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Removing Acrylic Paint from Tile

Removing Acrylic Paint from Tile [11 Ways for Tile & 5 Grout]

author avatar Shojib Hoq | Sep 19, 2022
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Acrylic paint is water based paint, so it is one of the easiest paint to remove from the tiles. While painting, it is very common to fall paint on the floor. And for not taking care, paint can be cured. 

So how to remove acrylic paint from the tile?

There are a lot of options to remove acrylic paint from tiles. Examples are warm water & dish soap, heat gun, vinegar, acetone, paint stripper, paint thinner, sandpaper, buffer, etc. However, some of them can damage tiles glazed. You could deal with this issue if you test and then apply.

In this article, I will explain how you can remove paint from the tile and grout and how to ensure tile protection while removing paint. I will give you a lot of ideas for removing paint. Please read the full post and choose the best one for you. 🤗

Table of Contents

How do you protect tiles while removing paint?

Mostly used tiles are stone, ceramic, and porcelain. The tiles also divide into glazed and unglazed. The paint remover process mainly affects glazed tiles. 

Before applying any solvent or cleaning material on tiles, you should check the tile manufacturer’s guidelines. Also, when you buy any solvent from a local store, you should ask them which solvent and how to use it on your glazed tiles.

If you get your cleaning materials, first test them in a small unseen corner. If you are sure it does not affect tiles glazed, then time to go for ultimate cleaning. 

What should do if accidentally remove glazed from the tile

If you remove the glaze from tiles or discolor it, the best option will be to refinish tiles. Refinish can back glaze again, and tiles will look like new. However, you need to pay extra, but it is a wealthy decision.  

How do you refinish the tiles?

You can apply general house latex paint with sealant polyurethane for refinished tiles. But latex paint is not recommended. Because it is not durable and does not give a premium look. You should apply specific paint, which only makes for tiles finish.

Necessary material for tile finishing

How do you refinish the tiles properly?

Step 1: Clean tiles properly 

Paint can not stay on properly on dusty surfaces. So sweep the floor fast, then vacuum it. Then take detergent or soap in a bucket and mix with water. For extra cleaning, you can mix Krud Kutter cleaner with water. Clean all tiles surfaces with a scrubber brush or sponge with soapy water. Make sure no dust or wax on the tiles. Give it time to dry.

Step 2: Prepare the paint area

Before painting, of course, prepare the area. Cover every corner, and unwanted area with tape. For floor protection, you can use drop cloth or plastic sheet. 

Step 3: Paint preparation 

You can put down small amounts of paint in the paint tray. Setting the rollers. For corners and fixing little gaps use paintbrush.

Step 4: Start paint first coat (base coat)

Begin painting from the corner area. A brush is a right tool for cutting edge corners. You can easily reach hard areas with the paintbrush. Complete all corners properly.

Step 5: Paint roller

Use ⅜ inch nap paint roller. Attach the extension if you paint floor. Apply paint with roller for existing tiles area. Use the roller vertically. Complete one line next start the other line. With little practice, you can use the roller smoothly. Cover the tile grouts properly. 

Step 6: Dry time

Now give it time to dry. With proper ventilation, the first paint coat will dry fast. Give it 6-8 hours to dry for the next coat.

Step 7: Final and top coat

Be careful! Do not scratch the first coat. Mix the paint properly in tin cans with a stick. Before applying a top coat, again check the dust on the painted tiles. If you find dust, sweep it properly and go for painting. 

To final coat, repeat the first coat process, cut the corner with a brush, and roller the entire tile. Use the quarter-inch nap paint roller for the top coat. Quarter inch nap is thinner than the 3/8 inch nap and doesn’t absorb as much paint liquid.

Go slow with the top coat. It can streak easily because it is a very thin layer. The top coat will add extra durability when the first coat (base coat will be dry).

Step 8: Wait for cured

After finishing the painting project, give it time for proper drying and cure. The paint will be dry in 1 day. For the floor, after 3 days you can walk and add furniture. And in 7 days, the paint will be completely cured. 

