Help! How do I get paint off my piano?

Question

Today we decided to move my husband's childhood piano from my in-laws to our house. There were some tight corners, and during the move some white paint rubbed off onto the front edge of the piano. Does anyone know how I can get it off without damaging the finish?

Cindy Morgan · Answer

If it was dry white paint and it rubbed off from another piece of furniture, maybe take a damp rag and wipe it away.

Gail Salminen · Answer

@Melissa Holderread you could try alcohol. If that doesn't work a product like goof off should work, but would try this in one spot and lightly/gradually (cloth aroound finger with small amount of the product and gently rub the area. Then polish the wood. Let us know what works for you.

Mary Insana · Answer

@Cindy Morgan that's exactly what I would have done first, grab a wet rag and see if it came off.

Bk · Answer

Try using Murphy's Oil Soap. It's made for wood & should not harm the piano at all. We used it on every piece of oak & maple furniture in the house when we had a fire a few years back. One of those items was our beloved family piano & it still looks like it never happened.

KMS Woodworks · Answer

magic erasure

Bee · Answer

I got paint on my daughter inlaw's antique mahogany hope chest. I didn't notice until a week later when we where putting it back. I used a magic eraser. I didn't hesitate one bit to use it. That product has worked for everything I have

Christine · Answer

I think it's transfer, vs. wet to dry paint. I suggest a magic eraser, or if it's stubborn, Murphy's OIl soap with a dish scrubbie -- VERY gently.

Jane Shepard · Answer

Help answer this question...TRY OOPS. MY FRIEND IS A PAINTER AND USES IT ALL THE TIME.. DOLLAR TREE HAS IT AND HOME DEPO HAS IT.

Carol · Answer

I have had wonderful luck with a dampened magic eraser. It removed transferred paint from a table edge.

Pat Dollar · Answer

Try these on a hidden area first to see if it causes any discoloration to the wood. Try rubbing alcohol which usually will work on dried paint. I also heard that Skin-so-soft works to remove paint.

Fleurette · Answer

I have had luck using Murphy's oil soap and very fine steel wool.

Linda Smith · Answer

try olive oil...it won't damage your wood and then you can oil the rest of your piano and buff it out when it has absorbed what it needs! If the wood is really dry you can use 1/4 cup white vinegar to 3/4 cup olive oil and it will clean then wood and go very deep. I have restored antiques using this. Sometimes a few rounds of cleaning and buffing. So worth it!

CHERYL CUDNEY · Answer

I am hooked on a product made by goo gone....it is called painters pal...not toxic...citrus...and works like a dream on tons and tons of things....like mascara on carpet etc...I even used it to soften tarnish on silverplate

Melissa Holderread · Answer

Thank you all so much for your help! I ended up using s mixture of water/vinegar/dishsoap and murphys oil soap and it worked pretty well. I am definitely going to try some of these other ideas tho! you all are lifesavers!

Johnavallance82 · Answer

Try Magic Eraiser. or maybe damp cloth with S urgical Spirit?

Help! How do I get paint off my piano?

Suggested Project Book

10 Wonderful Ways To Use Pallets (And The Results Are Beautiful!)

Other

More

Help! How do I get paint off my piano?

Suggested Project Book