Congratulations, you have just finished a DIY job and must be filled with satisfaction. However, you had your favorite kicks on, and right now they are drenched in paint, and seem like something that is old and out of date. As you would not wish to ruin them, in this guide, we will acquaint you with how to get paint out of shoes without affecting the fabric.

As we get ready, think of this for a second: imagine if you could avoid any possibility of staining your shoes in the first place? But what if the shoes are waterproof and can therefore not affected by any form of challenge that is posed to it?

Cleaning paint off your shoes would be easier in this case and we suggest our pair of Vessi shoe that is completely waterproof. And the best part? They are fashionable, comfortable, cushioned, environmentally friendly, and functional- you can wear them for walking or jogging.

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However, if you already have another pair stained with paint, then the following paint removal tips can be of help. You don’t need any professional skills to have your paint-stained shoes looking like new; all you’ll need are some household items and time. Let's get started below!

How to Remove Paint from Your Shoes

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Paint stains can permanently damage your kicks, so it is good to remove the stain as soon as you see them. Still, you will consider a few things before you start, including;

• The upper material

• The type of paint: It can be acrylic, oil-based, or latex paint

• If the paint is wet or dry

So, to ensure we cover all these topics, let's see how you can clean different types of shoes below.

1. How to Remove Paint from Fabric or Canvas Shoes

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Full-grain leather and canvas shoes are light on the upper part; although often rather thick and sturdy, the canvas has many pores which can instantly absorb paint. Therefore, you should begin the cleaning of the shoe fabric the instance that you notice that the area has been stained. Here are the supplies you need for the job:

• Warm water

• Dish soap

• A soft-bristled brush or toothbrush

• Rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover (for oil-based stains)

• Cotton balls (for oil-based stains)

• A clean cloth

I. How to Remove Latex or Acrylic Paint from Canvas Fabric Shoes

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If you've accidentally gotten acrylic or latex paint on your canvas or fabric shoes, don't panic! Here's how to remove the paint from your shoes:

Step 1: Before doing anything, one should make sure that the paint is not wet, and in that case, they should blot the stains using absorbent material such as cloth or a piece of newspaper. While doing so, it is also important that the paint does not spread to other part of the shoe. Moreover, do not rub vigorously because this feeds the paint even further into the fabric. To clear any large spill, use a spoon to scoop off the additional paint. You can omit the step if you are going to use your surface to spray paint or dry paint stain.

Step 2: Soak the shoes in warm water for about 10 minutes to loosen the paint.

Step 3: Use the toothbrush to remove paint from the soles after soaking. Then, add a small amount of dish soap to another bowl with warm water and mix it in.

Step 4: Soak a cloth with warm water mixed with soap, ring and dab over the stained area to pick all the loose paint. Continue repeating this step until you wash off all the paint. Also, depending on the hardness of your upper fabric you can clean the area with a toothbrush in a very soft way. When using a toothbrush one should not apply to much pressure so as to prevent spoiling the material.

Step 5: Once all the stains are gone, clean the shoes as you normally do. Here is our guide on how to clean canvas shoes. Alternatively, see how to wash sneakers in a washing machine and how to wash shoelaces for the best results.

Step 6: Let the pair air dry. If that's not an option, here is our guide on machine-drying your shoes.

II. How to Remove Oil-Based Paint from Fabric and Canvas Shoes

When removing oil-based or spray paint, you need rubbing alcohol to loosen the paint. Here are the steps to remove oil-based paint from your shoes:

Step 1: Dip a clean cloth in some water and attempt to remove as much excess paint as can be from the shoe. This step is useful only if your paint stain has not been dried yet. If you have a large amount of wet paint on the surface, scoop it off with a spoon.

Step 2: Soak a cotton ball in the nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol and then, very lightly dab this into the stained part. Make sure it does not have too much rubbing alcohol on the cotton swab lest more of the paint is spread around. Do this blotting till all the paint comes off that can be removed using blotting papers. However, if the stain is stubborn, it is also advisable to gently brush with a mineral spirit. You can use a toothbrush.