How to Remove Acrylic Paint from Tile

For unglazed tiles

1. Paint thinner + dishwasher: for non-cured paint removing

2. Warm water + dish soap + cleaning spray

3. 220 grit sandpaper: scrape paint with fine-grit sandpaper 

4. Home remedies (baking soda + Harpic + detergent): Make strong home solution

For glazed tiles

5. Heat Gun: Heat paint for making soft 

6. Goof Off: Good product for dried paint 

7. Goo Gone: Can be a good solution 

8. Nail polish remover: Works great for acrylic paint removing

9. Paint stripper: Specialized for removing cured paint 

10. Rubbing alcohol: Try softening paint, then remove.

11. Buffer: The best option for large areas.

Removing Acrylic Paint from Tile [11 Ways for Tile & 5 Grout]

#1 Paint thinner

Note: This method is not for glazed tiles. There are chances for scratch tiles.

Paint thinner is generally used in oil base paint. But you can apply it on tiles to soften acrylic paint and then rub it with a dishwasher. Paint thinner is not good for cured acrylic paint. But for uncured paint, it works well.

You need

How to use paint thinner & dishwasher combo

Step 1: Put the paint thinner on the acrylic paint, and give it some time to dissolve.

Step 2: After 2-3 minutes, use the dishwasher to scrape the paint. Rub harder until remove the paint. 

Step 3: Take a rug and clean the paint from the tiles.

This short video can help you.

Does paint thinner hurt tile?

Paint thinner is used for thin oil paint and cleanup chemical after oil-related painting. It can remove tiles glazed; however not very effective. It is a safe chemical if you use small amounts and clean up fast. 

However, you can test in a small area before go the main project. 

#2 Warm water

Note: This method is not for glazed tiles. There are chances for scratch tiles.

Warm water can be a good option for removing paint. 

What do you need?

How to apply this method? 

Step 1: Mix warm water with dish soap. 

Step 2: Apply water on the tiles, and use scrub pad for tiles and toothbrush for grout. Rab the paint.

Step 3: Clean the tiles with normal water.

Step 4: Apply Fabuloso cleaning spray, and use a window scrubber on the tiles. 

Step 5: Clean the tiles.

Step 6: Final step, apply Elbow grease. Clean the tiles with a rag. 

#3 220 grit sandpaper

Note: This method is not for glazed tiles. There are chances for scratch tiles.

If the paint is not removed with warm water and paint thinner, you can go with a fine-grit sandpaper. However, standing should be as light as possible because it can harm tiles.

What do you need

How to apply sandpaper

Step 1: Carefully rub sandpaper on the painted area.

Step 2: Remove the paint with a toothbrush.

Step 3: Apply soapy water to clean the tiles.

Step 4: Repeat the process until clean paint properly. 

#4 Home remedies (baking soda + harpic + detergent)

Note: This method is not for glazed tiles. There are chances for scratch tiles.

You can make a homemade solution for removing acrylic paint from tiles. Generally, all materials can be available at home.

You need

  1. Harpic (heavy-duty toilet cleaner)
  2. Baking soda
  3. Detergent
  4. Scrubbing brush 
  5. Safety gloves 

How to apply home remedies to tiles

Step 1: Take a bowl. Put 1 tablespoon detergent, 1 tablespoon baking soda, and 1 tablespoon harpic. Mix it properly. It will look like a thick paste. 

Step 2: Wear gloves. Spread the mixer paste into every corner. One bowl for 25 square feet. You can increase or decrease the mixer depending on the floor size. 

Step 3: Start rubbing the tile with a scrubbing brush. Try harder to remove cured paint.

Step 4: After removing the paint, apply water to clean the paint from the tiles.

#5 Heat Gun

Heat gun softens paint, and you can easily wipe off with wet clothes with olive oil.

You need

  • Heat gun
  • Olive oil
  • Rug/short cloth

How to apply heat gun

Step 1: Heat the paint area until the dried paint is soft.

