The last thing you want to deal with is spray paint on your car. Whether you made a mistake while applying your spray-on bedliner or vandals had a field day on your car, you can get it off.
In this article, we look at how to get spray paint off your car so you can enjoy your ride again.
You might be looking at how to get paint spray off a car because of vandalism. In addition to cleaning up the paint, you might also need to learn how to remove scratches from your car. By fixing the problem yourself, you avoid getting the insurance company involved and keep your premiums lower.
You might also need to know how to get spray paint off car paint because of other projects you were working on. If you were painting near your car, you might be dealing with overspray that needs to be cleaned up.
If you have other types of paint, be sure to check out our post How To Get Paint Off Your Car.
How to Get Spray Paint Off a Car Exterior (Bodywork)
Most commonly, when you want to know how to get spray paint off my car, it’s because the exterior of the car has been affected. We look at a few areas of concern.
Supplies you may need:
off car doors
If you want to learn how to get spray paint off a car door, follow these steps.
- 1Mix soap and water in a bucket.
- 2Scrub the affected area.
- 3Rinse it often.
- 4Dry the car once the paint is completely removed.
If these steps don't work, you might need to try a rubbing compound, nail polish remover, lacquer thinner, a clay bar, or gasoline. However, don't let any of these sit on the paint for too long, or you could create more damage.
off car windows
To learn how to get spray paint off a car window, try these steps.
- 1Pour some solvent on a clean rag and rub the spray paint. Don’t soak the rag.
- 2Use a retractable safety scraper to remove any leftover paint.
Make sure you don’t drip any solvent into the door frame.
off car headlights
You want your headlights to look their best, but removing paint goes beyond cleaning car headlights.
- 1You can try using car wash soap and water if the paint has just been applied.
- 2Otherwise, you need to pour some solvent on a clean rag and rub the spray paint. Don’t soak the rag.
- 3Use a retractable safety scraper to remove any leftover paint.
off car rims
Dealing with your wheels is similar to the other steps we’ve shown you.
- 1Mix soap and water in a bucket.
- 2Scrub the affected area.
- 3Rinse it often.
- 4Dry the wheels once the paint is completely removed.
If these steps don’t work, use a rubbing compound, nail polish remover, lacquer thinner, a clay bar, or gasoline. Just be sure to rinse it off completely when you are done.
How to Get Spray Paint Off Car Interiors (Leather & Fabric)
You spend a lot of time making your car interior looking nice through detailing, so any spray paint damage can be disturbing. However, these steps will help you restore the car interior without causing any further damage.
off leather car seats
Learn how to get spray paint off a leather car seat with these steps.
- 1If the paint is wet, use a flat tool to remove any residue you can. Then, wipe it down with a damp rag.
- 2If the spray paint is water based, you should be able to use a wet rag to remove it and scrape off any remaining chunks with a credit card.
- 3You can also apply a small amount of olive oil to the spray paint and rub gently.
off fabric car seats
Many of the above steps remain the same when you want to know how to get spray paint off car interior seats covered in fabric.
- 1If the paint is wet, use a flat tool to remove any residue you can. Then, wipe it down with a damp rag.
- 2If the spray paint is water based, you should be able to use a wet rag to remove it and scrape off any remaining chunks with a credit card.
- 3You can also apply a small amount of olive oil to the spray paint and rub gently. Just make sure you clean it up with water right away.
off car floor carpets
You can learn how to get spray paint off of your car carpets with the same set of steps.
- 1If the paint is wet, use a flat tool to remove any residue you can. Then, wipe it down with a damp rag.
- 2If the spray paint is water based, you should be able to use a wet rag to remove it and scrape off any remaining chunks with a credit card.
- 3You can also apply a small amount of olive oil to the spray paint and rub gently. Just make sure you clean it up with water right away.
off dashboards
- 1It’s simple to learn how to get spray paint off your car dashboard.
- 2Try to wipe it with soap and water first.
- 3Scrape it with a plastic credit card.
- 4If that doesn't work, use a solvent, such as a nail polish remover. Just make sure you clean it up promptly when you are finished.
When to Hire a Professional
It’s not difficult to figure out how to get spray paint dust off a car, but there are times when the situation is too much for you to handle. If the paint has been sitting on the car interior or exterior too long, you might need professional help to remove paint from your car.
Additionally, if you have faced vandalism and a good chunk of the car is covered, the job is going to be too extensive for you to handle on your own. Instead of damaging the paint any further, call in the professionals for support.
People Also Ask (FAQs)
Is acetone safe on car paint?
Acetone will eat away the spray paint on the top of your car, but it will also eat away your vehicle paint to the base if left unchecked. If you must use it, apply just enough to complete the job and rinse it off right away.
Does vinegar remove spray paint?
Vinegar is a great solution if you want to know how to get spray paint overspray off a car, especially when you are dealing with hard surfaces or auto glass.
Will rubbing alcohol hurt car paint?
It’s not recommended to apply rubbing alcohol to your car paint. Very quickly, it can start to eat away at the surface, leaving you with more trouble than you started with.
How do I get spray paint off my driveway?
If you need to know how to get spray paint overspray off the car, it’s likely that you also have some on your driveway. Take some soapy water and scrub the areas with a stiff brush. You can also hose it down with a pressure washer.
Is WD-40 safe on car paint?
If you need to use a small amount of WD-40 to remove spray paint, that is okay. However, you should never let it sit on the automotive paint because it will start to eat away at the surface.
Conclusion
We have looked at spray paint on a car, how to get it off. By now, you’ve picked the method that will work best for you, all that’s left to do is try it.