How To Remove Acrylic Paint From Wood?

"As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I only recommend products that we have tried!"

Have you ever found acrylic paint on your coffee table after your kids painted it? or what if you spilled paint accidentally? The use of acrylic paint on wood is nothing new, whether it comes from our children’s creativity or our own.

Fresh paint stains can be easily removed right away, but dried paint needs a bit more effort to remove. Fortunately, you can restore the original appearance of your furniture or floors in several ways. Here are some methods we have compiled that will show you how to remove acrylic paint from wood.

In hurry, here is a brief answer, though you will need to read the full section for a better understanding.

How to remove acrylic paint from wood? (Without Sanding or With Sanding)

• Soap and Water
• Olive Oil
• Rubbing Alcohol
• Solvents/Paint thinners
• Heat gun
• Denatured Alcohol
• Sanding Method
• Paint Stripper

How To get Acrylic Paint off of Wood Using Soap and Water?

Acrylic is a water-based paint. Therefore, it is sensible to use hot water to remove acrylic paint splatter from wooden surfaces.

Materials

• Warm water
• Dish Soap
• Clean rags/cloth

This is the simple method of removing acrylic paint from varnished wood and it works best when the paint is still wet and fresh. 

However, if the paint dries, even hot soapy water won’t work.

The steps:

• Prepare a solution of dish soap and water and then make a lather by stirring.
• Soak the cloth/ rag in warm soapy water.
• Use a wet cloth to remove the acrylic paint from the wood.
• Wash away the paint spill with more soapy water.
• Wipe up leftover paint with a damp cloth. 
• Now, use a dry rag to wipe away excess paint and water.

how to remove acrylic paint from wood using Olive oil?

Required items:

• Putty knife or a plastic paint scraper or a kitchen knife
• A clean cloth
• Olive oil

As a natural alternative, this is a good option. However, if it doesn’t work, use it as a stepping stone to the next method.

Steps:

• Apply olive oil to the paint to soften it. 
• Cover the paint completely with olive oil.
• Sit it for at least one hour. 
• Try scraping it with a putty knife.
• The first three steps can be repeated if the paint remains hard. Otherwise, go to the next step!

How To Remove Dried Acrylic Paint From Wood Floor Using Rubbing Alcohol?

This is a recommended method for removing dry acrylic paint, which should be effective in most cases. You can also get acrylic paint off plastic with rubbing alcohol.

Tools and Materials

• Steel wool
• Rubbing alcohol 
• Clean cloth
• Putty knife

The Steps:

Step 1: 

• Remove the dried paint from the wood with a putty knife or paint scraper. 
• Try to take off as many layers as possible without causing damage to your wood.

Step 2: 

• For removing bigger stains: Use a steel wool pad to rub the remaining paint. Be gentle and make sure only to touch the paint. 
• Dab rubbing alcohol on the stain with a clean cloth and then rub the stain for couple of minutes.
• The rubbing alcohol should be applied as needed. Make sure the cloth is changed when paint transfers to it. 
• Wipe the area with a moist, clean cloth until there are no more traces of alcohol. If needed, add soapy water as well.
• Dry everything off with a dry cloth after wiping it down.
• In case there are still paint traces, try to repeat the steps after the wood has dried.

How to clean acrylic paint off wood using a Solvent?

Solvents can dissolve acrylic paint from wood within a few minutes. The options include lacquer thinner, methylene chloride, and ammonia.

However, the chemicals mentioned are unfriendly to the environment. Make sure to always operate paint solvent equipment in a safe way. Because of their toxicity, it is best to seek professional assistance.

Anytime you try to clean acrylic paint, always be sure to follow safety precautions.

Materials required

• Solvent for paint
• Goggles
• Gloves that are chemically resistant
• Respirator
• Clean cloths
• Acrylic paint scraper
• Mineral spirits
• Paintbrush

It has the best results for removing paint splatters from unfinished wood. Thus, you will not have to worry about the finish of your wood surface while stripping paint.

The steps:                        

• Wear protective equipment, including gloves, goggles, and long sleeves. You should try to avoid contact with the chemical and ensure that you are working in a ventilated environment.
• The second step requires applying a thin layer of solvent to the paint with a paint roller or brush. Once dry, allow it to sit for 20 to 30 minutes.
• If bubbles are visible in the paint, remove them with a scraper. You can use paint scrapers and putty knives to remove the grain of wood. Using a metal putty knife may damage the wood. Remove all the paint with a scraper.
• Soak a cloth in mineral spirits and use it to wipe the wood. By doing this, you will also remove any leftover paint and solvents. or It also removes paint or solvent residues. 

Related Resource: Learn the art of removing spray paint from vinyl siding by using proven methods.

how to strip acrylic paint from wood using a Heat Gun?

It may be difficult to clean dried acrylic paint off wood furniture without using a heat gun. Thus, you can find heat guns at any local hardware shop. 

Tools and Materials

• Heat gun
• Goggles
• Protective gloves
• Mask 
• Putty knife 
• Clean rag

This option is best suited for large wood surfaces such as furniture or doors.

The steps:

• Wear your gloves and face mask. The leather gloves will protect your hands from heat.
• If you cannot work outside, then open the windows.
• Connect the heat gun to a power source and make sure that the heat gun should be placed about four inches away from the paint and turn it on. The heat gun should then be moved in short circles.
• Scrape away the paint when bubbles appear on the surface.
• Use another hand to hold the putty knife and scrape the paint in the same direction as the wood grain. If you want to remove paint, scrape gently so you won’t damage the wood.
• After the wood has cooled down, wipe any paint residue with a wet rag using soapy liquid or water.
• After wiping the wood, let the wood dry naturally.

