How to Remove Paint from Wooden Floors? (Different Paint Types)

To remove water-based paint from wooden floors, sand the paint off or use a water-based paint remover.

To remove oil-based or spray paint from a wood floor, use a solvent-based paint thinner, lacquer thinner, a grinder, or petroleum-based solvents.

How To Find the Paint Type on The Wood Floor?

To find the paint type on the wood floor, do the following things.

1. Pour water over the floor.
2. Wait around 3 minutes.
3. If the floor absorbs the water, the floor has water-based paint over it.
4. If the floor doesn’t absorb the water, the floor is painted with oil-based paint or sealed.

Water-based paints aren’t water-resistant and will absorb water, while oil-based paints are water-resistant and won’t absorb the water.

You can find the paint type on the wooden floor by using the nail test:

1. Try to remove paint from the floor with your nails.
2. The floor finish is water-based if the paint comes off.
3. The floor finish is oil-based or sealed if it doesn’t come off.

You can also feel the paint’s texture to know its type. The paint is water-based if the texture is dull, and the paint is oil-based if the texture is slick and glossy.

Using the light test also works:

1. Shine your phone’s flashlight on the floor.
2. If the surface looks shiny, the paint is oil-based.
3. Water-based paints don’t reflect light or look shiny, so the finish will look dull.

However, if water-based paint is sealed with a topcoat (such as lacquer or polyurethane), the finish will have the same features as oil-based paint. So, sealed water-based paints must be removed the same way as oil-based paints. 

How To Remove Water-Based Paints From Wooden Floors

To remove water-based paints from wooden floors, do the following things.

1. Sand the Paint off.
2. Use a Water-based Paint Remover.

1. Sand the Paint off

Medium-grit sandpaper (100-grit) removes water-based paint from a wooden floor gradually without damaging the floor.

Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Clean the wooden floor to remove dust or debris.
2. Attach a medium-grit sandpaper to a floor sander.
3. Sand the floor to remove the water-based paint.
4. Remove the dust using a vacuum.

Don’t apply pressure on the sander while sanding because you can put too much force, and the sander will create wood gouges.

2. Use a Water-based Paint Remover

A water-based paint remover is a product designed to remove different paint types from surfaces. The paint remover penetrates the paint finish, dissolves the particle and the binder, and liquefies the coating so you can easily wipe it off.

Here is a guide on how to do this:

1. Clean the floor to remove dust and debris.
2. Apply water-based paint remover over the painted spots.
3. Wait around 30 minutes.
4. Use a scrubbing brush to remove the paint remover from the surface.
5. Clean the wooden floor with soapy water and allow it to dry.

How To Remove Oil-based Paint From Wooden Floors?

To remove oil-based paint from wooden floors, do the following things.

1. Use a Solvent-based Paint Stripper.
2. Use Lacquer Thinner.

1. Use a Solvent-based Paint Stripper

A solvent-based paint stripper is a product that removes different paint types from different surfaces.

The paint stripper paste penetrates the paint finish, breaks the bond between the binders, and dries over the finish. You must scrape the paint stripper paste from the surface and the paint finish will come off too.

Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Clean the wooden surface.
2. Apply the solvent-based paint stripper over the floor.
3. Wait around 30 minutes.
4. Scrape off the paint-stripping paste and the paint finish will come off too.
5. Clean the floor with warm soapy water.
6. Allow the surface to dry.

2. Use Lacquer Thinner

Lacquer thinner is a product that dilutes and removes different paint types from surfaces. It penetrates the paint finish and liquefies the coating, making it easier to wipe it off.

Here is a guide on how to do this:

1. Use a vacuum to clean the floor.
2. Apply lacquer thinner over the surface.
3. Wait 30 minutes.
4. Once the paint starts to bubble and change its color, wipe it off with a rag. 
5. Brush off the left-over oil-based paint with a toothbrush (or soft brush) and more solvent.
6. Remove the lacquer thinner residue.
7. Clean the floor with warm soapy water and let it dry. 

How To Remove Spray Paint From Wooden Floors?

To remove Spray paint from wooden floors, do the following things.

1. Use a Grinder.
2. Use Petroleum-based Solvents.

1. Use a Grinder

Grinders are power tools that can cut, polish, and remove spray paint from wooden floors. You can attach abrasive discs, wire brushes, or paint stripping wheels to the grinder power tool and use it to gradually wear off the paint finish.

Here is a guide on how to do this:

1. Pick the right attaching discs.
2. Attach the disc to the grinder.
3. Graze the grinder over the surface.
4. Remove leftover spray paint.

2. Use Petroleum-based Solvents

Petroleum-based solvent can soften and loosen a spray paint finish, making scraping it easier. Common petroleum-based solvent products include mineral spirits and turpentine.

Here is a guide on how to do this:

1. Sweep and wipe the wooden floor.
2. Apply mineral spirits (or other petroleum-based solvents) over the surface.
3. Wait until the paint finish starts to bubble.
4. Remove the finish by scraping or wiping it off.
5. Clean the surface with warm soapy water to remove the residue.

Other Methods/Products You Can Use:

1. Baking Soda

To use baking soda to remove paint from wooden floors, do the following things.

1. Mix a few tablespoons of baking soda with boiling water.
2. Apply the mixture to the surface.
3. Wait 10 minutes.
4. Scrape or use a soft brush to remove the finish. 

2. WD-40

You can use WD-40 to remove small water-based paint stains from a wooden floors.

3. Goo Gone

You can use Goo Gone to remove water-based paint. But, you must use Goo Gone Latex Paint Remover (or Clean Up Wipes) to get the best results. 

4. Scrape Paint Off

You can remove paint by scrapping it off, but you must dissolve (or soften) the finish first. If you scrape a dry finish from a floor, you will leave marks and gouges behind.