Children and adults, artists and designers paint with gouache, and no one is immune from the appearance of stains of bright paint on clothes. Washing it is quite problematic, but with the right approach you can 100% get rid of dirt of any color.
You will learn how to remove gouache stains effectively and effortlessly from any type of fabric in our article. All the proposed methods do not require large expenses and can be easily applied at home.
Is it possible to wash gouache from clothes?
Gouache is a subspecies of water-soluble, dense, adhesive-based paints with the addition of white. In addition, manufacturers include oils, resins, dyes, and polymers in the composition. The listed components are not so easy to remove from clothing, especially if the paint has had time to dry. If the stain is very fresh, you can try rinsing the item in cold water. Dried or old dirt will have to be removed differently. In most cases, it is still possible to get rid of the bright mark.
Glycerol
Rules of application:
- Apply glycerin to the stain.
- Wash it in plain water without using detergents.
- After removing the crust, apply the product to the contaminated area.
- Wait at least 2 hours;
- It is necessary to wash the fabric several times with plenty of detergent. This is done to get rid of the oily trace of glycerin.
The best stain removers for removing gouache from clothes
The simplest, but at the same time expensive way to remove dirt is to use a ready-made product. The best household chemical products are listed in the table.
Table 1. How to remove gouache stains from fabric.
| Name | pros | Minuses |
| Spray "Eared Nanny" | Helps remove dirt from children's clothing without leaving an odor or causing allergies. It is cheaper than analogues and is highly efficient. | Suitable for fresh stains, but may not dissolve old ones. |
| Bagi | It can clean not only clothes, but also upholstery, curtains, and carpets. Dissolves old paint. | Expensive, not suitable for soaking, use with caution on bright and thin fabrics. |
| Vanish | Added directly during machine washing, suitable for soaking and removing fresh dirt. | Not suitable for delicate cleansing and dry stains. |
Laundry soap
Laundry soap is perfect for washing delicate fabrics, because it will gently remove dirt without damaging the fabric. It is important to know here that brown laundry soap will cope with this task, because a modern light-colored product with a pleasant aroma will not be able to cope with contamination from gouache. Application:
- It is necessary to rinse the contaminated area under running cold water.
- Soap the contaminated area with laundry soap.
- Use a sponge to wipe off the dissolved paint.
- Rinse the fabric under water and wash using the standard method.
Cleaning white fabric from gouache
Note! It is particularly difficult to remove bright stains from white items. The use of aggressive substances can lead to yellowing of the fabric or destruction of its fibers.
There are the following methods to return a blouse or other clothing to its original white color:
- treatment with laundry soap and prolonged soaking;
- boiling with Persol;
- using soap with bile;
- soaking and washing with bleach;
- cleansing with hydrogen peroxide.
All these methods allow you to both remove gouache from a white shirt and preserve the quality of the fabric. The disadvantage of the methods is the significant time costs.
We use a solvent
Solvent R-646 helps to wash white items. It should be applied to the stain in a thin layer and left for 10-15 minutes, then rinse the item. When using, it is important to be careful and act quickly. Kerosene or white spirit will also work. They are used separately or in combination 1:1 with white clay. The mixture is applied to the fabric, left until completely dry, and then brushed off. The stain can be completely removed by rinsing in cold water.
Alcohol
Another way to get rid of watercolor stains is alcohol. Ammonia is suitable for this purpose. The stain must be treated with this product and soaked in water for better results. It must be remembered that it is better to do this in cold water, because in hot water the paint will simply roll off. As a result, it will not be completely washable from the fabric. You can also use a solution of alcohol and oxalic acid. For this:
- Prepare a solution in a 1:1 ratio.
- Soak the area contaminated with gouache and leave for several hours.
- We wash in any convenient way using laundry soap and powder.
Gloves must be used when using these products.
Hand washing delicates and colored items
Removing stains from thin and expensive fabrics using solvents is prohibited. You can try cleaning your clothes with dishwashing detergent. It is worth moistening the gouache stain with water, applying the product, lathering and leaving for 30 minutes. You should periodically check whether the gouache is washed off and repeat the procedure. When the stain fades, you should additionally wash the items with powder. Instead of dish soap you can use:
- Antipyatin soap;
- Stork soap.
Solvent
You can try to get rid of gouache from white clothes using various solvents. Note that this method must be resorted to when all other methods are powerless against such contamination. To achieve the desired effect you need:
- Apply the cleaner to a cotton pad and spread it over the entire stain.
- Leave the treated clothes for half an hour.
- After this time, the clothes should be washed in the usual way.
