Paint on your floor tile can be a disaster for the appearance of the tiles. The disaster occurs because the majority of the time when you get paint on floor tile the paint is totally dry or cured before you realize it is there. Dries paint is much harder to get rid of than wet paint is.
Just because dried paint is hard to remove does not mean it is impossible to remove. There are ways to get the paint off of your tile without damaging the surface of the tile, or the grout. The key element that is required for all paint removal is patience. You have to be patient and be willing to work slowly if you plan on getting the unwanted paint off and leaving the tile in great condition.
Using Razor Blade to Remove Paint from Tiles
A tried-and-true method of removing paint from tile or glass, and from many other surfaces is to scrape the paint away using a razor blade. This type of paint removal is slow work because if you try to work quickly you are likely to scratch or gouge the surface the paint is on, or worse, cut yourself with the razor blade.
What You Need
- Old fashioned single sided razor blade
- Dry cloth
- Knee pads are optional but can be helpful
What to Do
You always start a paint removal from a floor by cleaning the area. You will want to sweep and then mop the surface of the floor to remove any dirt, debris, or particulates that may cause interference during your work.
You need to get down on the floor and hold the razor blade in one hand. You want to angle the blade so you can work around the edges of the paint. The angled blade should look like you are trying to get the blade under the edge of the paint.
Very gently work around the edges with the blade. You can apply slight pressure to try and make the blade scrape under the dried paint. When you break away a few pieces of the paint use the dry cloth and wipe over the area so the loosened pieces of paint do not block your progress.
Continue this process until the paint has been completely removed.
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Heat Gun Removal Paints from Floor Tiles
One of the greatest things to have on hand when you need to make the paint go away is a heat gun. The heat gun gets so hot that it causes the paint to begin to melt. As the paint melts it is scraped up and wiped away from the surface.
What You Need
- A heat gun
- A scraper
- Protective gloves
- Clean cloths to wipe paint from the scraper
What to Do
The first order of business is to clean the floor. Go ahead and sweep and mop the area so there is no dirt or debris on it.
You need to plug the heat gun into the nearest outlet and allow it to have ample time to reach the right temperature.
Get down on the floor so you are able to hold the heat gun about two inches away from the paint surface. With a heat gun, the amount of heat is extremely intense so you want to have on protective gloves to ensure that your hand does not come into contact with this heat, or with the face of the gun after it has been heated thoroughly.
Aim the heat gun at the edge of the paint and work the gun back and forth along a small section. You do not want to try and heat the entire section at once. Pick an outer edge that you want to start with and heat strips along the outer edge. Once you see the paint begin to melt or blister you can take the scraper in your other hand and slide it along the floor so that the blade of the scraper goes under the newly blistered paint and lifts the paint from the floor.
As you lift up the scraper you can wipe it on an old rag to remove the excess paint. You can move ahead and be heating the next section of the paint while you complete the scraping and removal of the first section.
Warnings and Useful Tips
- Exposure to a heat gun can cause serious 3rd-degree burns requiring medical attention.
- You should never let the paint dry again after you have heated it. Be sure to remove it quickly so it does not dry back in place.
- Heat guns can damage surfaces so keep the gun moving at all times, and do not keep the heat concentrated on one area for very long.
Removal Using Paint Removers or Thinners
Another method of removing paint from tile is to use a paint remover or paint thinner to loosen or liquefy the paint so that it can be wiped up.
What You Need
- Goggles or similar eye protection
- Mask or respirator
- Disposable plastic or vinyl gloves
- Paint thinner, paint remover, or mineral spirits
- Old rags that can be thrown away after use
- scraper
- Bucket with warm soapy water
- Clean dry rags to dry the area after washing it with the soap and water
What to Do
Clean the floor by sweeping and mopping. You might want to clean the area with vinegar and water. The vinegar can cut through polishes and difficult to remove substances.
Put your protective gear on. Read the instructions on the paint remover container before you begin to apply it to the paint. You will have to allow the paint remover to stay in place over the paint for somewhere between 15 and 30 minutes so it has time to start liquifying the paint.
When you see the paint begin to bubble, ooze, or crack you will take your scraper and work at lifting the oozing substance from the floor tile. Periodically wipe the scraper to remove the excess and continue to scrape away paint.
When the paint has been scraped away you will want to clean the floor again. Use soap and water to wash the area, and then dry the area with a clean dry rag. If you see any paint still in place you will want to repeat the application, waiting and scraping process until all evidence of paint is removed.
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Professional Tips on Tiles Paint Removal
- Mineral spirits will work as a paint remover. The mineral spirits are gentler than many commercial paint-removing products.
- Make sure that you buy a paint remover that is approved for use on tiles.
- Make sure the room is ventilated adequately while you work.
- Never leave mineral spirits or paint removers within reach of children.
- Denatured alcohol, lemon juice, and white distilled vinegar are often useful in helping to remove dried paint. There are non-toxic substances and you should try them before you decide to apply a chemical remover.
- Do not use sandpaper on your tile but you can use a nylon pot scrubber to help you lift away the old paint.
Final Thoughts
Removing paint from tile is not always difficult. The easiest method will be to keep paint drips and runs wiped up while they are still wet. If the paint is a water-based substance you may be able to clean it up using nothing more than soap and water.
