How To Remove Paint From Wood Floors (4 Ways)

Wood floors are a classic option that suits nearly any home. However, caring for them can be a bit tricky, especially with substances like paint. So, how can you safely remove paint from a wood floor?

The best method to remove paint from a wooden floor depends on the type of paint. You can try using a putty knife, rubbing alcohol, a heat gun, and paint thinner. Always stick to recommended methods, as anything else can damage the floor, causing more harm than good.

Let’s take a closer look at the different ways to remove paint from wood floors, including which method is best for each type of paint, the tools you’ll need, and what to avoid when you’re dealing with wood.

Which Tools Do You Need?

Man stripping paint with heat gun

The tools you’ll need to remove paint from a wood floor depends on the type of paint you’re trying to remove and the method you’re using.

However, for most methods, you’ll need a rag and a putty knife (which you can find on Amazon). Putty knives are very effective for scraping away paint, especially if the paint’s been softened first.

Other tools you might need include:

To determine the exact tools you need, it’s best to start by figuring out the type of paint you have on the floor. If it’s been there for a long time and you aren’t sure, then you can start with the less aggressive methods to check if the paint will come off. If it doesn’t, it’s probably an oil-based paint that may need some extra work.

How to Remove Paint From Wood Floors 

There are a few different methods of removing paint from wood floors, including using rubbing alcohol, a heat gun, paint thinner, sandpaper, and various commercial products.

However, before you go ahead and pick a method based on whatever you have on hand, it’s important to consider the type of paint you’re dealing with.

For example, oil-based paint is typically much harder to remove than latex- or water-based paints. Water-based paint, such as acrylic, usually comes off with rubbing alcohol. However, anything that can remove oil-based paint might also damage wood floors, and you have to be prepared to refinish it to correct damage if any occurs.

The first thing you’ll want to do before beginning is to clear the room. Since harsh substances are sometimes involved in removing paint from wood floors, you’ll want to make sure that all furniture and valuable items are well out of the way. You’ll also want to ensure that kids and pets stay out of the room.

Method 1: Using Rubbing Alcohol

Firstly, you should gently scrape at the paint on the floor with a putty knife and see how much of it you can get off. Once you’ve reached your limit with the putty knife, take three parts rubbing alcohol to one part water and soak a rag in it. Use the rag to scrub the paint off.

This won’t work well on oil-based paint, but it should be effective on water-based paint.

Method 2: Using a Heat Gun

If you’ve got much more stubborn paint on the floor, like oil-based paint, then a heat gun is the way to go. Point the heat gun at the paint from a safe distance as you gently scrub it away with a putty knife. The heat gun will work to soften the paint, which will make it easier to scrape off.

Method 3: Using Paint Thinner

Perhaps the most common choice to get paint out of the floor is to use a paint thinner before using the putty knife. Put paint thinner on a rag and use it to scrub at the paint to thin it out, then take your putty knife and scrape the paint off the floor.

Method 4: Using Sandpaper

60 grit sandpaper should be strong enough to take paint off your floor if you put in some elbow grease. However, you may then have to use a finer grit sandpaper to fix any rough mistakes left on the floor from sanding the paint away.

Since this is a harsher method, you should only resort to sanding wood if the paint is particularly thick and strong. Try softening it before you use the sandpaper, as the other methods will work better to remove the paint while leaving no damage.

Ways to Protect Wood Floors While Painting

Man and woman pouring paint

Sometimes the mistake has already been made and all you can do is try to get the paint off. But preventing paint from getting on the floors is, of course, the preferable way to go.

If you want to protect wood floors while painting furniture, it’s always best to take the job outside or at least into another room without wood floors.

If you can’t move elsewhere, cover the floors with a canvas drop cloth (on Amazon). It may seem like a hassle, but it’s far less of a hassle than trying to get paint out of the wood floors. A few cloths might be necessary to ensure the floor is completely protected, but it will be well worth it.

You should also make sure to secure the cloth to the floor along the baseboards, so that no paint can creep over the sides. This is especially important if you’re painting the walls, since it’s very easy for things to get messy — and it’s impossible to do it in another room or outside.

What Should You Never Use on a Wood Floor?

Although paint stains can be aggravating, there are some things you should never resort to using on a wood floor — no matter how appealing it might seem at the time! 

The forbidden items include bleach and ammonia. Although these chemicals are sometimes effective at getting rid of stains on hard surfaces, they can cause damage to your wooden floors, especially in high concentrations. Furthermore, they’ll only cause the paint to become discolored; they won’t actually take it off the floor.

It’s important to remember that unlike other stains, you aren’t trying to scrub the paint away — you’re trying to remove it and peel it away from the floor, which is why a putty knife is so handy.

You should also never use a commercial cleaner that isn’t intended for cleaning a wood floor, even if it’s intended for laminate flooring. Laminate flooring is very different and far more resilient, so only use a cleaner that’s curated specifically for wood (and make sure it has good reviews and is from a reputable company).

The Final Word

At the end of the day, paint on hardwood floors may seem particularly tough to get rid of, but there are many methods that can do the job! It’s just about picking the right one for the type of paint and doing your best not to damage the floor in the process.

If you’re worried about damage or don’t trust yourself to remove the paint safely, you can always hire a professional. They should be able to look at the paint and quickly determine whether they can remove it without risk of damage to the floor.

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