How To Get Paint Off Stained Wood

When you're painting or remodeling the interior of your home, paint can splatter, drip or somehow find its way onto your finished floors. The best thing to do is to get to the paint right away. The longer the paint sits, the more it will seep into the finish of your wood floors and will become harder to remove. Warm water and paint thinner will help get the paint off the floor, thus preventing damage to the wood.

Step 1

Determine the type of paint you are removing. Paint that is water-based can be removed with warm water and a clean towel. Paint that is oil-based needs the assistance of a paint thinner.

Step 2

Wet a clean towel with hot water to wipe away the fresh paint from the surface of the floor. Paint is a lot easier to remove when it is still wet. If the paint has dried, the hot water will loosen it up, making it easier to remove. Use a sponge to scrub stubborn dried paint from off the floor.

Step 3

Use paint thinner to remove oil-based paint from the floor. Apply a small amount of paint thinner to a rag and wipe across the painted area in a circular motion. Use the paint thinner sparingly to prevent removing the finish from the areas of the floor that have not been exposed to the paint.

Step 4

Use a sharp utility knife to remove large droplets of dried paint. Gently shave and pry the paint from the surface of the wood, being careful not to cut or scratch the wood's surface.