Your Guide To Removing Paint From Hardwood Floors

If you have hardwood floors that need a facelift due to paint spills or an outdated paint job, you’ll have to remove the existing paint without damaging the wood. But how exactly do you go about it? And what products or methods should you use?

Remove paint from hardwood floors by sanding or scraping it off. Water-based paint can also be removed with rubbing alcohol, and you can use mineral spirits for oil-based paints. Latex paint can be removed with denatured alcohol. Coat the area in the solvent and scrub it with a rag or brush.

Let’s take a closer look at what you’ll need to remove paint from hardwood floors and some different ways to do it, depending on the type of paint you’re dealing with. We’ll also go over how to determine which type of paint is on your floors.

How to Remove Paint From Hardwood Floors

There are a few ways to remove paint from hardwood floors; the best method will depend on the type of paint on your floors.

You’ll need to either sand the paint off or use a putty knife or a razor scraper. You can also use soap and water, rubbing alcohol, denatured alcohol, solvent, or paint thinner.

You’ll need rags or old towels to wipe up the paint and solvent or paint thinner, and gloves to protect your hands. You may also need a drop cloth (on Amazon) to protect the area around the hardwood floor you’re working on.

Assessing Which Type of Paint Is on Your Hardwood Floors

The first step toward removing paint is determining whether the paint is water-, oil-, or latex-based. You can do a simple test at home to figure this out. All you need is a cotton ball and some rubbing alcohol.

Wet the cotton ball with the rubbing alcohol and then rub it over the paint. If any residue comes off on the cotton ball, it’s water-based or latex paint. If no residue comes off, then it’s oil-based.

Once you know which type of paint is on your hardwood floors, you can start with one of the following methods to remove the paint.

How Do You Remove Water-Based Paint From Hardwood Floors?

There are a few ways to remove water-based paint from hardwood floors without damaging the wood. You can sand, scrape, or clean it with soap and water. As a last resort, you can use rubbing alcohol.

Here are the steps on how to sand your floors:

Sand the Paint Off

If there’s a large amount of paint to remove, sanding it is the easiest way to get the job done. You’ll need an electric sander and different grits of sandpaper. 

The higher the grit, the finer the sandpaper. Use 60 grit to remove as much paint as possible, then move to 80 grit and 120 grit for a more uniform look with fewer scratches. You can get a variety pack like this one from Dura-Gold (on Amazon).

Scrape the Paint Off

With paint that is already flaking off, use paint scrapers, like this set from WORKPRO (on Amazon), to remove it. Then, sand off any stubborn areas of the remaining paint.

Use Soapy Water

Sometimes, all you need is some soapy water to remove the paint. Mix dish soap like Dawn or Palmolive with warm water in a bucket for this method.

1. Fill a bucket with warm water, add some dish soap, and mix it until the water is sudsy.
   
2. With an old rag, moisten the paint with soapy water until the entire area is saturated but not dripping wet.
   
3. Let the water sit on the paint for a few minutes to soften it, so that it’s easier to remove.
   
4. Use the rag to scrub the paint off; you may need to do this a few times to get all the paint off.
   
5. Use a clean, dry rag to remove any excess moisture and paint.
   
6. If stubborn areas of paint remain, you can use a paint scraper or an electric sander to remove them.
   

Use a Rubbing Alcohol Mixture

If you’ve tried the above methods and you’re still struggling to remove all the paint from your hardwood floors, you can give this method a try.

Mix three parts rubbing alcohol with one part lemon juice. That will create a mixture that can help to soften and loosen the paint because the alcohol and lemon juice work together as a solvent.

You’ll have to allow the mixture to sit on the paint for a few minutes to get the best results.

1. Use a rag to saturate the painted area of the floor with the mixture.
   
2. Let the mixture sit on the paint for about five minutes so it has time to work.
   
3. Use the rag to scrub the paint off. You can also use an old toothbrush, or a medium-strength bristled brush to scrub areas where the paint is stubborn or in crevices.
   
4. If any paint is still left, try using a paint scraper or an electric sander to remove it.
   

How Do You Remove Oil-Based Paint From Hardwood Floors?

To remove oil-based paint, you can also sand or scrape it off. But if you fail with those methods, a couple of solvents can help remove the paint.

Use a Solvent

You can use mineral spirits, like this one from Klean Strip (on Amazon), or naphtha, which are both petroleum-based solvents.

You’ll want to wear gloves and eye protection when using these because they’re toxic if inhaled. And, as always, work in a well-ventilated area.

1. With a rag, apply the solvent to the painted area.
   
2. Follow the instructions on the bottle for how long to let the solvent work before removing it.
   
3. Use a dry rag to remove the paint and excess solvent.
   
4. If there are still some stubborn areas of paint, you can sand or scrape them off or use a sander.
   
5. When you’re finished, clean the area with soap and water.
   

How Do You Remove Latex Paint From Hardwood Floors?

You can also remove latex paint by sanding or scraping it off. Solvents like mineral spirits and naphtha are also effective at removing latex paint. But if none of those have worked, you can try using denatured alcohol, like this one from MAXTITE (on Amazon).

Use Denatured Alcohol

1. Using a rag, apply the denatured alcohol to the painted area. You want to blot it on to dampen it instead of saturating it until it is wet.
   
2. Let the alcohol sit on the paint for a few minutes to break down the paint.
   
3. With a scrub brush, use moderate pressure to scrub the paint off the floor.
   
4. If there are areas where the paint is in small crevices, you can use an old toothbrush to scrub it out.
   
5. Once you’ve scrubbed all the paint off, use a dry rag to wipe away any excess paint and alcohol.