Step 2: Put olive oil in a bowl. And take a rug. Wet it. Remove the paint and stain on the tile. 

Step 3: Clean the oil and paint from tiles with clean clothes or tissue paper.

Here is the tutorial video 🤝

Can you use a hair dryer to remove dried paint?

A hairdryer can be a good tool for heating paint. You can use the hair dryer as a heat gun for removing paint. However, there are different brands with a lot of limitations. But you can easily use it for short projects 😉.

#6 Goof off

Goof off good for heavy-duty dried acrylic paint cleaning. It dissolves paint, and then you can remove the paint with a scraper.

You need 

How to apply Goof off

Step 1: spray Goof off on the cured paint

Step 2: Give it time to dissolve

Step 3: scrap off the paint with tiles scraper

Step 4: clean the tiles with water and the rug

#7 Goo gone

Goo gone expertise removes any type of adhesive, sticker, etc. It also can remove any type of water base and acrylic paint. Goo gone dissolves the dried paint and can clean the paint easily with a scraper and rug. 

Apply the same method as Goof off. However, I explain again. 

You need

How to apply Goo gone?

Step 1: Take Goo gone sprayer and spray the paint area.

Step 2: Give it 10 minutes to dissolve.

Step 3: Take a tile scraper and scrape off all the paint.

Step 4: Finally, apply water and wipe off with a rug.

This video can help you

#8 Nail polish remover

Note: Hrush solvent. Before applying for a tiles project, test it.

Nail polish remover works great for removing acrylic paint from tiles. It contains acetone, which can dissolve paint fast and easily.

What do you need?

  • Nail polish remover
  • Rug

How to apply 

Step 1: Put a small amount of nail polish remover on the paint.

Step 2: Give it 10-60 seconds to dissolve.

Step 3: Take a dumb cloth or rug, and clean the paint.

Take care something

  1. After the finished product, remove the nail polish remover as fast as possible.
  2. Don’t make the project too large.

#9 Paint stripper

Note: Hrush solvent. Before applying for a tiles project, test it.

Paint stripper is specialized for removing cured paint. You can use it to remove paint from tiles. 

You need

How to apply the paint stripper?

Step 1: Clean the area with water and vinegar. The water and vinegar mixing ratio will be 1:1. Wipe the water with a rug.

Step 2: Ware gloves, goggles, and musk, then apply a good paint stripper on the curd acrylic paint. Give it more than 1 hour to dissolve.

Step 3: Take a tile scraper, and scrape off with a 40-45 degree angle. And remove the paint.

Step 4: Wash a clean rug with warm water, then clean the paint from the tiles.

Be careful

  1. Before applying a paint stripper, you must test it with the following methods in a small area. If you are happy, go for the main project.
  2. After finishing the project, clean up the tiles as soon as possible.

How does vinegar remove paint from tiles?

Regularly vinegar is used for home cleaning projects. But for cured paint, vinegar is a very weak solvent. However, if the paint is not cured, you can easily clean it with vinegar. 

#10 Rubbing alcohol

Note:  Solvent! Before applying for a tiles project, test it.

Rubbing alcohol has good power for dissolving dried acrylic paint. Many acrylic painters use rubbing alcohol for cleaning acrylic toolkits.   

What do you need?

  1. Rubbing alcohol (99%)
  2. toothbrush 
  3. Clean rug 

How to apply rubbing alcohol?

Step 1: Clean the paint with warm water. And wipe it off with a rug.

Step 2: Apply a small amount of rubbing alcohol on the paint. And give it about 1 hour to dissolve.

Step 3: use a toothbrush and rub the paint area.  

Step 4: take a clean dumb cloth and clean the paint. 

#11 Buffer

If the paint remover space is large, use a buffer. This machine does a very good job of removing paint. In a short time, you can clean big areas. 

You can rent a buffer near paint store.

This video gives you an idea of how to use a buffer on tiles.

How to Remove Acrylic Paint from grout?

