You can get paint on your porcelain sink or tub for many many reasons and completely okay to not be okay with it. Sometimes watching the stain can crawl under your skin too if you have OCD. So, getting the paint off is the only solution here.
So, the question is, how to remove paint from porcelain?
You can easily take the paint off by rubbing some alcohol with a clean rag on it if that’s water-based paint. In case you got oil-based paint on it, go for a paint stripper for the best outcome.
The piece also includes:
- What will take the paint off porcelain?
- How do you remove acrylic paint from porcelain?
Let’s read below to find out more about how to remove paint from porcelain.
Table of Contents
What will Take Paint Off Porcelain?
Removing paint from porcelain is no tough row to hoe if you know just the right things to use. Whether the paint is water-based or made of any other tough material, it’s no burden for you with the right solution in your hand.
If your porcelain is painted with water-based colours, then using denatured alcohol will do the job perfectly. But if your porcelain has some tough paint stains, then a paint stripper is the one you need.
You can remove both oil-based and water-based paints using a paint stripper. It works incredibly well to remove paint off porcelain surfaces.
How to Remove Paint from Porcelain?
It’s fine if you have spilt some paint on your porcelain sink or tub. It happens to the best of us. And we know the paint stain bothers most people, so we came forward to show you how you can remove them.
Let’s read below to find out how to remove paint from porcelain.
Step 01: Test the Paint
First, you will need to test the paint to check if it is water- or oil-based before beginning to remove it from the porcelain surface. Understanding the type of paint being used is important since it will assist you to choose the right solvents.
It is quite easy to test. Take cotton or cloth and dampen it with rubbing alcohol or denatured alcohol. Check the fabric to see whether any color has transferred from the paint by repeatedly rubbing it. If it is clean, the paint is oil-based; if it is rubbed, the paint is water-based.
If you discover that the paint is water-based, keep rubbing it off with a towel dipped in alcohol to get rid of it altogether. You can also get rid of it by using a rough sponge, some water, and soap.
If the paint is oil-based, neither alcohol nor water will have much of an impact on it. Consider applying acetone or lacquer thinner-dampened cloth to the stain and wiping it on the spot. If the stain still exists, proceed to step two and do as it says.
Step 02: Use a Paint Stripper
A paint stripper is a relatively cheap and efficient method for oil-based and water-based paints. It easily removes paints that are made of both water and oil. When using a paint stripper, you need to wear rubber gloves and safety goggles.
To apply the stripper to the paint, use a paintbrush. Before the paint begins to blister, give it ten minutes to settle. If it takes longer than you anticipated, you can sprinkle the solvent out more.
You can use the paint scraper to remove both the paint and the paint stripper. You should use a metal scraper rather than a plastic one to reduce the risk of damaging your porcelain.
To get rid of any leftover paint and stripper from the paint removal process as well as to neutralize the stripper, wash the porcelain surface with water and soap. Do not forget to thoroughly rinse it afterwards with clear water.
Step 03: Use Extra Strong Cleaner
Sometimes it can be challenging to remove old paint. In this case, going with a potent cleanser might be beneficial for you. If there’s old water-based paint on the porcelain tub, you can easily remove it with a moist washcloth and Bon Ami cleaner powder.
Another extremely rugged cleaning that is effective on both wet and dried-out paints is the WD-40 lubrication spray. This chemical can also eliminate rust stains on porcelain bathtubs.
To effectively accomplish this stage, you’ll need a washcloth, dish soap, a scouring pad, and a plastic scraping tool. Then you will need to wait for 10 to 15 minutes for it to dry after spraying the paint. Use the scraping tool to remove the paint as soon as it starts to blister.
You can reapply spray if the paint is excessively thick and hard. If the paint still won’t come off, scrape it again and then rub it with a scouring pad. To get rid of the residue, rinse the surface with soapy water and a gentle sponge.
Step 04: Scrape it Off
If you’ve used every solvent available and the paint still won’t budge from the porcelain surface, you may opt to scrape it off with a scraping tool. Use the plastic putty knife’s blade to wedge between the paint or stain and the porcelain surface.
If you tap the handle with a hammer, the paint should simply fly off. Additionally, you may quickly remove it by giving it a little lubricating spray. If it gets tougher, use a razor or metal putty knife to scrape it off the paint. The paint ought to be simple to remove.
Step 05: Scrub and Rinse the Surface
Use a washcloth or sponge to continuously scrub the area until all traces of paint are gone. When scrubbing, be aggressive and dig in. After cleaning everything, fill the tub with hot water and rinse it thoroughly. There will be no paint on your porcelain bathtub.
How Do You Remove Acrylic Paint From Porcelain?
Paint stains on porcelain are simple to remove if that’s from acrylic paint. These paints dry rather quickly in contrast to certain other paints that are simple to wash off.
Acrylic emulsion is used in acrylic paints to bond the stain-resistant pigment. Additionally, the paint is not water-soluble, and it makes the removal much more challenging.
If your porcelain surface has acrylic paint on it then it’s a walk in the park. You will need a solution that dissolves the resin if you see the acrylic paint stain is tough to remove with a scraper.
You can use acetone, denatured alcohol, or an ammonia solution to get rid of dried acrylic paint. These solvents easily dissolve into the resin, making it simple to remove the paint.
Learn how to remove acrylic paint from porcelain by using these steps:
- When working with ammonia or acetone, wear rubber gloves and shield your eyes and nose with a mask.
- Spray the area with a spray bottle or a minimal bit of the dried paint to cover it.
- Wait until the paint resin dissolves before continuing.
- You can try using hair spray on acrylic paint and a soft brush or rag to scrape the surface.
- Give it a warm water rinse to remove the paint and any stains still on the surface.
FAQ
Will paint thinner damage porcelain?
No. You will need strong solvents like paint thinner or acetone to remove oil-based paints from the porcelain surface. And porcelain is extremely chemical resistant. So, using paint thinner won’t damage your porcelain.
Does rubbing alcohol ruin porcelain?
No, not. You can clean your porcelain with a dry towel and rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol will not only clean and sterilize the porcelain, but will also make it shine. The alcohol won’t ruin the texture of your porcelain in any way.
Will mineral spirits damage porcelain tile?
Tile, linoleum, laminate, and wood without a wax finish are just a few of the hard floor materials that you can safely cleaned with mineral spirits. To make sure the solvent won’t damage the floor’s polish, test the solution in a tiny, covert area before you start.
Conclusion
Thanks for coming this far with our article. Hope our piece could help you figure out how to remove paint from porcelain. Now that you know everything about cleaning paint off your porcelain, you can easily get rid of those paint stains on the porcelain that’s been bothering you.