As much as the home renovation is fun, things can get pretty messy quite quickly. On the other hand, if you wish to increase your cleaning work, why not hand some brushes and paints to the kids and watch them go crazy with it!
Moreover, just imagine, if they spill over an entire bucket of paint on your expensive concrete floor, how will you get rid of it?
Although, removing paint from the concrete floor should not be much difficult only if you are quick to remove it. If you have missed the paint spot and it has dried up, you might need to think of other ways to wipe it clean.
Having said that, different types of paints are treated differently. You cannot use the same method to remove water-based paint as you do for oil-based pastels.
Hence, imagine if you have just been experimenting with spray paint for the first time, how would you remove the stain from your beautiful concrete floor? The irony! But honestly, how to get spray paint off from concrete?
Is there a spray paint remover for concrete that can do the work without ruining your floors? Well, looks like if want to know more, just read on!
As much as it is fun to play with spray paint, handling it can be tough unless you have mastered the art. But the scare of staining the concrete floors shouldn’t stop you from exploring this new hobby of yours.
So, what if you stain the floor with a canister of spray paint? Here is how you remove spray paint concrete without damaging the flooring:
1. Quickly Rush to the Spot
Spray paints dry and absorbs pretty quickly and thus when you stain the concrete floor with it, you have little time to jump right into the action. Or else, when dried up, you might need to use some pretty heavy solvents and cleaners to clean it which can, in turn, damage your floor too.
Therefore, what you need to do first is run to the kitchen quickly and grab a handful of paper towels or a piece of cloth.
Put it over the paint spot and try to remove as much paint as you can so you have a little stain to clean later.
Alternatively, if the spray paint has dried, you might need to scrub off the chunks with a brush, knife, or anything handy.
2. Use Liquid Detergent and Hot Water
Before you jump into using heavy solvents to remove the paint, mix liquid detergent in hot water and spritz the spot. Next, use a hard-bristled brush to rub it off and rinse with water.
If the stain isn’t completely removed, then move on to the next step.
3. Use a Paint Thinner
One of the best ways to remove any kind of paint stain is to use a paint thinner. Yes, the thinner you add to the paint to make it a little runnier. Thus, pour some thinner on a piece of cotton cloth and blot the area.
Leave it for 5 to 10 minutes, rub the stain if needed and wipe it clean with water. Although it should help you remove the stain if the stain is very old, you might need to use something much stronger to get rid of it.
4. Graffiti Removers Work Great
We bet you have not heard of graffiti remover. Nevertheless, those who are avid painters know how good this thing is. Graffiti remover comes in different forms like liquid, can spray, etc thus, use one that you can handle the best.
Next, fill a bucket with warm water and the graffiti remover to form a diluted cleaning solution. Dip a fresh piece of cloth in the solution and blot the area, leaving it to work its magic for some time.
When the time is up, remove the cloth, use a brush to rub the stain if the need is, and clean the place with water. A graffiti remover is known to break down the paint molecules into tiny pieces so it becomes easier to remove.
Yes, it does not damage your concrete floor if used occasionally for removing paint stains.
5. Switch to TSP
When removing paint stains becomes a headache, we suggest you quickly switch to TSP (trisodium phosphate), a heavy solvent that is quick to remove paint stains of all types hence, making it the best spray remover from concrete.
But how do you use it? Well, the instructions are mentioned on the packaging of TSP but what you usually do is dilute it with warm water.
Next up, pour a generous amount of the solvent on the spray paint stain and let it sit for a good 20 minutes.
Use a brush to rub off the stain if there is any left and clean the place thoroughly with water.
Remember, whenever you are working with such heavy chemicals and solvents, always wear protective gear before handling and open the windows of the house for increased ventilation. You surely would not want to be sniffing on it!
6. Use a Sandblaster if Needed
Sometimes the old spray paint stains become too stubborn to deal with. Even if you have been successful in removing most of it, the little spot left behind will keep poking you in the eyes.
Thus, we suggest avoiding using more chemicals on the concrete floor and rubbing the stain with a sandblaster to even it out.
How to Get Spray Paint Off Cement?
If you have mistakenly stained the cement grout between your concrete flooring, do not worry. wet paint stain can easily be removed using some soap and water or any washing powder. Just spray the area with the solution, rub the stain with a brush and clean its water.
But if you have old and more stubborn stains to deal with, use the same cleaner mentioned above to get rid of them. Hopefully one of these will work for you without damaging the cemented grout.
What to Do if You Cannot Remove Spray Paint Off Concrete?
Okays, so you have tried every remedy in the books to get rid of the spray paint stain but all in vain. You’ve spent unlimited hours scrubbing the floor, spent a fortune on cleaners, and put in a lot of effort to make some of your own but with no results,
So, what other option are you left with now? You of course cannot leave your concrete floor looking this ugly!
When you have been exhausted from trying everything you knew to remove the stains, it is time you call in the professionals for help.
Professional cleaners are the best at their work. They are fully equipped with tools, techniques, and cleaning products that help them deal with even the stubborn most paint stain.
Whether they have a small oil-paint stain to remove or a big, ugly-looking spray paint stain to deal with, these cleaners will never disappoint you.
Yes, hiring cleaning services is not cheap but at least it is worth it if you can get your concrete floor looking as good as it used to. Or if you want to save some bucks, next time you use spray paint for some artistic work, make sure you cover your floor with a plastic sheet or something similar to protect it from staining.
But unless the paint has dried up over weeks, you shouldn’t have to struggle with removing the spray paint stain with some good removers available in the market. Hence, if you have not tried one, do so today!
John Wesley is passionate about cleaning industry especially vacuum cleaners. He is having more than a decade of experience in repairing and selling vacuum cleaners from a well known retail shop. When he’s not testing and reviewing latest vacuum cleaners for this site, he likes to spend time with his partner, 2 kids, and doing house projects.
