Dried Paint Removal on Hardwood Flooring

3 Materials
$15
1 Hour
Easy

HOW TO REMOVE DRIED PAINT

Our renovation projects have left a ton of dried paint specks all over our hardwood floors. But that's okay because I have a quick method for how to get paint off hardwood floors.

TOOLS (click to purchase directly through retailer):

sturdy scraper

vacuum with detail brush

Old English scratch cover

Step One: Prep the area by removing any surface dirt and dust with a vacuum. You are going to work in 1x1’ sections at a time. Don’t wet the flooring within 6 hours of employing this technique, as you want the paint to be completely dry and hard

Step Two: Making your way towards the walls, use your scraper to apply moderate pressure to the flooring. Do not push too hard. Start gently and if you need to rework sections, you can go back with more pressure. Apply enough pressure to flick the speckles of paint but take care not to gouge your floors or create additional damage.

You will likely notice your scraper will be covered in dust and dirt. This is good! You’re removing surface gunk buildup that your mop and vacuum can’t remove! Just wipe your scraper with a dry towel between each swipe.

Step Three: Using your vacuum’s detail or upholstery brush, apply gentle pressure to remove the loosened paint specks and dirt. Repeat steps two and three until all surface grime and paint has been removed.

Step Four: Using a small detail paint brush, Apply Old English Scratch Cover to any gouges or areas where the varnish has been worn and bare hardwoods are apparent. This will be particularly visible along the edges of the planks.

Step Five: Allow scratch cover to dry for 24 hours before mopping or allowing surface to get wet. Apply technique in 1x1’ sections until entire floor has been cleaned. Pay special attention to perimeter of the floor, as this is where gunk tends to build-up fastest.

Resources for this project:
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Teri | T. Moore Home
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3 of 6 comments
  • Hot water and a sponge works great. Just let it sit on the paint for a minute and it'll come right off with the green scratchy side. No elbow grease, no scraping, no chance of gouging

  • Robyn Garner Robyn Garner on May 03, 2020

    I am able to clean up dried paint from flooring generally using warm water, Dawn and a microfiber cloth. Anything stubborn I knock at with a fingernail - no damage (except my workworn hands lol!) 😎

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