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Nothing spoils the satisfaction of a paint job like drips and splatters on plastic surfaces, such as light switch covers, handles on uncovered appliances, step stools, and outdoor furniture. While it may take a bit of elbow grease to remove paint from plastic, especially if the paint has dried, the techniques below are effective ways to erase all evidence of your DIY painting endeavors.
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1. Wash it off with dish soap.
If your paint spill is fresh, mix warm water and dish soap in a bucket and wash the paint off with a clean rag or paper towels. Once the paint is gone, rinse the item with a hose or a clean, damp rag.
2. Use vegetable oil to rub it off.
If soap and water didn’t get rid of the paint, try vegetable oil to help soften and lift paint.
Dab oil onto a clean rag and rub the spill. Once the paint begins to give, use a paint scraper to chip it away (see below).
If vegetable oil doesn’t release the paint, don a pair of work gloves. Wipe away any oil residue, and dab nail polish remover containing acetone onto a fresh rag. Rub the paint with the moistened rag, repeating as necessary until paint is gone.
3. Lift it off with a paint scraper.
The weapon of choice for unwanted dried paint on a flat plastic surface is a paint scraper.
Starting at any corner or edge of the spill, apply the scraper as if sliding it underneath to gently lift off the splotch. Be patient and maintain constant, steady pressure; attacking it too vigorously could mar the plastic.
To remove paint from a contoured plastic surface like a chair, use a razor blade in the manner described above. Just keep the blade at an angle to avoid damaging the plastic piece, and take safety precautions at all times.
4. Scrub it off with rubbing alcohol.
For truly stubborn paint spills on plastic, turn to isopropyl alcohol. Unlike paint thinner, rubbing alcohol helps remove paint without melting the plastic. Be sure to wear a face mask if you’re bothered by fumes, and wear work gloves to protect your skin.
Following the package instructions for safe use, dab some alcohol onto a rag, and scrub the plastic vigorously until paint begins to disappear. It may take some time—and you may have to reapply the alcohol on the rag—but keep at it until you have a clean, paint-free surface.
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