Whether your windows have been vandalized, or you accidentally sprayed them with some spray paint when renovating your home or crafting something, you will end up with spray paint on your glass that will have to be removed. How do you remove spray paint from glass?
There are many ways you can remove spray paint from your glass. The method that you will be using depends on what kind of glass you have and whether the spray paint is wet or dry.
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You can use store-bought graffiti cleaners and paint thinners, or you can use something you can find at home, like a razor, vinegar, nail polish remover, or oil to remove spray paint from your glass.
How to remove spray paint from glass?
Spray paint, also known as aerosol paint, is a type of paint that is stored in a pressurized container and dispensed using a pipe to release a mixture of paint and a propellant, which is usually pressurized gas or compressed air. This results in a fine, even mist that is easily applied to a variety of surfaces.
How you will remove spray paint from your glass depends on what type of glass you have. Make sure to use a clean rag, and use a clean section for each wipe for each of the spray paint removal techniques. Otherwise, you will end up smearing spray paint all over your glass.
If you have to remove spray paint off fiberglass, keep in mind that acetone-based solvents aren’t ideal for fiberglass cleaning. To remove spray paint from glass and plexiglass, you can use any of the methods listed below.
Remove Spray Paint Using a Razor
You can remove spray paint from your glass with any kind of razor. This is the most common method of removing spray paint from glass. Make sure that you are careful and don’t damage your glass with the razor. To remove the spray paint from the glass with a razor, you will need a razor, a dishwashing liquid, a bucket, a cloth, and a cleaning pad.
First, fill the bucket with warm water and some dishwashing liquid. Mix it until it foams up. Then, soak the cleaning pad in the solution. Wash the window to remove any dirt and grime from the surface and rinse it. Wet the window once again with the dishwashing solution.
You will hold the razor blade at a 45-degree angle, and carefully and gently scrape the paint away. Keep in mind that you should keep your glass wet while you are washing it because you will scratch it if it’s dry. You can also spray your razor blade with glass cleaner and then scrape away the paint because the glass cleaner will also stop the razor from scratching the glass. Once you’re done, wipe the glass with a clean rag. You might have to repeat this a few times to get rid of all the paint.
How do you get spray paint off the glass without a razor?
Remove Spray Paint with Oil
To remove spray paint from your glass with oil, you will need some oil, a washcloth or a toothbrush, and a cotton ball.
You can use vegetable oil, baby oil, or cooking spray to remove spray paint. Choose which oil you want to use and dip a cotton ball in it. Use the cotton ball to rub the oil on the glass. If you’re using cooking spray, you can spray it directly on the glass. If you are having trouble removing the paint, try rubbing it with a washcloth, or a toothbrush. Wash your glass a couple of times to remove any oil residue.
Remove Spray Paint with Hairspray
You can try using hairspray to remove spray paint from your glass. Hairspray contains alcohol, which breaks down the paint’s bonds. Spray the glass with hairspray and rub it with a dry cloth. Repeat a few more times to fully get rid of the paint.
Remove Spray Paint with Stripping gel
Applying stripping gel to your glass will get rid of the spray paint. Buy a solvent gel marked “paint and varnish stripper” to remove the spray paint. Make sure you put on a pair of protective gloves and use a paintbrush to apply a thick layer of the gel onto the spray-painted glass. Cover the part of the glass where you applied the gel with a plastic wrap. Once you see that the surface started to wrinkle, or after 4 hours, you can power wash your windows to clean the gel off them. The pressure that you should use can range between 1,200 and 2,000 PSI. Make sure you adjust the nozzle to a wide angle, like 25 or 40 degrees.
There are some precautions that you have to take so you don’t end up shattering your glass. Before you do anything with the washer, make sure you read the instructions. Make sure you are always wearing safety goggles when handling the washer. Always keep a safe distance between the surface you are washing and the washer to avoid causing damage as you increase the pressure. To prevent the nozzle from flying off and causing damage, make sure that it is tightly attached and locked before you press the trigger. It is not advisable that you work on ladders or at a height.
Mineral spirits and Turpentine
Mineral spirits and turpentine are also known as white spirits, and they are petroleum distillates. They are used by many painters as paint thinner due to their low price, non-sticky substance, and less odor. You can only use them on fresh paint.
Graffiti remover
You can get a graffiti remover at a store to remove the spray paint from your glass. To successfully remove the spray paint, you will need the graffiti remover, rubber gloves, safety glasses, a scouring pad, some water, a bucket, and some microfiber cleaning rags.
Put on your safety glasses and rubber gloves and spray a generous amount of graffiti cleaner on the spray paint. Let it sit for about 30 to 90 seconds. Scrub the spray paint lightly with the scouring pad. Then, wet a cleaning rag in the water bucket and wring it out and wipe away the cleaner and dissolved paint.
Does vinegar remove spray paint?
Vinegar is something that everybody has at home. It is used for more than just making pickles and salads because it is great for cleaning. It is an easy, inexpensive, and effective way to remove dried, spray on paint from glass. More importantly, vinegar is economical, environmentally friendly, and removes stubborn paint with absolutely no dangerous chemicals or toxic fumes. If you don’t like how vinegar smells, don’t let that put you off, as the smell soon dissipates.
Start by heating a small amount of white distilled vinegar in a small saucepan. You can also put some vinegar in the microwaveable bowl, and heat it in the microwave oven. Once your vinegar is hot, dip a clean paintbrush or a sponge in the hot vinegar and dab it on the dried paint. Let the vinegar soften the paint for some 15 to 20 minutes. If the paint is still stuck on after that, reapply the vinegar. After that, you will remove the loosened paint with a paint scraper. Finish by wiping the surface with a damp cloth to remove the vinegar and traces of paint.
Will nail polish remover remove paint from glass?
A nail polish remover can be used to remove paint from glass only if it contains acetone. To remove paint from glass, you will need a nail polish remover with acetone, microfiber cleaning cloths, rubber gloves, and some water.
Make sure you ventilate the area in which you will be working well. Wear your rubber gloves and wet a microfiber cleaning cloth with nail polish remover. Hold the dampened cloth against the spray paint on the glass to loosen the bond. Once you notice the paint starting to soften, use the cloth to scrub it away. Using a second cloth dampened with water, wipe away the nail polish remover. Clean the glass with a window cleaner.
Final Thoughts
Getting spray paint on glass is pesky and hard to get rid of. There are many ways to get that spray paint off of the glass. It all depends on what type of paint and glass is in question. The best ways to get spray paint off of glass is by using:
- A razor
- Hairspray
- Oil
- Graffiti Remover
- Nail Polish Remover
- Vinegar
- White Spirits
- Stripping Gel
