The quicker you get paint off leather boots, the better, so while the paint is still wet, use a rag or paper towel to gently wipe off any excess paint.
If the paint has dried or leaves a mark, use either soap and water, cooking or baby oil, or, in extreme cases, nail polish remover or alcohol. Carefully clean the spot where the paint has hit your boot, and avoid using force, as this can damage the leather.
Getting paint on your leather boots usually leads to them being thrown away quicker.
As you probably know , it pretty much always gets to a point where they look too shabby to work in.
Leather and paint don’t mix well, but as I’ll show you in this tutorial, with a bit of work and a few common household materials, it doesn’t have to be the end of your boots. It’s not just work boots that can be saved, either.
I recently rescued a pair of leather dress boots after catching them on a newly painted table that my wife had cunningly left right where it usually stood.
After saving my beloved boots from the trash, I thought I’d share with you the best ways to clean paint off your leather boots.
Table of Contents
What You’ll Need to Remove Paint from Your Work Boots
Depending on the type of paint, you’ll need:
- Blunt kitchen knife
- Clean cloth
- Paper towels
- Hot, soapy water
- Cooking oil
- Baby Oil
- Vaseline (petroleum Jelly)
- Nail Varnish Remover
- Alcohol
7 Hacks to Get Paint off of Your Work Boots
Before you start, it’s worth checking what type of paint you’ve got on your leather boots, as the makeup of the paint can affect which of these hacks will work best.
There are three main types of paint that you’ll come across, and these are:
- Latex paint – Water-based paint that’s the easiest to remove.
- Acrylic paint – Chemical-based paint that’s harder, but not impossible, to remove.
- Oil paint – Rarer and more costly to buy, oil paint is the hardest to remove and usually needs alcohol-based removers.
If you didn’t find out what the paint is, I would start with the first hack, soap and water, and then work your way up through the list.
I’ve put the hacks in order from the safest method (soap and water) through to using alcohol, which is the most brutal way to clean paint off leather boots.
1. Use Soap and Water
If you’ve ever had paint on your bare skin, you’ll know that often, the easiest way to get the paint off is hot, soapy water and gentle scrubbing. Leather is porous like skin, so it’s always worth trying soapy water before you try more hazardous materials on your boots.
Soap and water can be used on latex paints, and to a lesser extent, acrylic. I use it to clean up my boots after I’ve removed any paint. Oil-based paint won’t come off using water alone.
Step 1: Mix in the Washing liquid
There’s a reason it’s easier to do the dishes with soapy water—the washing liquid is designed to soften grease or oil so that it’s easier to clean your dishes. Mix a generous amount of liquid into hot water, and get some bubbles going.
Step 2: Clean the Paint Using a Cloth
Dip a clean cloth into the soapy water and dab the affected area on your boot. Using soap and water is much less damaging than some other options, so it doesn’t matter if your boot gets wet.
Dab at the paint with the wet cloth, putting a little pressure on it to work the washing liquid into the paint. The paint should absorb the washing liquid and soften, making removing it easier.
Step 3: Scrape off Excess Paint
Using the blunt knife, gently scrape away the paint, ensuring not to dig into the leather. You’ll need to target just the area where there’s paint and slowly rub the paint off using the blunt edge of the knife.
Once the paint has been removed, you’ll have to use the soapy water again and clean off any residue or marks left on the leather. Allow your boots to dry naturally—they should look as good as new.
2. Use Olive Oil or Cooking Oil
This simple hack is effective but can mark the leather of your boots, so it’s worth dabbing a little on the inside of your boot where it won’t show to see how it reacts to the cooking oil. If the leather coloration isn’t an issue, it’s time to remove the paint.
Olive oil and coking oil can best be used to remove acrylic or oil-based paint, as the reaction between the oil and the chemicals in the paint softens the paint enough to remove it.
Step 1: Dip a Clean Cloth into the Oil
Minimizing the oil on your boots is a good idea, so just dip the cloth into the olive or cooking oil. Pour some cooking oil into a shallow dish, and dip the cloth into the oil using one finger.
Step 2: Dab at the Paint Stain
Targeting the area that has paint on, dab at the paint using the cloth, repeatedly covering the paint splash. Olive oil and cooking oil will start to break down the composition of the paint, which will become easier to remove after a while.
