How to Get Polyurethane Out of Carpet
Polyurethane coating is primarily used on wood, as it acts as a water sealant. Drop cloths are designed to protect your carpets while you paint, but it's not unusual to get a few drops on your floor. Polyurethane paint is more difficult to remove than water-based paint, particularly if it has become dried and crusty.
However, there are several steps you can take that will help you get that unsightly stain out.
Things You Will Need
- Toothbrush
- Paint scraper
- Acetone paint remover
- Rags
- Brush
- Cleaning cloth
- Liquid soap
- Vacuum cleaner
Tip
Test an area of your carpet before applying any acetone. Paint strippers can take the color out of fabrics, so it should only be used on light-colored carpets. Try cutting away at carpet fibers that have been drenched with polyurethane with scissors or removing chunks of dried paint with needle-nose pliers.
Warning
Always wear safety masks and gloves when dealing with chemicals such as acetone.
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Manually scrub away at the stain with a toothbrush and some soapy water. The stain will typically come right up if it is still wet. Vacuum up what remains and move on to the next step if there's still polyurethane remaining or if it has dried.
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Dampen the end of a rag with some acetone and dabble it onto the stain. Acetone is designed to eat away at coatings and is sold as a commercial paint stripper. Let the acetone stand on the stain for a few minutes. You may need to saturate the carpet with acetone if it is a large or particularly stubborn stain.
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Pick away at the polyurethane with a paint scraper. Chunks of it should come up off the carpet. Remove any remaining traces of polyurethane with rags. Repeat this process as necessary to fully remove the polyurethane.
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Scrub at the polyurethane with a coarse brush. The brush should help tear paint particles off the carpet.
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Clean the area with warm water and liquid soap to remove any of the acetone and blot dry. Vacuum the carpet when finished.
The Drip Cap
- Polyurethane coating is primarily used on wood, as it acts as a water sealant.
- You may need to saturate the carpet with acetone if it is a large or particularly stubborn stain.
- Pick away at the polyurethane with a paint scraper.
- The brush should help tear paint particles off the carpet.
References
Resources
Writer Bio
Brenton Shields began writing professionally in 2009. His work includes film reviews that appear for the online magazine Los Angeles Chronicle. He received a Bachelor of Science in social science and history from Radford University.
Photo Credits
- Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
- Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
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