How to Remove Paint From Glass in 5 Easy Steps
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Shea Cummings
- Last updated:
Even with meticulous preparation before painting, many people don’t take the time to tape off or cover windows, and in most cases, that ends up working out fine. However, sometimes drips or splatters happen. If it is wiped up quickly (while still wet), then paint is easy to clean off the glass. Even when dry, it’s not difficult, but more steps are involved than just wiping it.
Luckily, we’ve got the solutions! Read on below for 5 easy steps to remove paint from glass.
Things to Get Before You Start
- Safety: Rubber gloves, cut-resistant gloves
- Tools: Razor blade, spray bottle, rags
- Materials: White vinegar, glass cleaner
How to Remove Paint From Glass in 5 Easy Steps
1. Use Vinegar
Using a microwaveable dish, bring about one cup of white vinegar to boil in the microwave. How long this takes will depend on your microwave’s power.
After putting rubber gloves on, dip a rag into the boiled vinegar and scrub each painted area on the window.
Depending on how thick the paint is, the hot vinegar may soften it enough to peel or scrub off. If you can’t get it all off this way, move on to step two.
If there is a lot of paint on the window, you may choose to skip this step altogether and go on to soaking the paint with soap and water and scraping it.
2. Wash Window with Soap and Water
Squirt a generous amount of dish soap into a bucket or large bowl and fill it with warm water. Ensure that there is enough soap in the water to make it quite sudsy—more soapy and slippery than you would usually have it.
Wash the window areas that have the paint you are trying to clean. Some of the paint may come off after being loosened by the vinegar, but the point here is more to make the painted areas slippery with soap.
3. Scrape With Razor Blade
If you do not have a holder for the razor blade, it may be a good idea to make sure you have some cut-resistant gloves for this step.
Holding the razor at a 45-degree angle to the window, scrape the painted areas in smooth motions. The soap will act as a sort of lubricant to make your razor slide nicely.
NOTE: Be careful not to twist or put too sharp of an angle on the blade as it is possible to dig in and scratch glass with the blade.
4. Repeat Soap and Water
Once you have scraped the paint with the razor, there will likely be small chunks still clinging to the window. Use the soap and water from step two and clean the window one more time. This will ensure that all the paint has been successfully removed.
5. Final Clean With Glass Cleaner
Soap and water will leave streaks and film on the window. Once you’re satisfied with the paint removal, use a cleaner designed for glass.
If you don’t want to use any chemicals, white vinegar makes excellent glass cleaner. Mix equal parts water and vinegar in a spray bottle for a homemade glass cleaner. Use high-quality paper towels, a dry lint-free cloth, or newspapers for a streak-free window.
Alternative Cleaning Solutions
White vinegar and an ammonia-free glass cleaner are the safest and most eco-friendly ways to clean glass. However, a more heavy-duty solution may be necessary depending on how much paint there is to clean.
- Nail polish remover
- Paint thinner
- Rubbing alcohol
Conclusion
As you see, there’s no need to call anyone for this DIY task. You can get the kids involved with this task if you go the more natural route with vinegar and soapy water. Depending on their age, you may just want them to help with the scrubbing portion, though. Either way, happy scraping! Don’t forget to tape off the window next time.
Featured Image Credit: FotoDuets, Shutterstock
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