How to Remove Paint From Vinyl Floors? (Dried or Wet Paint)

You can remove water-based and oil-based paint from vinyl floors without damaging the planks.

To know the paint type on the floors, use rubbing alcohol. The paint is water-based if it gets removed, and the paint is oil-based or sealed if it doesn’t get removed from rubbing alcohol.

To remove water-based paint from vinyl floors, use soapy water or rubbing alcohol. To remove oil-based paint, use baking soda or solvent-based paint remover.

How To Find The Paint Type on Your Vinyl Floors?

To find the paint type on the vinyl floors (or planks), damp a rag with rubbing alcohol and wipe the floor. The paint is water-based if it gets removed from the rubbing alcohol, and the paint is oil-based or sealed if it doesn’t get removed.

Rubbing alcohol is a natural paint remover that removes water-based paints, but can’t remove oil-based paints or sealed finishes.

You can find the paint type on the vinyl floor by using a flashlight and inspecting the finish. Oil-based paint finishes have a glossy and reflective finish while water-based paint finishes have a dull and textured finish.

You must know the vinyl floor paint type to know which products and methods to use to remove them. Use a solvent-based paint remover to remove oil-based paint, and use soapy water (or rubbing alcohol) to remove water-based paint.

How To Remove Water-based Paint From Vinyl Floors?

To remove water-based paint from vinyl floors, do the following things.

1. Use Soapy Water
2. Use Rubbing Alcohol.

1. Use Soapy Water

Use warm soapy water to remove fresh water-based paint from the vinyl floors. Warm soapy water will over-thin the paint until it’s completely removed.

The tools you need for this method are listed below.

• Rags
• Dish soap
• A bucket of water
• A foam sponge
• A mop

Here is the guide for this:

1. Wipe the wet paint from the floor with a clean rag.
2. Mix warm water with soap.
3. Pour the warm soapy water over the painted spots.
4. Use a scrubbing brush to wipe the painted spots.
5. Pour clean water to clean the floor.

2. Use Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol (or isopropyl alcohol) is a natural paint remover that can remove wet and dry water-based paints from different surfaces. Rubbing alcohol penetrates the paint finish, dissolves the binder, and liquefies the paint coating.

The tools you need are listed below.

• A bottle of rubbing alcohol
• Clean rags
• A plastic paint scraper
• A mop

Here is the guide for that:

1. Damp a clean rag with rubbing alcohol, mineral spirits, or acetone.
2. Use the dampened rag to wipe the dried paint.
3. Wait around 10 minutes.
4. Scrape the paint coating with a plastic scraper.
5. Re-apply rubbing alcohol over the leftover paint.
6. Clean the rubbing alcohol residue from the floor.
7. Use a mop to clean the floor and leave it to dry.

How To Remove Oil-based Paint From Vinyl Floors?

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

1. Use Baking Soda.
2. Use Solvent-based Paint Remover.

1. Use Baking Soda

You can remove wet oil-based paint from vinyl floors with baking soda. Baking soda absorbs the paint, and then you can wipe it off with a rag.

The tools you need are listed below.

• A clean rag
• Baking soda
• Water
• A vacuum or broom

Here is the guide for that:

1. Sprinkle baking soda on the surface– since the paint is fresh/wet, the baking soda powder will absorb it.
2. After a few minutes, vacuum or sweep the baking soda off – doing so will remove the absorbed paint too.
3. Mix baking soda with water in a ratio of 3:1 (3 part water, 1 part baking soda).
4. Damp a rag with the mixed baking soda.
5. Use the damp rag to wipe and clean the floor – this will remove leftover paint.
6. After a few minutes, wipe the floor with a soft microfiber mop and leave it to dry.

2. Use Solvent-Based Paint Remover

You can remove dried oil-based paint from vinyl floors with a solvent-based paint remover, such as mineral spirits, turpentine, or acetone. Solvent-based paint removers dissolve the paint binder and liquefy the paint, making it easier to wipe it off.

The tools you need for this project are listed below.

• A bottle of acetone
• A paint scraper knife
• Clean rags
• Dish soap
• A bucket of water
• A foam sponge

Here is the guide for that:

1. Damp a rag with a solvent-based paint remover (acetone, turpentine, or mineral spirits).
2. Use the dampened rag to wipe the painted spots.
3. Wait around 20 minutes for the paint finish to bubble.
4. Scrape the paint with a plastic scraper.
5. Apply solvent-based paint remover over leftover paint.
6. Use soapy water to remove the paint remover residue from the floor.
7. Mop the vinyl floor with a floor cleaner and allow it to dry.

You must remove the residue of the paint remover as it can discolor the planks.

What Are Some Other Methods You Can Use?

Other products that you can use to remove paint from vinyl floors are listed below.

1. Vinegar: You can remove wet paint from vinyl floors using vinegar.
2. Goo Gone: You can remove small and fresh water-based paint stains from floors with Goo Gone Latex Paint Remover.
3. Magic Eraser: You can remove small paint stains from floors with Magic Eraser.
4. Paint Thinner: You can remove paint from floors with paint thinner.