You can use razer, paint thinner, worm water, glass cleaner, etc., to remove acrylic paint from grout. However, some methods can discolor the grout, so test before applying. 

  1. Warm soapy water
  2. Razor & paint thinner  
  3. Windex
  4. Paint stripper
  5. Apply epoxy: Restore color without risk.

#1 Warm soapy water

You can pure worm water in the grout, then use a brush to remove the paint. This method does not work for cured acrylic paint. If the paint is stubborn, warm soapy water and brush are enough for grout cleaning. 

#2 Razor & paint thinner

With a razor, you can scrape off paint from grout. And with paint thinner, you can clean the remaining paint.

You need

  1. Razor blade
  2. Paint thinner 
  3. Toothbrush 
  4. Rug

How to Apply this method

Step 1: Take a razor blade and scrape the dried acrylic paint in the grout.

Step 2: Razer does not clean all dried paint. So apply paint thinner in the grout, and give it some time to dissolve. 

Step 3:  Take a brush, clean the remaining paint from the grout, and clean up with a rag.

#3 Windex

Windex is a glass cleaner. But it also can work well for removing acrylic paint from grout.

You need

  1. Windex
  2. Brush

How to apply Windex?

Step 1: Spray Windex in the grout, and give it more than 15 minutes to dissolve.

Step 2: Take a toothbrush and rub the paint until remove. 

Step 3: Clean the Windex with a rug.

#4 Paint stripper

Paint stripper soften dried acrylic paint. It is one of the good options for removing paint.

What do you need?

  • Paint stripper 
  • Brush
  • Dumb cloth /rug

How to apply paint stripper?

Step 1: Wet the area with 50:50 water and vinegar mixer. Then wipe off with a cloth.

Step 2: Apply paint stripper on the grout affected paint area. And give it 1 – 24 hours to dissolve.

Step 3: Take a toothbrush and brush on the dissolve stripper. 

Step 4: then clean it with a clean rug/dumb cloth.

#5 Apply Epoxy

Applying epoxy resin restores the color of the grout. No need to scrap or strip the grout. However, it would help if you had little practice before applying the epoxy. 

What you need

  1. Premixed grout mix (A)
  2. Hardener/ clorant (B)
  3. Trowel 
  4. Grout float
  5. Sponge

How to apply epoxy?

Step 1: clean the tiles properly. Use can use water and vinegar 50/50 solution for cleaning tiles. Clean the grout with a rug.

Step 2: open premixed grout mix compound bucket and put hardener in the bucket. Now mix it with a trowel. The mixing part is very hard. You can use a drill for easy mixing. Mix properly for 4-5 minutes.

Step 3: The compound will dry fast. So you must apply it within 30-40 minutes after opening the bucket. 

Step 4: Apply the epoxy with trowel on the grout and then use grout float for planning. 

Step 5: Apply grout trowel with a 90-degree corner. Fill up the grout.

Step 6: After applying epoxy, clean the remaining epoxy with the grout float. Apply 90-degree corner for removing epoxy.

Step 7: However, all epoxy does not be clean, especially in the corner. Take a wet sponge, and clean everything from the tiles. Be careful; you have to remove the epoxy before being cured. 

You can check this video for crafting idea

What is the best way to get paint off of the tile?

Stubborn and none cured paint; you should apply worm water and brush first. If the paint is cured, you can apply nail polish remover or paint stripper. These will work well for removing acrylic paint but be careful! They can discolor tile.

To remove cured paint grout, you can use razer to remove paint and paint thinner for the remaining paint. The safest option is to apply epoxy in the grout.

However, you can try all the above methods, which will work well.

If you think this article is helpful, please shear it with your friends and family. Maybe this information can help their life 🤗.

About the Author

Shojib Hoq

My name is Shojib, and painting has been my passion since childhood, and it still holds a special place in my heart. I absolutely adore the process of painting, pouring, and creating crafts.

Tags: acrylic paint, cleaning, remove paint, tile