# Cleaning up paint from wood floors **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 26, 2007, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-up-paint-from-wood-floors/417000 "2007-08-26T18:02:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2007, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-up-paint-from-wood-floors/417000/1 "2007-08-26T18:02:39Z")
I finally painted the moulding in the little bedroom. I used that blue tape made for masking when you paint. I sealed the edges as well as I could. And still paint got underneath. I put down some Ikea wood veneer flooring a while back. How do I clean off the seeped paint? It will come up very easily if I wipe it with a wet paper towel, but that will mess up the trim. How do I get it off once it dries? I used semi-gloss interior enamel. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2007, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-up-paint-from-wood-floors/417000/2 "2007-08-26T18:17:08Z")
Your best bet is to wipe it up immediately – use a little varsol on a cloth if necessary. Once dry, use a razor – the type of blades your dad used. Paint shops sell handles that let you use them as scrapers. I realize that it is too late now, but for future painting, don’t waste effort masking (taping) – just cut (paint the edge) cleanly. Tape and edging tools are OK for splatters, but tend to seep if you do not cut the edge cleanly. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2007, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-up-paint-from-wood-floors/417000/3 "2007-08-26T18:40:45Z")
Well, I have Pergo flooring (is the IKEA flooring basically the same stuff?) and once paint dries, it peels right off the floor. Or I use my finger nail to scrape it up. Once I had to use nail polish remover to get dried nail polish off the floor and the floor was fine. ---
**Author:** ![Caffeine.addict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@Caffeine.addict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caffeine.addict)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2007, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-up-paint-from-wood-floors/417000/4 "2007-08-27T13:37:31Z")
Assuming it is a latex paint, it will come right off with some water if it is still wet. If it has dried, I use something called [Goof off](http://www.valsparglobal.com/val/resident/goof-off.jsp). A little bit on a wet rag will remove the paint, while not messing up the floor’s finish. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2007, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-up-paint-from-wood-floors/417000/5 "2007-08-28T01:56:26Z")
I have also had good success with Goof Off on our hard wood floors. I dapped some on the spot with a rag and then gently scraped off with a razor blade being careful not to gouge the floor. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2007, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-up-paint-from-wood-floors/417000/6 "2007-08-28T03:07:33Z")
I’ll look for the Goof Off. I can’t do anything to the room until Friday.