Removing Dried Paint from Wallpaper

It's easy to get a bit of paint on your wallpaper when doing touch up to your ceiling or trim. If you notice right away, you can likely just wipe it off with a damp rag. But if you don't notice it for days or even weeks, the paint can be trickier to remove. Try these steps to remove the paint stain.

• First, clean the surface with a damp sponge. You do not want to get wallpaper very wet because it can start to detatch from the wall. Just make sure that you have removed any dirt or grime from the area. Sometimes, this will be enough to remove the unwanted paint.

• If the paint is a blob, you may be able to remove it with a razor blade. Use caution because this could have the unintended consequence of ripping or damaging the wallpaper underneath. This could be worse than the original mistake. If the wallpaper is damaged, you can replace a section with a patch, assuming you have excess wallpaper in storage.

• Wet the paint stain with isopropyl alcohol. Use a 91 or 99% rather than 70% as it will introduce less water to the area. The alcohol should not damage your wallpaper but it would be best to test a hidden area first to avoid any surprises. Let it sit for a bit and then try wiping the paint off. You may have to do it a few times to remove it entirely.

This process should also work on flooring or other surfaces too, although many people also use a fine grit sandpaper or a melamine sponge (Magic Eraser) to remove paint on harder surfaces.