There are many instances of people uttering famous last words.

“I regret that I have but one life to live for my country.”

“Say goodnight, Gracie.”

“We don’t need to hire a professional painter.”

Sure you don’t. Except now, not only do your walls look like a topographical map, but your carpet has the appearance of the floor of a kindergarten class after “learning to paint by numbers”. Before you hatch your plot to commit grievous self-flagellation, it might not be as bad as you think.

Like most stains, it’s always easier to clean paint if it’s still wet. For a fresh spill, splat, or splotch, put wet rags or paper towels around the paint stain. Then, use more towels to soak up as much paint as possible. Once most of it is up, continue to blot with warm water over and over until the paint is removed.
But like life, things don’t always happen in a best-case scenario. Maybe you’ve decided to get that last bit of painting done as you’re running out the door for a hot date, and you have to leave that fresh lake of Mustard Yellow until dawn.

It could happen.

Well, then you have choices depending on what type of paint you’ve used to pretty up your abode. If you’ve had the good sense to use latex paint, you’re golden. For starters, you’re going to have to re-saturate the paint. Use hot water to achieve this. Once you’ve introduced the H2O, lay a rag over the stain and wait for a few minutes. Then blot up the moisture over and over with a white rag or paper towel until the paint is removed from the area. Only start to scrub gently when the vast majority of the paint is already removed. This should remove the fine bits of paint in between the threads. Just be patient.

Of course, you might have a Da Vinci fetish for your woodwork, and oil-based paint is your go-to. Again, if it’s wet, it’s easier. But let’s not think easy at this point. You’re going to need something stronger than water. A common suggestion is using rubbing alcohol with a white cloth, paper towel, or cotton ball to blot up as much of the stain as you can. You may also want to blot in one direction so that the stain won’t have a tendency to spread.

If that doesn’t fully work, the heavier gun use a store bought spot remover that is made for carpets.  Using household remedies such as dishwashing soap can damage the fiber of the carpet. (If the product does not say it’s made for carpet, there’s a reason why!) Mix, and apply using a spray bottle. Gently blot the area, like there’s no tomorrow. Rinse with a small amount of water, and then stack paper towels on top to soak up the liquid. Keep rinsing until you see no signs of soap. Again always test a area making sure carpet is safe.

If you think this sounds like a lot of work, you’re right. And if you have a bit of trepidation about tackling something like this by yourself, you’re not alone. And that’s why we’re here. At Sams Carpet, we use an environmentally friendly cleaning system. Using the latest spot removal technology available, we pre-treat your carpet for all stains, including paint. We then use our powerful extraction cleaning system, which allows us to thoroughly clean all sides of the carpet fiber. A fresh-water rinse is also applied to remove any residue. This helps to keep your carpet cleaner… longer. If all else fails Sams Carpet Specializes in Carpet Patching and Carpet Repairs as well.

Here’s a testimonial from a client who experienced a paint disaster of her own, and gave us a call!

On Easter Sunday a full gallon of green latex paint fell down our stairs and landed on our living room carpet and nearby chair. We cleaned it as much as we could with a home carpet cleaner, but it looked terrible, and I thought we would have to replace it. The next day I called your company and was pleased to get a cleaning scheduled for the next day. The two men that came worked tirelessly to clean the stairs, carpet, and chair. I am very happy to say that the paint came out! I couldn’t be happier with the professional service that we received. I look forward to be able to refer your company to anyone!

– Kathy S.|St. Peters, MO

So go ahead and paint, Monet, and feel free to express your creativity on the canvas of life. And while we can’t tell you what colors to paint your domicile, rest easy that we can get that Chartreusey Lavender out of your carpet most of the time.