Where there is painting there is some surface with paint on it unintentionally. Yep, we all get painted on something we should not from time to time. Readers have asked us how to remove spray paint from plastic. We understand this dilemma because some harsh chemicals will actually melt or damage the plastic, and leaving the paint on the item is not always an option.
Removing Spray Paint with Paint Thinner
Commercial paint thinners are fabulous at removing paint. With that said, I must caution you that commercial paint thinners and paint removing agents are made with harsh chemicals that can damage the plastic, or even cause the plastic to melt or disintegrate.
Be very cautious about applying these chemical agents to any plastic surface. Read the manufacturer label to determine if the substance is approved for plastic items, and see what kind of plastics the manufacturer says the substance has been tested on.
When you choose a remover always try a small amount of substance in an inconspicuous place on the plastic item. Try it in a place that no one is ever going to see, or will rarely see. This will allow you to determine if the solution is going to do any damage, fade your paint, or ruin the item completely.
If the test spot turns out okay then proceed with the removal by following the manufacturer’s instructions on the product. Always wear gloves and eye protection when you use a chemical-based paint thinner or solvent.
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Remove Spray Paint from Plastic with Household Items
Water Should Be Your First Option
A large percentage of paints on plastics can be removed with simple water. Before you try any removers, scrubbing agents, or tedious processes, take the item to a place where you can wash it off with running water.
If the item is small you can do this in a sink or the bathtub. If the item is large you can do this in your yard or driveway and use your garden hose to apply the water.
Spray the water directly onto the paint and continue spraying until you see all the paint particulates wash off the plastic.
Soapy and Water
When water cannot get the paint off of the plastic your next step should be to try some warm soapy water. Soap has a way of making things turn loose and paint is one of the things we use soapy water to wash off of our skin.
Make a bucket of warm soapy water and get yourself a scrub brush. Apply the soapy water to the plastic using the scrub brush. Rub the brush over the paint stain until you see the paint begin to break away.
Rinse away the paint you have loosened, and then repeat the scrubbing process until all traces of the paint are gone.
Isopropyl Alcohol
This is regular, run-of-the-mill, rubbing alcohol that most people have in their homes right now. It is a great cleaner for glass and you can use it to remove paint from plastic without doing the chemical damages to the plastic that commercial paint removers do.
All you need to use this method is a bottle of rubbing alcohol and a clean dry cloth.
Pour the alcohol directly onto the paint stain and then use the cloth to vigorously rub. This process may take several minutes to begin work. Once it starts to work continue to apply alcohol and rub the area with a cloth until all of the paint is gone.
You do not have to rinse the item later. Alcohol dries quicker than water so it will easily dry and evaporate from the surface. It is also non-toxic and will not harm your pets or children if you clean the item with it.
When the alcohol dries the odor of the liquid will go away. You will not be left with an item that smells like rubbing alcohol.
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Distilled White Vinegar
Vinegar, like rubbing alcohol, is something that most people have in their homes. Vinegar is used for cleaning, can remove paints from some surfaces, is non-toxic, and will not harm the environment or your pets, plants, or children.
You use vinegar to remove paint like you would use rubbing alcohol. Pour the vinegar onto the area and let it sit for a few minutes undisturbed. Then take a clean dry cloth and rub the area vigorously to wipe the paint from the surface.
Repeat the process of pouring on the vinegar and then scrubbing until all of the stains is washed free of the plastic. If you do not like the strong vinegar aroma left afterward you can rinse the item with clear water to remove the excess vinegar.
Important Safety Tips When Removing Paints
When using a substance like acetone to remove paint make sure that the plastic makeup is dissimilar from the acetone or the acetone will dissolve the plastic.
Goggles and eye protection should be worn when you are doing jobs like cleaning paint from a surface. It is very easy for a small amount of fluid to get into your eye, or a particulate of paint to get in your eye. Even non-toxic substances like vinegar can burn and irritate if they are introduced into the eyes.
Always wear disposable gloves when you are doing this type of cleaning. If alcohol or vinegar are introduced to a cut they will irritate and burn the cut. They can also dry your skin out and cause the skin around your fingernails to crack and bleed. Disposable gloves protect your hands and let you do the work pain-free.
The chemicals that melt or damage plastics may take some time to create damage. If you apply a solvent or remover to a piece of plastic in a test area, give the solution several hours to see if it will do any damage. Do not assume that it will be fine because it did not ruin the piece in a ten-minute time period.
Keep all paint thinners and chemical solvents at a safe distance from sources of heat like your hot water heater. Some of these substances are flammable. Also, keep these ingredients in a place that children and pets do not have unsupervised access to. These chemical paint-removing agents are poisonous to pets, children, and plants.
Do not rinse chemical paint removers onto the grass or shrubbery in your yard. The chemicals in the solution can damage the plants or kill them. It would be best if you NEVER rinsed those types of chemicals into the storm drains or sewers because they can cause dangerous reactions.
Final Thoughts
Paint on plastic can be worrisome. The great thing about getting paint on plastic is most paints do not have the ability to adhere to the slick surface so the paint is usually pretty easy to remove. If you get paint on a porous surface like brick or concrete then the removal process may be twice as hard.
Always try the simplest method of removal first, and work up to the hard stuff like paint removers, and chemical solvents.
