Oct 9 , 2019 Nash Painting
7 Ways to Safely Clean Paint Splatters and Spills
Oct 9 , 2019 
Nash Painting
Paint is designed to stick. This is good news for all the surfaces you plan on painting, but it also means that you may end up with a bit of a mess. No matter how carefully you or your interior house painters prepare and execute the job, paint is bound to spill and splatter here and there.
If and when this happens, don’t panic. It might look bad, especially when paint lands on carpeting or furniture, but all paint can be removed one way or another. The key is choosing the best method for the surface you’re cleaning. Here are 7 ways to safely clean paint splatters and spills during and after a home painting project.
Ways to Clean Paint Spills
It turns out that the tools you need to clean up stray paint may already be in your kitchen pantry. Vinegar, olive oil, and vegetable oil can all be used to loosen up paint on various surfaces like countertops and even carpets.
Nail polish and paint are alike in many ways, so it makes sense that nail polish remover also comes in handy for cleaning up paint splatters. The chemicals contained in nail polish removal are quite strong, so this is a good option for more stubborn stains and dried paint.
Rubbing Alcohol
Another household item can be used for paint spills, too: rubbing alcohol. This solvent helps loosen thick or dried paint on flat, smooth surfaces like linoleum and vinyl floors.
When in doubt, soap and warm water can be an effective antidote for certain types of paint, especially on glass surfaces. And anyone who has painted window trim knows how often paint ends up on the pane itself. You don’t want to scratch or damage the window when cleaning it, so use a gentle sponge or rag when applying the soap and water. Let it soak for a while, then use a good razor blade to easily scrape away the loosened paint.
Why Is My Paint Dripping?
Paint drips are usually caused by applying too much paint to your project in a single coat, typically from using an overloaded paintbrush or roller. Using a paint roller too fast across a wall can cause multiple paint drips, and a heavily loaded roller will cause streaks that do not go away once the paint is dry.
Gravity causes excess paint to run, and as it begins to dry, the paint congeals in visible drips. Similarly, gravity causes paint on the ceiling to drip if not spread on the surface adequately.
Another factor causing paint drips is high humidity. A humid environment tends to slow paint’s drying time, allowing it to drip before thoroughly drying.
Before You Begin
To help find drips while wet, set up a strong light source almost parallel to the surface to highlight drips as they happen. Often called a “raking” light, this light type is a utility lamp that sits on the ground or a clamp on a pole, ladder, or other object and will shine directly onto the wall or thing you are painting at an oblique angle. The light highlights the shadows and raised spots to spot the drip immediately. It also helps you to find dry drips, as well.
Equipment / Tools
- Paintbrush
- Clean scraper, razor blade, or 5-in-1 tool
- Putty knife
- Small drywall knife
Materials
- 220-grit sandpaper
- Glazing putty
Instructions
Clean up Drips on Wet Paint
If you catch the dripping paint while it is still relatively wet, you can probably fix the paint drip by brushing it out. Try a few brush strokes and see what happens. Stop brushing if this does not affect the drip or the paint feels tacky—the paint is already too dry, and additional brushing exaggerates the problem.
Tip
The trick is to make the brush strokes in the same direction you used for the surrounding area. Don’t try to knock down the drip by brushing in the opposite direction, as this usually creates unsightly cross-strokes that are difficult to remove.
Let the Paint Dry
If the paint is tacky to the touch, it’s best to let it (and the surrounding area) drip dry entirely before trying to remedy the problem. If the paint is still damp, it may peel up when you scrape or sand it, creating an even bigger problem.
Scrape or Sand the Drip
A paint drip creates a raised area highlighted by the paint’s shininess. Therefore, the first step after the paint has dried is to cut down or sand the raised area with an appropriate grit sandpaper. Start lightly scraping down the drip with a clean scraper, razor blade, or 5-in-1 tool. The less you disturb the surrounding area, the better. After you’ve removed the raised portion of the drip, try sanding out the remaining blemish with 220-grit sandpaper. Sand only in the direction of the drip; sanding back and forth or in the opposite direction causes the paint to gum up or flake away, leaving you with a bigger blemish. Take care to sand only the drip itself, avoiding the surrounding paint.
Repair Any Damage
You might scrape or sand too deeply into the paint despite your best efforts if there’s a recessed area where the drip was or any other damage due to your repair efforts, you can fill the area with glazing putty, such as Bondo. Spread on the putty with a putty knife, then scrape off the excess with a small drywall knife. Let the putty dry, then sand as directed.
Tip
It’s a good idea first to prime the puttied area to prevent problems with the topcoat; sometimes, the paint will develop pinholes or appear blotchy (known as paint flash) if applied directly over putty.
Repaint the Area
Once the drip has been flattened, apply another coat or two of paint. Once the paint dries, the blemish should be barely noticeable. 
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