liquid wax. If the paint has not been removed, you can use steel wool and liquid wax to remove the paint. Liquid wax can be bought at many car shops and supermarkets, like Walmart. The steel wool should be superfine, and it can be bought from most grocery stores. Dip the steel wool into the liquid wax and gently scrub the surface until the paint is removed.^{[10]
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4
Clean the area. Once the paint has been removed, you will need to remove all of the cleaning products from the vinyl. Use mild soap and water to clean the area. You can dip a rag into the soap and water, or you can use a mop. Then, allow the floor to dry.^{[11]
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- You can apply a coat of wax to protect the floor once it has dried.
5
Use PEC-12. If nothing else works to remove the paint, you can use a product called PEC-12. It’s a commercial solvent that is highly effective in removing oil stains, but it is highly toxic. Make sure to use gloves, a face mask, and eye protection when using it. Apply PEC-12 to the damaged area and use a non-abrasive wipe or cotton balls to wipe off the paint. Then, rinse with water and pat it dry with a cloth.^{[12]
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- PEC-12 can be purchased online and at many camera supply shops because it is often used to clean cameras.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Removing Dried Paint

1
Use a plastic scraper to remove the dried paint. Try scraping off the dried paint with a plastic scraper or plastic spatula. If that doesn’t work, you can use a razor. Be sure to use the razor carefully to avoid damaging the vinyl.^{[13]
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- You can also use a spoon.
2
Moisten a cloth in mineral spirits. Pour a small amount of mineral spirits or turpentine on a cloth to moisten it. Rub it over the dried paint until it has loosened up or been removed. Repeat this step as many times as necessary.^{[14]
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3
Apply nail polish remover. If the dried paint has not been removed, pour a small amount of acetone nail polish remover onto a clean cloth. Wipe the area until the dried paint has been removed. You may want to test the nail polish remover on a small spot of the flooring to make sure it won’t damage the vinyl.^{[15]
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4
Wash the area. Use just water or water and mild soap to clean the area. Do this to make sure that there aren’t any remaining chemicals on the floor. Then, pat it dry or allow it to dry on its own.^{[16]
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Community Q&A

Question

Can oil based paint be removed without using a solvent?

Community Answer

You can try to remove it using just warm water and soap.
Question

How do I remove dried purple CPVC pipe cleaner off of a vinyl floor?

Community Answer

Simple Green all-purpose cleaner works wonders! Just spray the floor with it, let it soak a minute, then take it off with a scrub brush.
Question

How do I remove a large area of dried spray paint from a vinyl floor?

Community Answer

The techniques mentioned above should be of help. Spray paint isn't too different from normal wall paint.