How to Get Spray Paint Off Of Concrete
Paint is used on almost everything inside or outside a house. But sometimes we can spill or over spray paint on concrete outside. Getting spray paint off of concrete isn’t that hard if you know the right things to do. The good thing about concrete is that it can stand up to strong chemicals to get paint off of concrete without damaging it.
Because concrete is solid and resistant to a lot of things. This will make the cleaning process super easy with some of the chemicals I will let you use. So let us begin getting that paint off your concrete, whether it is acrylic or water base paint.
Ways To Get Paint Off Of Concrete:
Below is six methods that I have personally used to remove and get paint off of concrete and have your concrete look normal again within minutes or hours, depending on which of the methods you choose from.
Tool Needed:
- Paint Scraper
- Acetone/ Nail Polish remover
- Paint Thinner
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Scrub brush
1. Acetone / Nail Polish Remover
Acetone and nail polish remover are basically the same thing with a different names. Acetone is the main ingredient in nail polish remover because it breaks down the polish. Acetone might smell strong, but it is safe to use on your hands and concrete.
Using acetone to get a large amount of paint off of concrete will take a good amount of it. What I would recommend is scraping a large chunk of paint off the concrete, then pour a generous amount of acetone on the area with the paint marks and let it sit for 1-2 minutes to penetrate the paint.
You can now either use water from a hose and wash the concrete off or use a scrub brush and break it down even more and wipe it right off the concrete.
2. Paint Thinner
Paint thinner is a very strong chemical that you should be careful with when using. You should always wear a face mask and a glove every single time because the paint thinner is much more concentrated and was made for the sole person of thin-in out past so that it can be sprayed or applied easier to a surface.
Because paint thinner is flammable, most large online stores like Amazon, Walmart, home depot, and more places will not ship it. So the best thing to do is buy it at your local store. To use the paint thinner, simply pour some on the paint and when you see the paint breaking down, start to wash off the area. When you are done, add some more paint thinner to the area and clean off what is remaining.
3. Heat Gun / Blow Dryer
A blow dryer is similar to a heat gun, but it just produces less heat. When hit with a direct amount of heat, the paint will start to melt away, which slows you to wipe or scrape it off if the area of the concrete that has the paint on it is no more than 5 inches long.
To use the heat gun or blow dryer on the paint. All you need to do is put whichever one you have on the hottest setting and hold it 3-5 inches away from the paint. Wait until you see the paint melting or getting soft, and then you can scrape it off with a butter knife or paint scraper.
4. Wash The Paint Off
Some paints aren’t acrylic which means they are made of water and not oils and other chemicals like acrylic paint. If the paint you are using is water base, simply use your garden house or water in a large container and wash the area off before the paint is dried up.
If the paint is dried up, you will need to scrub it with a brush and some water, and it will come right off. Paint will not stick to concrete that much because of how the concrete surface is, so this will not be too hard to wash off.
5. Scrape The Paint Off
This method might be the first thing that comes to your mind when you see the paint on your concrete. If it was spray paint that got on your concrete, you would need to try one of the methods above to clean it off. But if the paint was spilled, then you can use something to scrape it off at a 45% angle. The best things to use are a paint scraper or a butter knife.
6. Use Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a strong chemical that is safe to use on the human skin, so this is one of the best methods to use because it is safe for you. Hydrogen peroxide works best on water base paint and some acrylic paint. So use this product on paint that is water base that have dried up to get it to break down even faster than if you were just using water.
Also Read:
How to get paint to dry faster
How to get oil base paint off skin
How to get spray paint off hands
How to remove paint from floor tiles
Final Thoughts:
When it comes to getting paint off of concrete, it is best to clean it off as soon as it gets on the concrete before it dries. If the paint ends up drying, you can use any of the methods above. Always wear a mask, gloves, and other protective tools whenever you are handling paint and more.