Acrylic paint looks awesome on wood, but what if when you need to remove it from wood. Although removing acrylic paint isn’t rocket science, it can be challenging when needed. It would be more troublesome for you if you are a newbie or if you don’t have even any basic idea. Don’t worry!! Let’s know how to remove acrylic paint from wood?
You can remove acrylic paint from wood using soapy water if the paint is fresh. Scrub the mixture until the paint completely gets off. In case the acrylic paint is dry or old, you can use rubbing alcohol or a paint stripper.
However, you need to follow specific instructions to remove the acrylic paint from the wood. Plus, there are several methods to remove the paint. Whether you want to remove acrylic paint from wooden floors or furniture, stay tuned till the end to find the best solution.
What is acrylic paint?
Acrylic paint is made of pigment suspended in acrylic polymer emulsion. It is mainly water-based paint but becomes water-resistant after drying.
Acrylic paint also dries pretty quickly. It is an excellent choice for decorative paints, especially on wooden floors and furniture.
Top 7 methods and Steps to remove acrylic paint from wood:
Before knowing how to remove acrylic paint from wood, let’s collect the most needed things for this job.
Things you need to remove acrylic paint from wood (Overall process):
- Putty knife or a scraper
- Heat gun or steamer
- Damp cloth/damp rag
- Soapy water
- Stripping gel
- Rubbing alcohol
- Water+Vinegar
- Mohawk Finishing Products Remover
- Mestool 120 Grit Dustless Hook And Loop Sanding Discs
- Acetone
- Olive oil
- Mask
- Hand gloves
Now we are ready. Let’s talk about the possible methods to remove acrylic paint from wood:
Method 1: Remove dried acrylic paint from wood floor with rubbing alcohol
Our first experiment is to remove dried acrylic paint from the wood floor with rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol is mainly used for disinfecting but can also be a great solution for removing dried acrylic paint from wood.
Isopropyl alcohol is the main component of the rubbing alcohol that helps to erase paints. You can get the Solimo 70% Ethyl Rubbing Alcohol. It has a 70% concentration of alcohol and according to the experts, this is better than 99%.
How to remove dried acrylic paint from wood floor with rubbing alcohol?
After you have the rubbing alcohol, get a putty knife and a clean towel. Then follow the steps below to remove dried acrylic paint from wood:
Step 1: remove dry acrylic paint
First, remove as much dry acrylic paint as possible with the putty knife by scraping. Be careful not to damage the wood.
Step 2: start rubbing on the wood
Then pour a little bit of the rubbing alcohol on a towel and start rubbing on the wood back and forth. Continue doing this until the paint comes off.
It will affect the finish of the paint, too, so be careful and use the process only if you want to remove the paint completely.
Step 3: Clean the residues with soapy water
After removing the acrylic paint, clean the residues with soapy water. It may stay wet for a few hours; then, the wood will dry.
Method 2: Remove acrylic paint using a paint stripper
Paint strippers are specially made for removing paints from different surfaces. Here I will be sharing my experience with removing paint from the furniture in the following steps.
How to remove acrylic paint from wood furniture using a paint stripper
I know some of the paint strippers are toxic and unhealthy. That’s why I recommend you use the Citristrip QCSG801 Paint & Varnish Stripping Gel.
It’s less toxic and works pretty efficiently. After you get the stripper, follow the instructions below for removing acrylic paint from wooden furniture:
Step 1: Use stripping gel to remove paint
Pour the stripping gel all over the surface from where you want to remove the paint. Brush the gel to cover every area. After applying the gel, let it sit for around 24 hours.
Step 2: start scraping to remove paint
After the gel weakens the paint, start scraping them with a scrapper. The acrylic paint should easily come off the furniture. Starting scraping earlier may leave some paints and will require a second coat of the stripper.
Step 3: use sandpaper to clean off the residues
After removing the paint, use sandpaper to clean off the residues. Mestool 120 Grit Dustless Hook And Loop Sanding Discs is a perfect choice for this job.
Step 4: Use a cleaner to ensure a shiny look
Even after sanding the furniture, it may look dull. In that case, you can use the Mohawk Finishing Products Remover Wax Wash. Spray it on the surface and rub it with a clean towel to give your furniture a shiny look.
Method 3: Remove acrylic latex paint using a steamer/heat gun
If you have a steamer at home, you can use it to remove the acrylic paint from wood. However, a heat gun will work even better. They melt the paint with heat, and then you can remove them.
