Renovation of a place at least once in a few years is necessary on two counts. Besides improving the living and working conditions, it also allows you to contemporize your interior design and update your place’s structure for a more open feel. Installing new tiles, furniture, appliances – all that comes under the umbrella of renovation.
Renovation could also be less of new installation and more of wall and ceiling painting, which can equally modernise the entire look of a place. With multiple options available, you can always play with colours and shades for enhanced decor. However, along with that comes the stress of removing dried paint from the tiles! This is quite different from cleaning floor tiles on a regular basis, as paint stains require special care
While this may sound tedious, it is not! Removing paint from the tiles has been made so simple that you can even do it at your home, all by yourself. With the simple things available at your house, dried paint can be quickly removed to get a thoroughly cleaned place.
In this article, you will get to know about various methods through which you can get dried paint off of tile without spending much to replace the tile entirely.
Methods To Remove Paint From Tile Surface
1. Scraping – The first and foremost step is to scrap the dried paint off the tile surface. You can use a scraper to perform this method, although make sure that you do not scrap it harshly as it damages the tile surface. Once you are done, you can wash off the tile with warm water and use a rag to remove residue.
2. Vinegar Solution – The acidic property of vinegar makes it a fantastic paint remover. First of all, heat a little amount of vinegar in a saucepan and then dip a soft-bristled brush in the solution to apply it directly to the dried paint. Wait for 15-20 minutes, after which you would be able to see the paint getting softened. Once you get to this point, you can scrape the paint with a scraper and then clean the tile surface with a wet cloth or mop.
3. Lemon Water & Alcohol – Lemon juice and alcohol go hand-in-hand when it comes to removing paint from the tile surface. All you need to do is mix both the liquids in equal amounts and apply them to the paint using a wet cotton ball and move it in a single direction. After 5-7 minutes, you would be able to see paint getting removed from the tile. Once the dried paint is entirely cleaned, make sure that you rinse off the tile surface to wipe off the residue of the mixture applied.
4. Nail Polish Remover – Nail paint remover contains acetone that works well in removing oil-based paints. Once you are done scraping the dried paint, apply a little amount of nail polish remover on the tile by dabbing it gently. After leaving it for 5-10 minutes, you would be able to see the dried paint getting softened. Once most of the paint is removed, you can soak a cloth in acetone-based nail paint remover and directly rub it over the tile. This way, any leftover paint will be thoroughly cleaned. You can then easily wash it off with water.
5. Commercial Paint Remover – If you feel that the paint on the tile is proving tough to remove with the DIY solutions, you can always go for commercial paint remover. There are a lot of over-the-counter commercial paint removers available in hardware shops. You can go through the instructions on the box and follow the steps to remove paint accordingly. Just remember that once you are done with it, wash the tile with water. Otherwise, the leftover paint remover can cause damage.
Steps To Remove Paint From Tile Grout
Step 1 – Ensure that you remove all the dust and dirt from the tile and grout by wiping with a wet cloth or mop.
Step 2 – Heat a small amount of alcohol in a saucepan and then mix it up with lemon once it is at room temperature.
Step 3 – Dab the mixture on the tile grout gently. Wait for 5-10 minutes. You would be able to see the dried paint getting decompressed.
Step 4 – Use a scraper or knife and carefully remove the paint from the grout without tampering with the tile.
Step 5 – Once you are done scraping off the paint, take a soft-bristled brush and dip it into the alcohol and lemon solution. Gently rub it over the tile grout to make sure that paint is completely removed.
Step 6 – At last, wash the tile and the grout with plain water and ensure there is no alcohol residue left. After this step, you can use a dry cloth to absorb the excess water.
Also Read: How to Remove Cement From Tiles
What Points To Keep In Mind While Removing the Dried Paint From Tiles
1. If you are opting for commercial paint remover, make sure what type of cleaner you are using. There is a possibility that some removers might be harsh to the tiles and could cause damage to the tile surface. Dipping your toes is your go-to here, as you can perform an experiment with a small portion of tile and then continue only if it works well.
2. It is not always the case that a DIY solution or commercial paint remover would soften the dried paint. Most dried paint can be easily scraped with a scraper or knife. If it is proving too tough a job to scrape the paint, you can use a heat gun to reduce the paint dryness beforehand.
3. Make sure that you do not use a paint remover or acetone directly on the entire tile as it may cause damage due to its chemical properties. Just a little solution on the paint would work without harming the full tile. Also, while applying any such chemical substance, open all the windows to let its smell not collect in the closed room.
4. Simply using a natural solution of vinegar and essential oil would work flawlessly in removing dried paint from the tile.
5. Always use glasses, gloves and masks while cleaning just to be on the safe side.
Painting walls or ceilings is something you do only once a couple of years. And even if there is paint dropped on the tiles, the DIY methods mentioned above will easily remove it. Still, if you have any queries or doubts about cleaning paint from tiles or any other topic, you can always write them in the comments below!
