Dropped paint or have dried paint sitting on your porcelain sink and not sure what might help you get rid of it? Wet paint spills are easily cleaned, but are there solutions to remove old, dried paint? Fortunately, yes, there are.
While porcelain sinks are durable and add beauty to your homes, they are prone to scratches, stains, and cracks. Porcelain sinks last longer if they are adequately cared for and maintained.
Generally, the average sink repair cost ranges from $200 to $500. Paint stains comparatively do not always require professional attention. And hence, cleaning porcelain sinks by yourself will not cost you a fortune.
To make cleaning porcelain sinks easy, we have filtered the best possible and affordable ways to remove dried paint from porcelain sinks.
More About Porcelain Sinks
Porcelain sinks are composed by firing the hard clay at extremely high temperatures (approximately 1200-1400 F). The high temperatures contribute to the durability and shine of porcelain sinks.
The durability of porcelain is more in comparison to ceramic. Additionally, porcelain sinks are elegant-looking and durable enough for everyday use.
The best part of having a porcelain sink is that it is customizable meaning, it can be created in any shape with a variety of colors. Commonly, porcelain sinks come in white color, but you can also go for vintage or colored porcelain sinks.
If you decide to buy a colored/vintage porcelain sink, avoid harsh chemicals on porcelain surfaces. Plus, porcelain is waterproof and stain-resistant because of its non-porous nature.
Knowing the Nature of The Paint is Imoprtant
Paints are one of the most prevalent causes of sink stains. It is impossible to avoid spills when painting walls or ceilings if the sink is not covered well.
Aren’t porcelain sinks stain-resistant? Yes, they are.
But, just like any other sink material, porcelain will also suffer from some problems. Some common issues faced by porcelain sink owners struggle with are liquid spills, paint stains, or scratches. To our fortune, we have methods to get rid of such problems.
Apart from that, paint spills or dried paint stains are easy to remove from porcelain surfaces. The durable and shiny porcelain withstands almost any stains, including paint or latex. Even though porcelain is tough, try using less harsh chemicals to remove the paint stains, but if they are too stubborn, you can opt for some other solutions.
BONUS TIP -Try not to test the plastic scraper by scraping hard into the surface, though a paint scraper will not readily damage the porcelain sink.
Methods to Know
To properly deal with dried paint on your porcelain sink, first, determine and identify what type of paint you are dealing with before you can plan how to remove this paint. There exist two kinds:
- Oil-based paint or acrylic paint
- Or water-based paint or latex paint
It becomes crucial to identify the type of paint as both require different methods and treatments.
Confused about whether it is acrylic or latex paint stain sitting on your porcelain sinks?
Here is how you can figure out whether the dried paint stain is oil-based or water-based using only two things:
Things required,
- Cotton rag or towel or cotton ball.
- Denatured or plain rubbing alcohol (whichever is readily available)
In this method,
- Wet a cotton ball or cloth, and dip it in denatured alcohol or rubbing alcohol.
- Rub the paint using this cloth or cotton with all your energy for a few seconds.
- Now, examine the cloth or cotton ball.
- Generally, if it is clean, it is an oil-based paint spill, and if the cloth is smeared, it is a water-based paint spill.
Paints based on latex are less durable and easier to remove while still wet than oil-based ones. It is good news, then. But when they are left sitting for too long, they are more difficult to remove.
Steps to Remove Dried Paint from Porcelain Sinks?
Now you might have identified the nature of the paint stain. So, let us dive into specifics on how to remove dried paint from your porcelain sinks.
Denatured Alcohol or Rubbing Alcohol
After testing the paint, you know whether your porcelain sinks suffer from oil- or water-based stains.
If the paint is latex or water-based, continue scrubbing it with the same denatured alcohol-soaked cloth or cotton until it is entirely gone.
Oil-based paints will not be affected much by water or alcohol. For oil-based, you need a much powerful solution like the lacquer thinner.
Lacquer Thinner
In Comparison to Alcohol, lacquer thinner is a strong solvent. It helps thin, dissolve, and wipe away the oil-based paint from your porcelain sinks.
