Paint and hardwood floors don’t mix. Paint can ruin a hardwood floor in just one coat, and some cleaning agents will also damage your hardwood floor over time. We’ll cover how to get paint off your hardwood floor in the following article:
First, lets understand all we can about
Paint
“Paint is any pigmented liquid, liquefiable, or solid mastic composition. After application to a substrate in a thin layer, converts to a solid film. It is most commonly used to protect, color, or provide texture to objects. Paint can be made or purchased in many colors and types, such as watercolor or synthetic. Paint is typically stored, sold, and applied as a liquid, but most types dry into a solid. Most paints are either oil-based or water-based and each have distinct characteristics.
For one, it is illegal in most municipalities to discard oil-based paint down household drains or sewers. Clean up solvents are also different for water-based paint than they are for oil-based paint. Water-based paints and oil-based paints will cure differently based on the outside ambient temperature of the object. Usually the object being painted must be over 10 °C. Manufacturers of external paints/primers state they can be applied when temperatures are as low as 2 °C.”
So in the above quoted definition of what paint is you can see the clean up is different for different types of paint.
-How to clean up dry paint without damaging the surface
Always test the surface first with a solvent or any product to make sure it will not be damaged.
-How to clean up wet paint without damaging the surface
If you have a spill that has already dried, scrape off as much of the excess material from the floor using an edging tool or putty knife. Wipe down any remaining residue with dry cleaning microfiber towel. If possible, remove baseboards in areas where there is no loose paint on them before trying to remove any residual wet paint. Allow time for all residues or stains left behind by removing solutions from floors/walls etc…to dry fully. Begin re-coating surfaces.
- Preparation of the floor. Preparation of the floor surface is the first step before carrying out any maintenance activity on the floor surface.
- scrape old harden paint
- Use a mild cleaning detergent.
- Use commercial paint removers.
- remove old gloss paint from hardwood using denatured alcohol.
Goof Off Dried Splatter Paint Remover
is the best product to use. When using always apply to the microfiber towel. Then using towel apply to the floor. Some gentle pressure with a 5-in-one tool on top of the towel generally removes any and all paint.
Disclaimer
“ Kennedy Kitchens and Baths is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to www.amazon.com.”
-What household cleaners should you avoid when trying to remove dried paint from your wood floors?
DO NOT USE VINGEAR AND WATER
Since vinegar is an acid, it will actually break down the finish on the surface of your floor, and over time it will reduce the shine and leave a dull appearance. Using vinegar and water to clean floors can also lead to an excessive amount of water on the floor, which can cause swelling and discoloration.
-Tips for removing old varnish from your wood floors
Sanding off the old varnish is only way to remove this efficiently.
Conclusion
There are a few things you can do to avoid ruining your hardwood floors. Paint, for example, is notoriously difficult to remove from these surfaces and will stain the floor if not done properly. Some cleaning agents will also damage your wood so be sure you know what type of product you’re using before applying it. Don’t risk staining or otherwise damaging your beautiful flooring investment. At Kennedy Kitchens and Baths we’ve been helping people with their design needs since 1991. Including providing consultations on how best to care for hardwoods in one-on-one meetings. Our professionals have years of experience working with this surface material! Schedule today at https://kennedykitchensandbaths.com/schedule-consultation/ . We look forward to hearing from you.
