How to Get Paint Off of Hardwood Floors

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Paint easily updates a home, adding the perfect touch of color to make a room stand out. However, painting also comes with the risk of drips, spills, and splatters. If this occurs, it’s important to know how to remove paint from hardwood floors. While some homeowners may choose to paint over hardwood if the floors aren’t salvageable, small blemishes will likely need to be removed to restore the hardwood. Here, discover four different methods for getting paint off hardwood floors.

Before You Begin: Prepare the Area

Before you start cleaning, a key factor to consider is the age of your home. If the house was built before 1978, the paint may contain lead. Before attempting to remove the paint, the EPA recommends consulting with a certified lead professional to determine the best way to test and remove the paint. If the home was built after 1978, this step isn’t necessary.

After confirming that the paint does not contain lead, prepare the area by clearing any furniture or objects out of the way so that you have ample room to work. Next, open any windows or doors, then turn on a fan to help ventilate the space. This step is especially important if you are using a paint stripper because it can cause injury to your skin, eyes, and lungs.

Test the Paint

In order to avoid wasting time on methods that won’t work on specific types of paint, it’s necessary to conduct a simple test to determine if you are working with water-based or oil-based paint. Put on a pair of gloves, then take a cotton ball and dip it into isopropyl alcohol. This type of alcohol is also commonly referred to as rubbing alcohol.

Use the cotton ball to gently buff a spot on the paint for about 10 seconds. After buffing the paint, inspect the cotton ball for paint residue. If there is paint on the cotton ball, the paint is water-based, meaning that it should be able to be removed with a gentle method, like dish soap or a mixture of lemon juice and isopropyl alcohol.

However, if there isn’t any paint on the cotton ball, this indicates that the paint is oil-based, which is much harder to remove. Plan to use a heavy-duty removal option, like a heat gun, hairdryer, or paint thinner to get paint off of the hardwood floors.

What You’ll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Microfiber cloth
  • Bucket or bowl
  • Hard plastic putty knife
  • Nylon-bristle scrub brush
  • Hairdryer or heat gun

Materials

  • Isopropyl alcohol
  • Cotton balls
  • Dish soap
  • Paint stripper

Instructions

How to Use Dish Soap to Get Paint Off of Hardwood Floors

  1. Mix Liquid Dish Soap and WaterWater-based paint can generally be removed with a mix of warm water and liquid dish soap. Depending on the amount of paint, you may only need a small bowl to mix the solution or you may need a bucket. Fill the selected container with warm water and add enough dishwashing liquid to form suds.
  2. Clean Hardwood FloorsDip a microfiber cloth into the cleaning solution, then use the cloth to scrub the hardwood floors in the direction of the wood grain. Use a dry cloth to wipe away any of the loosened paint as you work.
  3. Use Putty Knife (Optional)If the paint seems to be loosening but won’t come off of the hardwood floor, you can use a plastic putty knife to gently scrape away the paint. Just be careful not to use too much pressure or you may damage the floor. Continue scrubbing, scraping, and wiping the floor until all the paint has been removed.

How to Use Isopropyl Alcohol and Lemon Juice to Get Paint Off of Hardwood Floors

  1. Mix Isopropyl Alcohol and Lemon JuiceAnother option for water-based paint removal is a mixture of isopropyl alcohol and lemon juice. Select a container that is appropriate for the amount of paint that needs to be removed, then mix three parts isopropyl alcohol with one part lemon juice. Keep in mind that this solution is stronger than the soap mixture, so you will not need as much.
  2. Loosen Paint with Cleaning SolutionDip a microfiber cloth into the cleaning solution, then place the cloth over the painted area, allowing it to sit for several minutes. If you need to remove paint from the entire floor, it’s a good idea to have multiple cloths available so that one area can be soaking, while you are scrubbing another area.
  3. Scrape Paint with Putty KnifeAfter about five minutes, use the damp cloth and a plastic putty knife to scrape away the paint. Alternately, you may want to use a nylon-bristled scrub brush to help remove the paint. Continue this process until the floor is paint-free.
  4. Rinse Hardwood FloorsOnce the floor is free of paint, rinse the hardwood to remove any leftover isopropyl alcohol and lemon juice. Dip an unused microfiber cloth in clean water, then wring it out until it’s damp. Wipe down the floor with the cloth, then use a dry microfiber cloth to buff and dry the floor.

How to Use Heat to Get Paint Off Hardwood Floors

  1. Apply Heat and Scrape PaintHeat can be an effective way to remove water-based or oil-based paint, but you need to be careful to avoid damaging the hardwood floor. One option is to use a heat gun to soften the paint, then scrape it off with a plastic putty knife.If a heat gun is too powerful for the hardwood, another way to go about this is to use a handheld hair dryer. It will take a bit longer for the paint to soften, but you don’t run as high a risk of damaging the floor. After heating the paint, scrape it off with a plastic putty knife or nylon-bristled scrub brush.
  2. Scrub Hardwood FloorsUsing heat and a putty knife can get rid of most of the paint, though there may still be some small drip or patches stuck to the hardwood. Use a mixture of dish soap and warm water to scrub any remaining water-based paint.If the paint is oil-based, dip a microfiber cloth in paint stripper and gently scrub the floor to remove any remaining paint. Make sure to rinse the hardwood with a damp cloth after using a paint stripper.

How to Use Paint Stripper to Get Paint Off Hardwood Floors

  1. Apply Paint StripperOil-based paint is significantly harder to remove from hardwood floors, so you may need to resort to using a paint stripper or paint thinner, like turpentine or mineral spirits. Before you begin, check the manufacturer’s directions for use and make sure the area is well-ventilated.Apply the paint stripper according to the manufacturer’s directions, then use a microfiber cloth or rag to rub the paint stripper into the paint. As the paint begins to loosen, you can use a plastic putty knife and a microfiber cloth to wipe away the paint, revealing the hardwood floor below.
  2. Rinse Hardwood FloorsAfter the paint has been removed, it’s important to rinse the hardwood. This will get rid of any leftover paint-stripping solution. Dip a clean microfiber cloth into water, then wring it out until it’s damp. Wipe down the floor with the cloth, then use a dry microfiber cloth to buff and dry the floor.