Watercolor is a favorite medium of both children and adults alike. They are fun and easy to use and are quite easy to clean up because they are water soluble paints. It is almost impossible to do watercolor paintings without creating some kind of mess here and there. Even the greatest artists have been known to leave remnants of their works of art on their clothes, on the floors, or other areas of their working space. The following are a few suggestions in successfully removing watercolor stains:
- When removing watercolor on carpets or rugs, have a clean cloth or paper towels on hand. Dab on the affected area and try to have your cloth or towel absorb as much liquid as it possibly can. Prepare half a cup of ammonia and mixed with one cup of water on a spray container. Proceed to spray the area with this solution. Do not pour this directly onto the carpet as it can create more harm than good. Keep on dabbing the sprayed area until your cloth or towel comes up clean and all moisture has been absorbed. Should there still be some stains left over after this procedure, a good spray of peroxide and a quick dab with your towel and cloth can finish up the job.
- Watercolor on upholstery can be removed by first of all, by blotting up the area with paper towels and absorbing as much of the liquid as you can, assuming that the paint is still wet. Another tip for excess liquid to come off would be to use a hard object like a spoon pressed down on the area and dabbing off whatever liquid comes out. A dried stain or a fresh one must still be wet with water. Keep on spraying and blotting up until the stain is completely removed. Whatever remnants may remain can be completely eliminated with a clear bleach free detergent and some water mixed together. Spray on the stain and continue dabbing until you are satisfied with the result. You may also use equal solutions of vinegar and water for stubborn stains.
- Removing watercolor paints on clothes is not too difficult simply because, as mentioned earlier, it is water soluble. It is important to remember though that the task will be much easier to work on if the paint has not completely dried up on clothes. Assuming that it has, scrape it off gently with your fingernails before concentrating on how to effectively remove the mark left behind. Run warm water directly over the stained area of your clothes. Rub the area gently over and over until the stains disappear. When water soluble paint messes are dealt with immediately, water alone can be an effective stain remover. Branded solvents can also be used on tougher stains. Read the instructions and make sure you are using the right product for your particular need.
Although getting messy cannot be avoided when painting, you can lessen it by spreading newspapers around the area and wearing a protective smock over your clothes. When working on a paint project, try to contain yourself in a place where you do not run the risk of creating paint messes on furniture or carpets.
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