In case you don’t have a steamer, I recommend you use the Wagner Spraytech HT1000 Heat Gun. I don’t think you should purchase high-end tools only for removing paint. This heat gun has all the necessary functions within a low budget.
How to remove acrylic latex paint from wood using a steamer/heat gun?
The following steps explain how to remove acrylic paint from wood using a steamer or heat gun:
Step 1: Use heat gun or steamer to melt the paint
Hold the heat gun or steamer 3-4 inches far from the surface and turn it on. It will start melting the paint, which can be toxic. Wear a mask and use gloves for protection.
Step 2: scrape off the melted paint
Then, use a putty knife to scrape off the melted paint from the surface.
Step 3: remove the leftovers
Finally, rub the surface with a towel to remove the leftovers from the melted paint. Use soapy water if you find them sticky.
Method 4: Remove acrylic paint from wood with soap and water
You also can use soap and water to remove acrylic paint from wood if the paint is fresh and not dried completely. The earlier you use this solution, the more effective it is.
How to remove acrylic paint from wood with soap and water?
Follow the instructions below to clean acrylic paint from wood with soapy water:
Step 1: Prepare a solution
First, prepare a solution by mixing water and soap. You can use both the bar soap and the liquid dish soap.
Step 2: Scrub the soapy water on the painted surface
Scrub the soapy water on the painted wood surface. Keep doing it until the acrylic paint gets off. Rub the towel in line with wood grains for better results.
Step 3: clean the residues
After removing the paint, wipe the wood with a damp cloth to clean the residues. Rinse the wood if it feels soapy. It may take as long as 48 hours to dry the surface completely.
Method 5: remove acrylic paint from wood with vinegar
Vinegar may be the most valuable item in your kitchen. It provides a solution to a lot of problems, including removing acrylic paint from wood.
How to remove acrylic paint from wood with vinegar?
Follow the steps below to remove paint with vinegar:
Step 1: Prepare the mixture: Water+Vinegar
Warm the vinegar in a microwave oven or in a pan, and then mix it with water. You also can mix vinegar with warm water instead of heating the vinegar. Using 10 grams of vinegar with 100 grams of water is the best measurement.
Step 2: let the mixture sit on the acrylic wood
Brush the vinegar solution on the acrylic wood. Then let it sit for around 15-20 minutes.
Step 3: scraping the paint from the wood
Then start scraping the paint from the wood using a putty knife. Use a damp cloth to wipe the residues.
Method 6: Remove acrylic paint from wood using olive oil
You may have heard of the health benefits of olive oil. Surprisingly, you also can use this oil to remove acrylic paint from wood.
How to remove acrylic paint from wood using olive oil?
Follow the instructions below for a detailed process:
Step 1: pour the olive oil on the paint area
Pour a little bit of olive oil directly on the acrylic paint. Gently wipe the full area to ensure the oil covers the whole surface. Allow the olive oil to soften the paint for around 15 to 20 minutes.
Step 2: scrape off the paint
Use a scraper to scrape off the paint from the wood. Wipe the surface with a towel to clean properly. Apply mild pressure if necessary.
Step 3: clean the oil and paint residues
Wipe again with a damp rag to clean the oil and paint residues. Repeat the process if you fail to clean the first time.
Method 7: Remove acrylic paint from wood using acetone
You may have used acetone to remove acrylic paints. The liquid also is an effective acrylic paint removal.
If you need to cover only a small area or drops of acrylic paint, acetone can be the best solution. You can purchase the Pronto 100% Pure Acetone. It works excellently in the woods.
How to remove acrylic paint from wood using acetone
Follow the instructions below to remove acrylic paint from wood using acetone:
Step 1: Use acetone on the painted surface
Spill the acetone directly on the acrylic paint on the wood and let it sit for approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
Step 2: start scraping with a putty knife
When the paint is soft, start scraping with a putty knife or a scraper. Most of the acrylic paint should get off.
Step 3: Clean the residues
Clean the remaining amount with soapy water and then wipe the wood with a damp cloth to finish the cleaning process.
Conclusion
Acrylic paint looks fantastic on wooden floors and furniture. It can last approximately ten years. But sometimes, you may need to remove them earlier or may need to remove them for different reasons. You have asked how to remove acrylic paint from wood, and we have provided you with detailed solutions. Follow the one that fits your problem best and the one that is most convenient for you.