If the paint is stubborn, you might have to repeat this step several times. The more saturated in oil it becomes, the softer it gets. Sometimes that happens quickly, and sometimes, you’ll have to dab at the stain several times.
Step 3: Scrape off the Paint
Once the paint has been softened, you’ll have to wipe it off. I’ve had success getting paint off using just my fingernail using this method—if not, a blunt knife can scrape off the paint. You might have to repeat steps one and two a few times before all the paint has gone.
Once you’ve removed the paint, use soapy water to clean off any marks or residue, and then allow your boots to dry naturally, and your boots shouldn’t show any signs of the paint.
3. Use Baby Oil
Baby oil rehydrates skin and softens pores, and you can use it to soften paint so that it’s easier to remove from your leather boots. Baby oil works well on oil-based paints and acrylic paint as it alters the structure of the paint.
You apply baby oil in the same way you’d use cooking or olive oil to your boots—sparingly and repeatedly until the paint softens. I find baby oil works best on acrylic or oil-based paint, it does work on latex paint, but so does soapy water.
Step 1: Dip a Cloth in Baby Oil
Baby oil can change the color of your leather boots, so just like cooking oil, you’ll want to focus on the affected areas. Dip a clean cloth with your finger into the baby oil, being careful not to drench the fabric in oil.
Step 2: Dab the Affected Areas
Repeatedly dab at the paint to soften it with the baby oil. You’ll probably have to do this several times, especially if the paint is oil-based, as it’s notoriously tough to get off. Keep as much oil as possible from the rest of your boots to avoid discoloration.
Step 3: Clean off the Paint
For tougher oil or acrylic paint, I use a round-edged kitchen knife to scrape away the paint gently. If you can’t get it all off, repeat steps one and two until the remaining paint is soft enough to scrape off.
You’ll have to wipe down the leather with warm soapy water afterward, but once dried naturally, your boots should look as good as they did before.
4. Vaseline Removes Paint
We’re starting to head into more high-risk waters with the remaining hacks on the list. The harder it is to remove paint from your work boots, the tougher the materials we will use.
Vaseline, or petroleum jelly, might look gentle enough, but it can damage the leather of your boots, so use it sparingly. Vaseline makes short work of oil and acrylic paint as it soaks into the paint and softens it.
Step 1: Dip a Clean Cloth into Vaseline
Vaseline is the next step up from using cooking oil or baby oil, as it’s got a higher chance of discoloring the leather on your boots. Dip a clean cloth into the vaseline, only putting a small amount on.
Step 2: Target the Paint only
Rub the vaseline into the paint on your work boots, making sure to avoid spreading it onto the unaffected leather. You should do this a few times to ensure as much vaseline soaks into the paint as possible.
Don’t put too much on, but keep applying small amounts until the paint darkens and softens. Oil-based paints and acrylic paint can be tougher to get off, but vaseline will do the job if you give it enough time.
Step 3: Scrape off the Paint
Remove any excess vaseline from your work boot by dabbing it with a clean cloth, and then use the cloth to rub at the paint to remove it. It should be soft enough to wipe away, but if not, use a blunt knife to scrape away at the edges of the paint.
If most of the paint comes away, use hot soapy water to remove the rest—adding more vaseline to the area, especially if it’s almost free from paint, will most likely discolor and damage the boot.
Once you’re happy with the results, leave your boots to dry naturally, and you’ll end up with clean boots free from paint or discoloration.
5. Use Nail Varnish Remover
Nail varnish remover is superb at getting paint off work boots as it’s essentially a paint stripper. The problem is, just like paint stripper, it’s incredibly harmful. If you’ve tried the above hacks and not seen the results you were hoping for, it’s time to get the big guns out.
Because it’s a strong chemical, you’re better off using nail varnish remover to clean off oil-based and acrylic paint. Oil-based paint is really tough to remove without a strong chemical reaction.
Step 1: Swab with Cotton
Unsurprisingly, I don’t use nail varnish remover myself, but my wife does. If you’re raiding your partner’s makeup collection, I’d also suggest borrowing a few cotton swabs.
Anyone who uses nail varnish will tell you not to remove it using a cloth—you dab it with a cotton swab with varnish remover.
Dip a cotton swap into the varnish remover and dab it onto the paint on your work boot. It’s better to do small areas at a time, so if your boot has multiple paint blotches, clean one at a time.
