How to Remove Dye, Paint and Coloured Stains

Types of Dye, Paint and Colour Stains

Before you begin, it’s important to identify what type of stain you’re dealing with. There are several types of paints and dyes that can stain your clothing, including:

• Egg paint
• Hair dye
• Gloss paint
• Emulsion paint
• Latex paint
• Water colour paint
• Tempera paint
• Puffy paint
• Laundry dye
• Food dye
• Acrylic paint
• Oil paint
• Food colouring

In each case, addressing the stain fast and not allowing it to dry will increase the chances that it can be removed completely.

Removing Dye, Paint and Colour Stains: Step by Step

To get rid of dye on your clothing fast or remove paint from clothes:

• Pick a Dynamo Professional detergent suitable for the fabric colour
• Remove excess paint and dye
• Flush the back of the stain with warm water
• Apply the Dynamo Professional detergent
• Rinse and wash
• Check to see if the stain is gone

Choose a Detergent

Look at the garment label and make sure the garment is washable before beginning the stain removal process. For the toughest stain removal, we recommend Dynamo Professional Liquid.

Pre-Treat the Stain

Using a spoon, scrape off as much dye or paint as you can, being careful not to spread the stain further. Turn the shirt, pants or jacket inside out and flush the back of the stain with warm water. Then, apply your selected Dynamo Professional detergent to the front of the stain and let it settle into the fibers for 30 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

Wash Immediately

Don’t wait to wash the clothing after pre-treatment. Check the care label on the clothing and wash at the highest possible temperature that is safe for the fabric. Once the wash cycle is done, check to see if the stain is gone. If it isn’t, pre-treat and wash again.

How to Get Dye, Paint and Coloured Stains Out of Different Laundry Types and Fabrics

Dye and paint stains don’t always occur on machine-washable fabrics and laundry types. If you’re trying to remove these types of stains from your carpet or couch, first test the fastness of the item against water and detergent in an inconspicuous area. If safe to do so, pre-treat with a Dynamo Professional Liquid, then blot away the detergent with cold water. Blot with a clean, cloth until the area is dry to prevent mould and mildew from developing.

If the item is not washable take it to the professional laundry and dry-cleaning service.

If you’re working with a tough fabric like cotton, leather or denim, treating dye and paint stains is as simple as following the above steps.

However, if you need to remove these stains from fine washable fabrics like wool or silk, always treat and hand wash with a sensitive detergent. This detergent is designed for delicate materials and won’t damage them while removing the stain.

Special Conditions for Dye, Paint and Coloured Stain Removal

Getting stains from paint, dye or hair colour out of your clothes can be a hard job. When the stain is dried, however, it can be almost impossible. While some clothes may never recover from old or dried stains, you may be able to remove some by soaking the garment in a mixture of warm water and your Dynamo Professional detergent for a couple of hours.

Homemade and Natural Stain Removers for Dye and Paint Stains

Using natural stain removers and homemade stain removers may be something you want to attempt when getting rid of dye and paint stains. However, be careful about doing so. Unlike Dynamo Professional detergents, which are made for use in your washing machine and are created to remove stains and dirt from clothing, many natural solutions like hairspray, rubbing alcohol, vinegar and hydrogen peroxide can have unexpected consequences.

While dye, paint and coloured stains can be hard to remove from clothing, they aren’t impossible. Use the above tips to get rid of them!