For fresh and wet paints, mineral spirits will get rid of the paint stain in no time. However, dried or old paint settled on porcelain sinks needs a lacquer thinner.
Note -Some alternatives to lacquer thinner are paint thinner, acetone, or turpentine.
To use lacquer thinner on paint,
- Take some clean cotton rags or cloth.
- Soak the cloth with lacquer thinner (or other solvents).
- And start scrubbing the paint.
- In some time, the paint stain will dissolve and be easily removable from the porcelain sink.
Caution -Always wear a respirator and keep the room well-ventilated while dealing with any flammable solvent.
Paint Stripper
Generally, lacquer thinner removes dried paint from porcelain sinks. However, if the paint stains persist, you can use a paint stripper.
Paint stripper will help you eliminate both oil-based and water-based paint from your porcelain and is affordable.
To begin with,
- Paint stripper should be applied to the affected areas with a brush.
- Allow it to sit for 10-15 minutes until it begins to blister.
- If you observe that paint stripper getting dry, apply some more.
- And wait for another 5-7 minutes.
- Now, use plastic paint or an ice scraper to strip the paint stain from the surface.
- Then, clean and rinse the sink with soap and water. It will help remove any residues and neutralize the paint stripper.
Caution -Wear rubber gloves, goggles, and a respirator while using paint stripper as it consists of toxic chemicals that can be harmful.
Some Other Products that Helps
You can consider using the following given products to remove dried paint from your porcelain sink if the above solvents don’t work.
Bon Ami Powder
Bon Ami powder doesn’t include toxic chemicals, and hence, it is safe to use on porcelain sinks. Plus, it is safe to use Bon Ami powder without wearing gloves or a dust mask.
You only need a soft sponge, Bon Ami, some water, and some elbow grease.
Before using Bon Ami on porcelain sink,
- Remove dirt from the sink using some soap water.
- Now, wet the sink and drizzle the Bon Ami powder over the affected area.
- Using a damp cloth, start scrubbing with all your energy.
- Gradually the paint will come off from your sink.
WD-40
WD-40 works amazingly on both wet and dried paint stains. It helps remove rust stains from porcelain as well. WD-40 is a lubricant spray that helps in eliminating paint stains.
To use it effectively,
- Spray the product on the paint.
- Now, let it sit for around 10-15 minutes.
- The affected area will begin to blister after 15 minutes.
- After it starts to blister, scrape away the paint using a scraping tool.
- You can also use scouring pads to rub the paint stains away.
- After that, rinse the sink well and wipe it clean with a soft sponge and soapy water
- If the paint is too thick or stubborn, repeat the process.
A Pumice Stone or Stick
In Any Cosmetic Store, You Can Buy a Pumice Stone or Stick. a Pumice Stone with Smaller Pores Helps Remove Tough Stains or Paint Stains from Porcelain Surfaces without Damaging the Sink.
In this method,
- Wet the pumice entirely.
- Now, start buffing the paint stain using the wet pumice stone.
- The paint will gradually come off.
- Finally, rinse and clean the sink.
Caution -Do not use dry pumice to remove dried paint from your porcelain sink as it might scratch and damage the sink.
Last Resort -Scrape the Paint.
Tried every other method to remove the paint from your porcelain sinks but it didn’t work? don’t worry.
The last resort is to scrape the paint to remove the dried paint.
To scrape the paint,
- Take a plastic putty knife.
- Wedge the knife in between the dried paint stain and porcelain sink surface.
- Gently tap the handle of the putty knife with a hammer. The paint will fly off the porcelain surface.
- You may also lubricate it with a lubricating spray to make it easier to remove.
- If it continues to harden, you can use a razor or a metal putty knife to scrape off the paint.
TIP -Avoid using a razor or metal knife because it might scratch or damage the porcelain sink surface.
On porcelain surfaces, paint stains are usually not a problem. Due to its resistance to paints and solvents. However, if you accidentally drop paint over your porcelain sinks, try cleaning it when the paint is wet or as soon as you witness the paint stain.
But, even though you couldn’t clean it right away, you can easily remove the paint from porcelain sink using the above steps.