How to get acrylic paint off hardwood floor?

Rubbing alcohol is much weaker than denatured alcohol. It removes paint from hardwood floors with ease. Consequently, denatured alcohol will also be more effective at removing acrylic paint from wood furniture.

Denatured alcohol is both highly flammable and poisonous so be extremely cautious when using acrylic paint remover on wood or hardwood floor.

Materials Required

• Denatured alcohol
• Paint scraper to scrape paint
• Clean cloth
• Brush or roller to apply paint
• Gloves
• Respirator 
• Water and liquid soap
• Cotton ball

If you want to remove dried paint from unfinished or unvarnished wood, this option is the best choice. 

The steps:

• Dampen a rag or paintbrush in denatured alcohol.
• Coat the dried paint generously with alcohol.  Allow the alcohol to dissolve the acrylic resin for a few minutes.
• Scrape away the softened paint with a putty knife. Make sure you’re gentle since putty knives can harm the wood. After that, remove the scraped paint properly.
• Continue to apply and scrape acrylic paint until you can remove all of it from the wood.
• Soak a rag in cold water and then wipe off any paint leftover or alcohol residue with the rag.

Sanding a wood door to remove acrylic paint

This method is effective even though getting the acrylic paint off will take some effort. So, consider using a power sander if you can, to reduce the time and effort required. Also, sanding blocks and fine sandpaper can be used to complete the task.

Materials 

• Sandpaper for finer work 
• Sanding block
• Clean rag
• Power sander 
• Hot water
• Gloves, goggles, and respirator

People often ask, how to get acrylic paint off wood table?

Well, if your furniture, such as wood tables, has more noticeable paint stains, you can use this method to remove acrylic paint.

The steps:

• Wear safety gear and check that the working space is adequately ventilated. Whenever possible, work outdoors.
• Apply 80-grit sandpaper to the sanding block.
• Sand the paint off in a back and forth motion. The idea is to remove thick acrylic layers.
• Remove dust with a brush. Continue sanding with 150-grit sandpaper.
• Clean the surface again with a damp cloth. It should look and feel more vibrant and smooth in the shade.

How To Remove Acrylic Paint from Wood Deck Using Paint Stripper?

I prefer the Sunnyside Paint & Varnish remove, which works within two minutes. It contains no methylene chloride. The product can also be used for removing paint from vertical wood surfaces such as deck railings.

If your wood has thick layers of acrylic paint, this product is perfect.

Tools and Materials

• Paint stripper
• Pressure washer 
• Gloves, goggles, and protective clothing
• Clean cloth
• Paintbrush
• Putty knife

It is best to use this method for exterior applications. 

The steps to remove the acrylic paint:

• Put on your gloves and goggles since you will be working outdoors. In addition, protect your skin from contact with the chemical by wearing long sleeves.
• Apply the paint stripper with a brush to the surfaces with the paint all over. 
• The final step is to wash the paint away after two to five minutes by using pressure washer. 
• In addition, you can remove leftover paint with a paint scraper.
• After wiping the wood with a damp cloth, allow it to air dry completely for 2 days. 
• You should sand and refinish a completely dry surface.

how to get acrylic paint out of fabric?

Acrylic paint is much easier to wash out than any other type of paint. When it comes to drying acrylic stains, denatured alcohol works best. Take a cloth or cotton ball and apply it to the stain for one minute. You can remove paint by rubbing it in small circular motions. After that, clean the surface with a damp, soapy towel.

Furthermore, you can also use water to dissolve acrylic paint, as it is a water-based paint. You can add a few drops of warm water to the paint stain to make it easier to remove acrylic paint from clothing that has dried.

Final thought on how to remove acrylic paint from wood

You now know how to remove acrylic paint from wood. Even though it requires a little time and effort, after the process, your wood will be clean and fresh.

An effective paint removal method will vary depending upon the paint condition, the materials used, as well as the type of wood scraped. So, pick a method from our list and you’ll have no difficulty removing acrylic paint from wood furniture. Also, make sure you follow the safety precautions of each method.

FAQS on how to get acrylic paint off wood

How to remove acrylic paint from clothes?

You can remove the acrylic paint by soaking the affected area in rubbing alcohol and let it dry. Now, you can scrape off the paint using a dull knife, or coin. After that, wash and dry the clothing item as instructed on the label.

Are acrylic paints washable after they have dried?

A paint that dries completely can last a long time. However, if you don’t use the appropriate medium or your paint isn’t sufficiently dried, it can be washed off when exposed to paint-removing solvents.

Is it possible to erase acrylic paint?

To remove acrylic paint, remove the excess wet paint first. However, if you want to remove a stain from a hard surface, you can use warm soapy water, nail polish remover, or denatured alcohol.

What happens if you wash acrylic paint with water?

Once acrylic paint dries it hardens into a plastic-like substance, which makes it nearly impossible to remove with just water, unless you use a powerful soap or cleaning agent along with it.

Are nail polish removers effective at removing paint?

Nail polish remover contains acetone as it is the primary active ingredient. Acetone is an excellent cleaning solvent for oil-based and latex-based paints. It can be used to clean paint from many surfaces.

Are acrylic paints permanent on wood?

If you seal the wood after acrylic paint dries, the paint becomes permanent. Paint will not adhere to wood surfaces unless they have been treated, stained, or heat-sealed. Before painting wood, it is best to lightly sand and clean the surface.