Tested! 10 Easy Ways to Get Paint Off Hardwood Floors

Paint on wood floors can be a major nuisance. Whether it’s a large spill or a small splatter, it can be a problem to remove without damaging the finish.

But don’t worry, help is here!

I’ve spoken to a few professionals, including a professional decorator and an incredible interior designer and furniture maker.

They’ve shared their insights on how to remove paint from wood floors without damaging the finish. Then I went ahead to conduct multiple tests to try out the methods they suggested.

After testing 10 different methods, I can confidently say that the most effective way to clean paint off wood floors with the least amount of effort is with acetone/nail polish remover. However, there are different types of wood floors and different types of paint, so let me show you what’s best for your specific type of wood flooring.

No real floors were ruined for the purpose of this experiment; I used the leftover engineered wood and vinyl floor samples we have in storage (this is what happens when you have just done a renovation).

I also used some leftover water-based and oil paint. Here’s a photo of my hands to prove it was a painful experiment 😭

Hopefully with my results you’ll learn:

• How to remove water-based paint stain from unvarnished wood
• How to remove oil-based paint stain from lacquered wood
• How to remove water and oil based paint from vinyl/laminate flooring (This is not real wood but many people have it in their homes)

10 Ways to Get Paint off Your Hardwood Floors [Experiment]

For this experiment, I used the following materials:

• 1 polished wood floor sample
• 1 unfinished wood floor sample
• 1 vinyl wood floor piece

I painted each sample with two coats of both water-based paint and oil-based paint, and let the paint dry overnight.

The following are the results of my experiment:

Method #1: Builder’s Wipes

I would never have considered using builder’s wipes of dried paint had our decorator, Solomon, not suggested it.

Solomon has had over 10 years of experience, so I trust anything he says. However, I was a bit hesitant at first.

“What a nightmare!” Solomon exclaimed when I told him the problem I was trying to solve. “The results will vary depending on the type of wood and varnish/polish, but it’s definitely not a foolproof method. If it’s fresh paint, industrial cleaning wet wipes or builder’s wipes might work, but if it’s dried, I would opt to sand the whole floor!”

In the end, I decided to trust Solomon’s judgment and give builder’s wipes a try.

Step-by-Step Guide for Using Builder’s Wipes to Remove Dried Paint:

1. Pull out a wipe and wrap it around your finger.
2. Apply enough pressure to rub the affected area, removing as much paint as possible.
3. The wipes will absorb the paint, lifting it off your wooden floors.
4. Repeat the process if necessary for stubborn spots.

Results and Observations:

This took an incredible amount of elbow grease, wiping back and forth for a very long time

Wood Type	Water Based Paint (WBP)	Oil Based Paint (OBP)
Unfinished Wood	I was impressed that this method removed quite a lot of paint from the unfinished wood. However, it did not get rid of the paint that had soaked into the grain. It also changed the colour of the wood as it moved the paint around	It barely budged the oil paint
Polished Wood	This method cleaned the polished wood a lot better than the unfinished wood. However, there was still evidence of paint in the grain	It did not budge
Vinyl	This method removed a lot of the paint from the vinyl floor, and I believe that it would eventually remove all of the paint with more pressure.	It removed a small bit after a lot of effort was applied

Verdict: 

After my experiment, I found that the builder’s wipes method was most effective in the following scenarios:

Type of paint: Wet water-based paint or tiny oil paint splatters.

Type of Floor: Vinyl floor.

Method #2: Nail Polish Remover / Acetone

I could not believe the results when I used used acetone. It was in-fact the best thing ever as the paint literally melted on contact.

I chose to use acetone as it is stronger than nail polish remover. Nail polish removers are typically a mix of acetone and other ingredients so I went for the stronger solvent.

You can find acetone at most beauty supply stores.

Step-by-Step Guide for Using Mineral Spirit to Remove Dried Paint:

1. Put some acetone on a cotton ball.
2. Rub over the old paint stain and watch it melt away.
3. Repeat if necessary.

Results and Observations:

Wood Type	Water Based Paint (WBP)	Oil Based Paint (OBP)
Unfinished Wood	The paint stain was very easy to remove, and it even removed paint from the grain of the wood	It also removed this but a few bits were left in the grain
Polished Wood	This was also very easy to remove, and with more effort, it could have gotten most of the stains out of the grain	It removed the stain without damaging the finish but  there was still loads left in the grain
Vinyl	The paint stain was removed completely, even in the grain and with ease	It removed this as well and even the stains in the grain

Verdict:

Acetone is the best thing for all paint and wood types.

Type of paint: All paint types

Type of Floor: All floor types

{READ POST: How to Vacuum Hardwood Floors (The Only Guide You’ll Ever Need)}

Method #3: Hand Sanitiser

This was the method that shocked me the most. I would never have put hand sanitiser and paint removal in the same sentence. 

But as Solomon, a professional decorator with over 10 years of experience, said, “hand sanitiser gel has worked for me and others I’ve worked with over the years. (Not all at the same time, but elbow grease is always required!)”

