4 Ultimate Tricks On How To Remove Spray Paint From Plastic That You Need To Know
We use spray paint for a wide range of purposes. It's easier and more fun to paint and create colorful graffiti, paint vehicles and much more. But a lot of times, we accidentally make mistakes and apply paint in places that we don’t intend to. While it may be easy to remove or scrape off paint from wood, metal or ceramic, plastic is a whole different story. So, do you know how to remove spray paint from plastic? We’ll find out in this article.
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Proper care should be taken while trying to remove spray paint from the plastic surface. Many of the paint removers available in the market have strong chemicals. They may cause damage and breakdown of the plastic.
Further, you should also act cautiously while scrubbing the plastic surface to prevent it from chipping and blemished. Here we will be talking on how to remove spray paint from plastic. Specially, we will do it using some common and household chemicals and solutions.
Paint Scraper/Putty Knife or Razor Blade
You can use a paint scraper to remove spray paint from plastic, but it might not work all the times. For this, it is highly recommended to use a plastic putty knife or a razor blade.
When using the scraper, you should not apply too much pressure as it might lead to the scratching of the plastic surface and may even blemish it. Use it only as a last resort or when you are stuck with thick and dried up paint.
See the video below to find out which one you need:
Using Vegetable Oil
Vegetable oil can be used to loosen the paint from the surface of the plastic. So, how to remove spray paint from plastic with a litle bit of vegetable oil? Use a small rag and rub the vegetable oil on the paint surface till the paint starts to fade.
This might not be suitable for all paints and surfaces and you should use a stronger solvent if you see that the paint is not coming off after a few attempts. Other commonly available oils like olive oil can be used to remove the paint from the plastic surface even though it might be not as effective as other vegetable oils.
Interesting Use of Nail Polish Remover
How to remove spray paint from plastic with the help of nail polish remover? Well, nail polish remover can prove to be handier than you would expect. You can use nail polish remover not only to remove the nail polish from your fingernails but also to remove spray paint from the plastic surface.
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Take sufficient amount of nail polish remover and rub it on the paint surface with the help of a paper towel. If the paint doesn’t start to fade after a few attempts, leave the nail polish remover on the spot for five to ten minutes before rubbing it again.
Using Denatured Alcohol
Paint thinners generally do not have an effect on the paint spot if it is not still wet. Denatured alcohol can be used to remove spray paint from plastic surfaces where other options like vegetable oils and nail polish remove do not work. But it is important to note that denatured alcohol only works with latex based paints and not with oil based ones.
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Caution:
Denatured alcohol is extremely dangerous to your health when compared to the other options in this list. Proper care should be taken when using denatured alcohol to remove paint from the plastic surface. Use rubber gloves to prevent contact and exposure with skin.
Use a respirator and work in a well-ventilated and open area to prevent the formation of fumes. If you are working in a closed area, use an electric fan for proper ventilation in the working area. Smoking the fumes of denatured alcohol for prolonged duration can cause breathing problems and other health issues.
Sample the denatured alcohol on a small portion of the plastic to make sure that it does not damage the plastic. If you find that the denatured alcohol is safe for use on the plastic, use a liberal amount of the solvent on the paint surface and allow it to stand for a few minutes. This allows the denatured alcohol to loosen and dissolve the paint.
As the paint begins to wrinkle and crumble, use a plastic putty knife to scrape it off. Use a rag to remove the remaining paint from the plastic surface.
See the video below for more detail:
After you have used denatured alcohol to remove a significant portion of the spray paint from the plastic surface, pour warm water on a sponge and add detergent to it. Scrub the area with the sponge to remove the alcohol or any other chemical along with any residue of paint left on the plastic surface.
Your Turn
These are some of the easiest and commonly used methods to remove spray paint from the plastic surface. You can use any of the above methods or technique or multiple methods together based on the required results. Using a best Spray Mop you can also remove any dirt from plastic.
The process of paint removal is dependent on the type of paint and kind of plastic on which it is applied. And depending on the nature of the paint and the plastic, one method may be more effective than others. Conventional paint removers that are designed for metal and wood are not suitable for use on plastic surfaces. Also using thinners on the plastic is not advised as it could cause the plastic to melt.
But there are various industrial commercial grade paint removers available in the market that can be used to remove the paint from the plastic surface. You can even try to use duraglit or any other metal polish to remove the spray paint from the plastic surface but this is dependent on many factors like the amount of paint and the type of plastic.
As there are many different types of plastic that are widely in use, proper care should be taken when choosing a suitable spray paint solvent. Some of these solvents can even damage or melt the plastic and can give out harmful fumes.
Conclusion
I hope that you have learned how to remove spray paint from plastic surface with the help of paint solvents or other household materials. If there are any doubts or query on how to remove paint from the plastic surface or any topic in general, contact us through our comment section and we will get in contact with you as soon as possible.
Also, share the article to spread the information as it may also come in handy to your friends or family. Remember, sharing knowledge only helps you improve it.
