How to Remove Paint From Vinyl Flooring?

You’ve just finished re-decorating your kitchen and the walls look incredible! You’re really happy with the shade of blue and start clearing away. As you pull back the dust sheets that covered your LVT flooring you look in horror and see a dainty array of blue splats… disaster!

In this all-too-common scenario, what do you do? Panic strikes and you can’t believe you’ve splashed paint on your new floor. Don’t worry! I’m here to help and in this guide, I look at how to remove paint from vinyl flooring without causing damage.

Understanding the Composition of Vinyl Flooring

It’s important to look at the composition of your luxury vinyl flooring before tackling the paint so that you can understand what you can and can’t do. Usually, click LVT flooring and other LVT types are composed of multiple layers including:

• Wear Layer: The top layer is a wear layer that is meant to prevent damage and add to the durability of the vinyl.
• Protective Layers: Underneath the wear layer there are usually a few clear protective layers to add a little buffer and additional protection.
• Aesthetic Layer: The aesthetic or photographic layer has a printed pattern to give the tiles their style and colour.
• Core Vinyl Layers: Underneath the aesthetic layer there can be a myriad of core vinyl layers that add to the stability and depth of the flooring and give it more padding.
• Backing: Lastly, some click LVT flooring types have a backing or underlay so that they sit comfortably on your subfloor.

So, the layer that comes into contact with paint is the transparent wear layer and this ranges in thickness from 0.3mm up to 0.7mm with 0.55mm being the average. This layer is usually water resistant and for many manufacturers waterproof which means that paint shouldn’t cause a problem and can be removed without causing lasting stains.

How to Remove Wet Paint From Vinyl Flooring

Removing wet paint is really easy, especially if you catch it quickly and wipe it up a few seconds after the spill. I have given simple instructions for small spills and larger spills as you have to take a slightly different approach.

For small paint spills

1. Wipe the paint spill with a dry paper towel to soak up the excess liquid.
2. Use a solution of detergent (or dish soap) and water to wipe any paint that remains.
3. Wipe the solution away with a dry paper towel.
4. Rinse the area with some pure water.
5. Dry the area of the spill with a separate clean cloth.

For larger paint spills

1. Surround the spill with old rags or paper towels.
2. Soak the paint spill with dry paper towels.
3. Wipe the paint spill with a dry paper towel to soak up the excess liquid.
4. Use a solution of detergent (or dish soap) and water to wipe any paint that remains.
5. Wipe the solution away with a dry paper towel.
6. Rinse the area with some pure water.
7. Dry the area of the spill with a separate clean cloth.

The key with larger spills is to contain the spill and prevent it from spreading further which is why you surround it with old rags or dry paper towels first. By placing a fence of towels or rags, you can safely sponge the paint without it going all over your vinyl floor.

How to Remove Dry Paint From Vinyl Flooring

Sometimes you might not catch the paint spill and it can dry. In this instance, you have to take a two-stage approach and start by scraping the paint from your vinyl floor:

1. Place a wet rag or paper towel on top of the dried paint spill.
2. Leave it for around 15 minutes.
3. Use a plastic spatula and prise it underneath the paint spill.
4. Gently scrape until you prise the entire piece of dried paint from the floor.
5. If there is still a slight paint stain, use a solution of detergent and water to lightly scrub the spill.

The important thing here is to use a plastic scraping tool. I get that it’s tempting to use a knife or something from your cutlery draw but this will scratch the wear layer of the vinyl flooring whereas a plastic spatula or knife shouldn’t.

In the same instance, make sure you use a generic dish scourer and not something like a metal wool scourer. Standard dish washing scourers shouldn’t cause any damage as you scrub any remaining paint spill.

Keep Your Vinyl Floor Looking Immaculate and Free From Stains

Even if you are an incredibly skilled decorator and have taken care to cover your vinyl floors before painting, you can guarantee that some rogue blobs will still splash in your perfect LVT. But, with this guide on how to remove paint from vinyl flooring, you should now be able to tackle any stain with ease!

Remember, whether the paint is wet or dry, always clean carefully and never apply too much pressure. Although the wear layer on LVT flooring is designed to be tough, it is not impervious to damage when you start chiseling away at paint splashes!