I guess it makes sense, hand sanitiser has a high alcohol content. 

Step-by-Step Guide for Using Hand Sanitiser to Remove Dried Paint:

1. Grab some cleansing pads and a hand sanitiser gel.
2. Pour some hand sanitiser over the dried paint stain.
3. Using the cleansing pads, rub over the surface of the paint in circular motions.

Results and Observations:

Wood Type	Water Based Paint (WBP)	Oil Based Paint (OBP)
Unfinished Wood	The paint stain was removed, but it slightly changed the colour of the wood	The stain barely came off
Polished Wood	This was one of the easiest take offs. It removed the paint without much effort	It took a lot of effort but some of the paint came off
Vinyl	The paint stain came off quickly and easily	It only budged a little bit

Verdict:

This was one of the quickest and easiest methods I tried, but I found it most effective in the following scenarios:

Type of paint: Water-based paint

Type of Floor: Vinyl and polished wood

Method #4: Warm Soapy Water

For this method, I used dish soap with hot water and an old toothbrush but you can also use a scrub brush.

I had a sneaky feeling it wouldn’t work well on oil-based paint, but I thought I’d give it a try anyway.

Step-by-Step Guide for Using Dish Soap to Remove Dried Paint:

1. Grab some dish soap, warm water, and a scrub brush or old toothbrush. You want a brush with stiff bristles.
2. Mix the dish soap and warm water in a bowl.
3. Scrub away in circular motions. Scrub really hard!
4. Wipe with a clean cloth and repeat till all the paint comes off.

Results and Observations:

I like this method because it is the easiest to find as most people already have dish soap at home

Wood Type	Water Based Paint (WBP)	Oil Based Paint (OBP)
Unfinished Wood	The soapy water took it off really well, with only a few stains left in the grain	It made no difference and did not budge
Polished Wood	I was impressed with how much it took off. With a harder bristle brush going in different directions, I could have removed the stains left in the grain	Also surprised that it took off a small bit of such a thick layer of oil paint. With persistence and a harder bristle brush, I could have gotten a lot of the stain off.
Vinyl	The stain came off relatively quickly	It barely budged even after several minutes of scrubbing

Verdict:

I found that the soapy water method was most effective for removing water-based paint from all types of wood floors.

Type of paint:  Water based paint

Type of Floor: All wooden floor type

{READ POST: Clean Sticky Grease Off Kitchen Cabinets in 5 Mins or Less}

Method #5: Steamer

Another method that came up a lot when I was doing more research was using a steamer.

Unfortunately I don’t own a steamer and didn’t want to buy one just for the sale of this so I used both my iron and a hair dryer. 

Some say it requires a little patience but I didn’t have any to give because I had found a method that really worked. 

I’ll save you a step by step guide as every steamer is different so follow the instructions for your steamer. 

Results and Observations:

Wood Type	Water Based Paint (WBP)	Oil Based Paint (OBP)
Unfinished Wood	No change	No change
Polished Wood	No change	No change
Vinyl	No change	No change

Verdict:

This is not an effective solution in my opinion and I don’t recommend it. But also, I don’t own a steamer so maybe that would have been more powerful.

Method #6: Sander

An electric sander is the most aggressive of all the methods and should be the absolute last resort when everything else fails.

Bear in mind that It is more likely to ruin the finish on your floors.

I would only sanding a floor as a last resort or in combination with another method that has left some paint in the grain.

I would also do this if it’s a large surface area and I plan on re-polishing the wood.

Step-by-Step Guide for Using A Sander to Remove Dried Paint:

1. Cut off a small piece of 100-150 grit sand paper. Alternatively, you can use a sanding block or an electric sander.
2. Hover over the hardened paint until it all comes off.
3. Wipe with a damp rag to remove the dust and re-sand if necessary.
4. You night need to refinish the floors if this is the method you have chosen.

Results and Observations:​

Wood Type	Water Based Paint (WBP)	Oil Based Paint (OBP)
Unfinished Wood	The sander took it off rather well without too much effort	Took is off well
Polished Wood	Sanding off paint on unpolished wood was surprisingly quicker than unpolished. It took a large amount of paint off.	It also took it off easily
Vinyl	Initially met with slight resistance but it came off	It took off more of the oil paint than the water based paint

Verdict:

The sander method is effective for removing all types of paint from all types of wood floors.

However, it is the most aggressive method and is more likely to damage the finish of your floors.

Type of paint: All paint types

Type of Floor: All wooden floor types but best for unfinished wood

Method #7: Rubbing Alcohol and Lemon Juice

Isopropyl alcohol and lemon juice is the strangest combination I have ever heard, but I had to give it a go because Solomon, our decorator, swears by it.

He told me that his good friend gave him the tip of mixing rubbing alcohol and lemon juice together, then scraping (gently) with a stiff plastic scraper.

Step-by-Step Guide for Using Rubbing Alcohol and Lemon Juice to Remove Dried Paint:

1. Mix one part lemon juice with one part rubbing alcohol.
2. Scrub over the stain  with a toothbrush.
3. Wipe with a damp cloth and repeat if stains persist.

