How to Remove Spray Paint from Glass
Remove Spray Paint form Glass.
Learning how to remove spray paint from glass can seem like a daunting task at first. It seems to be stuck on pretty well. Spray painting is a tricky business and a lot can go wrong. I still remember my spray painting endeavors as a child – and the looks of horror as my parents came home to see their beautiful French doors and plant vases covered in thick black spray paint.
In hindsight, I wish they knew what I know now. Maybe I wouldn’t have gotten such a spanking if they did. Removing spray paint will take some effort on your part, but it can be done. When done right, the glass surfaces you’ve cleaned the paint off should look as good as new. With our guide, you’ll learn exactly what you’ll need to get the spray paint off.
Not only this, but I’ll teach you precise steps to follow for removing spray paint off different kinds of glass objects and surfaces. By the end of the article, you should be ready to remove annoying spray paint of any kind of glass – without scratching or damaging it in any way. It’s just a matter of getting the right tools and a little practice. You’ll be looking at pristine glass surfaces soon enough.
Let’s get into the guide!
How to Remove Spray Paint From Glass
This section will deal with some of the methods for removing spray paint from different types and surfaces of glass. You’ll find step-by-step instructions on what you need to do. I’ve made it as clear and easy to follow as possible, so even beginners will know what to do.
Bear in mind that there are many different types of glass and spray paint – so the results you get might vary slightly depending on that.
How to Remove Spray Paint From Glass Vase
Here Are the Things You’Ll Need to Remove Spray Paint from a Glass Vase:
- Some white vinegar
- A measuring cup or decanter to get the mix right
- Rubber gloves so you don’t get it all over your hands
- Microfiber cloths for cleaning the window
- Dish washing soap
- Some warm or slightly hot water
- Some old towels
- Steel wool (make sure it’s super-fine or you can cause scratches)
- Window scraper, razor blade, or an unused plastic credit card
- A window squeegee
Don’t stress if you don’t have some of these. This list is exhaustive and you’ll be able to get away without having a couple of them. The measuring cup, rubber gloves and window squeegee aren’t super important.
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Here Are the Steps You’Ll Need to Follow to Remove Spray Paint from Glass Vase:
- Clean the vase somewhere where you don’t mind spilling the cleaning mixture
- Pour half a cup of white vinegar into the mixing bowl or cup
- Bring it to a boil in the microwave
- Use heat resistant gloves or the towel to hold the hot cup
- Dip the old towel into the hot vinegar and lay in the paint on the vase
- Rub as hard as you can without breaking the vase
This Alone Should Start to Remove Some of the Paint. if the Paint Isn’T Coming off, Move on to These Steps:
- Add some dishwasher to the vinegar mixture
- Use the microfiber cloth to rub hard on the vase
- Apply a generous amount of the mixture using the paint
- Wait 2 – 5 minutes and then apply some more of the mixture
- Use the credit card or a piece of rubber (test it first to make sure it isn’t scratching)
- Continue until all the paint has come off
Once the paint has come off, you’ll need to use a dry microfiber cloth to clean the area up. Once you’ve followed these steps, your vase should look as good as new. You can repeat the process as many times as you need.
How to Remove Spray Paint From a Glass Window
This Method Will Use All the Materials from the above Section, Including:
- A plastic matt or old towel to put at the base of the window to stop the mixture from going everywhere
- A window scraper and/or razor blade (you can use a plastic credit card if you’re worried)
- Larger quantities if the window is has a big surface area
- An extra microfiber cloth for cleaning up the larger area
Follow These Steps to Remove Spray Paint from Glass Windows:
- If the area that needs to be cleaned is large, you’ll need to pre-wet it by lathering the whole surface with warm soapy water
- Leave it for 3-4 minutes
- In the meantime, you should be boiling the vinegar mixture in the microwave
- Use the heat resistant gloves to take the boiling mixture and use the cloth to rub hard over the paint mixture
- Add some dish soap into the mixture
- Set the cloth over the pain and leave it there for a couple of minutes
- Come back at it with the plastic credit card, or better yet, the window scraper
- Test it in a small hidden area to make sure that there isn’t any scratching
- Repeat this process until the paint begins to scrape off
You can also use the razor blade, but be sure to only use it parallel to the surface. Don’t try to scrape perpendicular to the paint as you’re likely to scratch the glass.
If this is your first time, I’d avoid using a razor altogether and just use a window scraper. Do the final rinse with some warm soapy water. Just use the microfiber cloth and rub hard at any remaining marks.
Use a clean and dry microfiber cloth to dry the window without leaving any streaks or marks.
How to Remove Spray Paint from Glass Table Top
This process is almost identical to the above steps (how to remove spray paint from the glass window). It’s a great general method you should learn when practicing how to remove spray paint from glass. The only difference here is that you need to place towels around the edges of the table so that the cleaning mixture doesn’t end up on the floor or carpet.
Removing spray paint from the glass table top is easier than all the other as you’re working on a flat surface. It takes a lot of manual work. You can just leave the cloth to sit on the paint while it soaks it. You need to make sure that you have a separate cloth available to wipe away the freed paint that you successfully scrape away.
This is so that you can keep proper track of how much paint is remaining, and so as to not scratch the glass. Some flecks of paint can have some dust and dirt, so be careful when scrubbing. You should follow all the steps for the window cleaning method. Repeat it as many times as you need to. Finish up by wiping the glass table top dry with a clean microfiber cloth.
How to Remove Spray Paint from a Mirror
You’ll need microfiber cloths, rubber gloves, some nail polish remover (make sure it has acetone) and some warm water.
Follow These Steps to Remove Spray Paint from Glass Windows:
- Make sure the area you’re working in is ventilated (due to the nail polish remover)
- Put on the rubber gloves
- Wet the cloth with the warm water
- Squeeze some of the water out so that it’s not dripping excessively
- Apply the nail polish remover to the cloth
- Hold the cloth firmly against the painted area to weaken the paint bond
- When you see some of the paint starting to come off, scrub aggressively at the paint
- Occasionally wipe away the paint that already comes loose
- Use another warm and wet cloth to wipe away the nail polish remover
- Clean the mirror with a clean and dry microfiber cloth to make sure no streaks are left on the mirror
I process for removing spray paint from glass vases and windows will also work with mirrors. All the above processes are interchangeable – I just wanted to give you chemical (nail polish remover) and non-chemical (vinegar) options.
If you’ve never done this before, I’d suggest you choose the white vinegar method. So, If you have a little experience, you can use the nail polish remover. If the vinegar method fails, you’ll most likely succeed with the nail polish remover method.
Nail polish remover has several chemicals inside that work well to act as paint thinner. It’s a great trick when learning how to get rid of spray paint.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Final Thoughts
You should be ready now! You know all the tools you’ll need to get the job done right and the exact steps you’ll need to follow to get this done right. So, You know how to get rid of spray paint, and these steps can be used on almost all glass surfaces. You also know what you need to look out for while following the steps.
Knowing how to remove spray paint from glass the right way means less scratching – and better-looking glass around your house or business!