Before using this product, you must make sure that the solvent will not spoil this type of fabric.
Folk recipes
Properly selected folk remedies allow you to wash off the most difficult stains. Some recipes will help cope with gouache stains, but are not always approved for cleaning delicate fabrics.
We recommend:
How to remove coffee stains from clothes
Refined gasoline and vinegar
Refined gasoline is a powerful and aggressive stain remover. It is applied to the stain, left for 15-20 minutes, and then washed off from the fabric. However, it is more rational to use gasoline to get rid of traces of oil paint. Gouache is water-based, so it can be cleaned with gentle products. As for vinegar, it is recommended to use it to get rid of unpleasant odors. It will not be possible to remove gouache from clothes.
Soda
Baking soda is suitable for getting rid of stubborn dirt. It allows you to both remove stains from gouache and restore whiteness to clothes. It is best to use soda in combination with kerosene, for this:
- 50 ml of kerosene is heated;
- moisten the gouache stain with liquid;
- sprinkle the dirt with soda;
- rub until completely clean.
Important! It is prohibited to use this combination for washing silk, guipure, and chiffon. Kerosene and soda can negatively affect the brightness of the item.
Mustard
An inexpensive and effective remedy is mustard powder. It is diluted with warm water to a mushy state, applied to the item for 20-30 minutes, and the item is washed in powder. The mustard should not be allowed to dry out - this can complicate the task.
Alcohol
A combination of alcohol and glycerin allows you to carefully remove the paint. The liquids are mixed in equal parts and applied to the stain with a sponge for half an hour. Fresh gouache is washed from clothes with pure alcohol. The dirt is moistened, rubbed gently, then the clothes are rinsed.
Toothpaste
The whitening components in toothpaste are reliable allies in the fight against paint marks. How to remove gouache from clothes at home:
- apply the paste in a thick layer to clothing;
- leave for 15-20 minutes, not allowing it to dry out;
- wash off the paste;
- wash the item in the usual way.
Ammonia and acid
Ammonia is suitable for washing clothes made of thick fabric. Use it to remove stains from cotton, jeans, and linen. The liquid is applied to clothing, left for a while, then washed off with running water. The best results are obtained by mixing ammonia and oxalic acid. The composition is applied for half an hour, after which the clothes are rinsed and washed in the machine.
Getting rid of gouache stains can be very difficult. The size of the stain, its age, and the characteristics of the fabric should be taken into account. To clean clothes as quickly as possible, it is recommended to wash items immediately after soiling and not wait for the paint to dry.
Rate this post
Toothpaste
In order to get rid of old gouache stains, you can use toothpaste. This product contains bleaching enzymes that will help remove stains. Application:
- Apply toothpaste to the stained area and rinse.
- Wait a little.
- Wash with detergent.
You need to know that in order to wash watercolors from white and colored fabrics, different methods are used. For colored items, it is necessary to use those cleaners that will delicately deal with contamination and at the same time the color of the fabric will remain unchanged.
Vinegar
Using a cotton swab, apply vinegar to the stain, wait about an hour and then wash the clothes.
In this review, we looked at how you can remove gouache from white and colored clothes. This information will be useful for all readers, but mainly for those who have small children or who
General recommendations
So, to effectively get rid of gouache contamination, you need to perform a number of simple steps. It is necessary to take into account a number of general recommendations. The main ones are the following:
- try to wash off the paint as soon as possible, preventing it from drying;
- use only cold water for cleaning;
- Before carrying out the procedure, soak the soiled item for at least half an hour;
- do not use gasoline or various solvents to clean synthetic fabrics;
- when working with gasoline, alcohol, acetone and other flammable substances, the workplace should be located away from sources of fire, and the room should be well ventilated;
- when using aggressive substances, you should protect your hands with gloves and prevent these substances from getting into your eyes;
- When using bleach to clean white items, you should make sure that it does not contain chlorine, which causes the fabric to turn yellow.
Don’t be upset if paint stains your clothes, carpet or furniture during the creative process. Knowing the methods by which you can get rid of such pollution, you can choose the one that is right for you. Having considered the methods and recommendations on how to wash gouache, you can deal with the problem quickly.
Features of gouache paints
Gouache paints are based on water, and the matte color and thickness are achieved due to the white content in the composition. Glue is often added to gouache for better adhesion to the surface.
Artistic gouache is a durable paint, it quickly absorbs into the surface and dries, but even a dried stain can be removed. Do not delay washing: while the stain is fresh, it is much easier to remove. What means can you use to remove paint?
- stain remover;
- laundry soap;
- pharmaceuticals;
- special paint removers (gasoline, acetone).