Step 3: When you have blotted all the paint stains, launder your shoes in the basin or washing machine as usual. Then, leave the shoes to air dry in a cool place.

2. How to Remove Paint Stains from Leather Shoes

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Removing paint from leather kicks is easier than canvas or fabric shoes. Here are the supplies you will need:

• Clean cloth or paper towel

• Cotton ball

• Rubbing alcohol

• Mineral spirits or turpentine (for oil-based stains)

• Leather conditioner

I. How to Remove Chemical or Water-Based Paint Stains from Leather Shoes

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Here are the steps to remove acrylic or latex paint stains from your leather kicks:

Step 1: If you are cleaning wet paint, use a clean cloth or paper towel to blot the area gently. Avoid rubbing the paint, as this can spread it further.

Step 2: Dip a cotton ball into the rubbing alcohol and dab on the stained area until the paint loosens.

Step 3: Turn the object with painted surface sideways and apply some pressure to remove paint with a clean cloth, until it is gone. Again, you may revisit this step several times — dab the area with the rubbing alcohol and then wipe it off.

Step 4: Once you remove all the paint, apply the leather conditioner to restore the leather's natural moisture and suppleness. Then, use a soft, clean cloth to buff the shoes to a shine.

II. How to Remove Oil-Based Paint Stains from Leather Shoes

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To remove oil-based paints from your leather pair, you need to use turpentine or mineral spirits to loosen the stains. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Use a dry cloth or paper towel to blot the excess paint from your shoes. This step is only applicable to wet paint.

Step 2: Apply another coat by dampening a cotton ball with turpentine or mineral spirits and blot the paint stain. Please make sure that you use circular motions and do not apply too much pressure since this can harm the leather.

Step 3: Place the solvent on the paint stain and let it work for several minutes to soften the paint; Use a clean, damp cloth to remove the paint and the solvent. Repeat it until you wash out the stain.

Step 4: Let the shoes air dry overnight, then apply a leather conditioner to restore the leather's health. Finally, buff the shoes to a shine.

3. How to Remove Paint from Suede Shoes

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Because suede is less robust than leather or canvas, it will be slightly more difficult to get paint off. Namely, you will not utilize solvents or a paint thinner, scrub the shoes, or apply water to them directly. Thus, you should clean the stain while the paint is wet; otherwise, you’ll find that the material will be irreversibly ruined.

Here are the supplies you will need to remove oil-based, acrylic, or latex paint from suede shoes:

• A suede brush

• A pencil eraser

• A clean cloth

• Dish soap

• Fingernail file

Follow these steps to remove the pain stains from your suede shoes;

Step 1: Use the clean cloth to blot as much paint from the shoe as possible.

Step 2: Pour warm water into the water and pour some dish soap, swirl it around to create bubbles and soaps. Next, the bubbles and suds should be gathered with a cloth and gently massaged into the stained area.

Step 3: Wipe the area with a dry cloth to remove all the paint. Repeat the step as many times as necessary, ensuring not to wet the suede with water.

Step 4: Feel the fabric with your fingertips to determine the direction of the suede grain and then glide the pencil eraser along the grain. After that, it is recommended to use a suede brush to brush the affected area to remove dried paint.

Step 5: Use a fingernail file to gently rub the affected area, thus removing any leftover paint stain.

Step 6: Finally, use the suede brush to gently brush the nap of the suede back into place.

Conclusion

Paint stain that has settled on your shoes can be very stubborn when trying to remove it but with the right tools and strategy it can take a few minutes at most. So, when you follow the steps for each shoe material and particular paint then it’s easy to repair your shoes. By following the tips and techniques above, you are likely to have your shoes free of paint stains and looking as great as they were when you bought them and for many other years to come.