Results and Observations:

Wood Type	Water Based Paint (WBP)	Oil Based Paint (OBP)
Unfinished Wood	When wiped off immediately, it has great result with minimal damage to the wood. With more scrubbing in different directions it will certainly take off all if not most of the paint	The paint did not budge at all
Polished Wood	I also saw very good results however there were stains left in the grain.	I only saw very slight movement in the paint
Vinyl	Not as great results as I saw on polished wood	I saw very minimal movement

Verdict:

This method is effective for removing water-based paint from polished and unfinished wood floors.

However, it is not effective for oil-based paint.

Type of paint: Water based paint

Type of Floor: Polished and unpolishe

Method #8: Mineral Spirit/ White Spirit

This was the first method I considered because mineral spirit is a common solvent used for removing paint from brushes.

I thought, “Why not wood floors?” But I was shocked at the results.

When Alicia of The Wainhouse Co., who made a lot of the furniture in our house, suggested it, I had to put it to the test.

She did say that it could take off any varnish and affect the floor finish so be careful when using it. 

Step-by-Step Guide for Using Mineral Spirit to Remove Dried Paint:

1. Gather your materials: mineral spirits, and a non abrasive cloth.
2. Make sure the room is well-ventilated. Mineral spirits can be harmful if inhaled.
3. Test the mineral spirit in an inconspicuous area first to make sure it doesn’t damage the finish on your floor.
4. Pour the mineral spirits over the stubborn paint stains.
5. Let it for a 2-4 minutes to soften it.
6. Scrub the paint away with the cloth or a paper towel.
7. Wipe the floor with a damp cloth to remove any remaining mineral spirits.

Results and Observations:

I must confess that I did not follow her instructions to the letter. I believe that letting it sit on any dried-on paint will deliver much better results. 

Wood Type	Water Based Paint (WBP)	Oil Based Paint (OBP)
Unfinished Wood	It surprisingly took a lot of effort and did not even budge. This was such a big surprise as I had high hopes.	Took off the oil paint a lot better and if I had let it sit, it could have taken more off.
Polished Wood	It took a lot of paint off without too much effort	It only took off a bit. Very comparable with dish soap results
Vinyl	It took a lot of elbow grease and barely took much off	It only took off a smidge after a lot of effort

Verdict:

Despite not following the instruction precisely, I found the mineral spirit method to be more effective with the oil-based stain in the following scenarios:

Type of paint: Oil based paint

Type of Floor: Polished wood

Method #9: Plastic Scraper

I believe the paint scraper should be used in addition to some of the other methods but I decided to have it as a stand alone method because it could work for very caked-on paint that simply needs to be teased out. 

Step-by-Step Guide for Using Mineral Spirit to Remove Dried Paint:

1. Scrape over any dried on stain 
2. Follow up with any of the other methods mentioned.

Results and Observations:

Wood Type	Water Based Paint (WBP)	Oil Based Paint (OBP)
Unfinished Wood	It took nothing off	It took nothing off
Polished Wood	The paint came of without much difficulty	The paint was extremely difficult to get off
Vinyl	The scraper barely took anything off	It took only a smidge off with a lot of effort

Verdict:

Type of paint: Water based paint

Type of Floor: Polished Wood

Method #10: Vinegar

Vinegar, the golden treasure of every household😂.

How could it not make this list. I was ready to swear that this would not work, but it surprisingly did work a little bit. 

Step-by-Step Guide for Using Mineral Spirit to Remove Dried Paint:

1. Fill a bowl with 2 tablespoons of white vinegar and water.
2. Dip a clean cloth or brush into the liquid and scrub over the stain.
3. Wipe with a paper towel or clean cloth.
4. Repeat if needed.

Results and Observations:​

Wood Type	Water Based Paint (WBP)	Oil Based Paint (OBP)
Unfinished Wood	No change	No change
Polished Wood	Surprisingly came off with minimal effort	Didn’t come off
Vinyl	It came off with a bit of effort	No change

Verdict:

Type of paint: Water based paint

Type of Floor: Polished wood and Vinyl

The Best Way to Get Paint off Wood, Ranked

I have been able to create this comprehensive table to help you quickly identify your floor type and safely remove any kind of spilled paint on it.

1. Acetone
2. Alcohol and Lemon
3. Hand Sanitiser
4. Mineral Spirit
5. Builders Wipes
6. Dish Soap and water
7. Vinegar
8. Sander
9. Steamer
10. Scraper

A Guide to Removing Paint from Wood, by Wood Type

After my long experiment, I can safely conclude that when you’re trying to remove paint from wood, the best method depends on the type of wood you’re working with.

Here’s my final verdict:

Wood Type	Best Method
Unfinished wood	Acetone and dish soap
Vinyl	Acetone and builders wipes
Polished wood	Acetone, alcohol and lemon, hand sanitiser

I hope you never spill paint on wood but if you do, you know where to find this post. 

Thanks for reading, and yes, I used some builder’s wipes to get the paint off my hands. 😉