Step 2: Wipe off the Paint
Nail varnish remover is quick-acting, so you won’t need to wait long for it to work. After covering the paint with remover, gently wipe it (and the paint) away using a clean cloth. You might have to repeat the process a few times to get all of the paint off.
Once the paint is almost off, stop using the nail varnish remover and return to trusty and less damaging soap and water to finish the job.
Step 3: Finishing Off
Wipe off any excess remover using a damp cloth, and dry your boots naturally. You’ll find nail varnish remover is one of the most reliable ways to get paint off your boots.
6. White Vinegar
Vinegar is acidic enough to break down the paint on your boots and is a great hack to remember, as most people will have it in their homes. Use white vinegar on latex paint and acrylic paint and you should see a great result.
Step 1: Swab the Paint with Vinegar
Use a clean cloth to dab at the paint on your boots and keep as much away from the rest of your boots as possible. Vinegar is acidic enough to discolor your boots, so if you get any on a clean area, use a wet cloth to wipe it away.
Step 2: Mix Vinegar with Water
After using a 100% vinegar mix, it’s time to water it down slightly. Add one cup of vinegar to two cups of water, repeat step one, and dab the paint with the mixture. You’ll have to repeat steps one and two a few times to get the correct result.
Step 3: Clean off Your Boots
Vinegar is corrosive enough to make a mess of the leather on your work boots, so wipe off your boots with warm soapy water and then leave them to dry overnight. If you’ve still got paint on your boots, repeat the process until your boots look as good as new.
7. Alcohol as a Last Resort
There isn’t a more effective way to get paint off your boots than alcohol, but it’s risky—make sure you get the alcohol off your boots, or they’ll be ruined. I strongly advise a cotton swab is used as it allows a much smaller target area to be cleaned.
Only use alcohol on oil-based paint if possible, it does remove acrylic easily, but can be tough on the leather. As for latex paint, there are several hacks here that do the job just as well without the potential issue of damaging the leather.
Step 1: Target One Paint Drop at a Time
Dip the cotton swab into the alcohol and gently dab the paint until it’s covered. Once it’s wet, it’s on to step two.
Step 2: Scrub off the Paint Using the Wwab
Using the same swab, start scrubbing the paint until it begins to come off. You’ll have to replace the cotton swab every so often as they’ll be ruined. You’ll have to do this for every drop of paint.
Step 3: Rinse and Repeat
Once you’ve cleaned off one area of the paint, start on the next—dabbing, scrubbing, cleaning—and keep going until the paint has been removed. Wipe your boots with a damp cloth, and they’ll look like they’ve never been near a tin of paint.
Paint Walls, Not Boots
Cleaning paint off work boots isn’t as hard as you’d think. Most of the materials you’ll need are easily on hand, and it’s just a case of knowing which method to use. I’ve saved several pairs of work boots through the hacks above; all it takes is a little attention and the right ingredients.
When safety and reliability are everything, a boot such as Carharrt’s Traditional Steel Toe Boot will protect your toes right out of the box. Comfortable from day one and surprisingly light for a steel toe boot, these boots come with a traditional welt that gives the boot a classic look.
If it’s dress boots you’re trying to clean, start with the gentlest hacks first. They’re not as robust as work boots when it comes to being dabbed with nail varnish remover.
I hope you’ve found this article useful. I’m confident you’ll be able to remove even the worst paint spills from your boots in the future with minimal effort, which will keep your boots lasting longer.
FAQs
Will Acetone damage leather boots?
Acetone will destroy leather boots as it not only dries the leather out, causing it to crack, but it also discolors the fiber, ruining the look of the boots. Be extremely careful if you’re using an acetone-based varnish remover to clean paint off your boots. If possible, use a non-acetone paint remover instead.
Will nail varnish remover ruin leather boots?
Nail varnish remover can discolor your boots if left on the leather, so it’s always advisable to apply it carefully if you use it to remove paint from your boots. Using a cotton swab allows closer control and means you can apply the remover to the paint rather than the boots.
Can you leave olive oil on leather boots to add moisture?
You can use olive oil on work boots to remove paint drops, but the myth that adding olive oil to the leather upper keeps the leather supple and hydrated is wrong. If you leave the olive oil on your leather boots, it will eventually reappear as blotches on the leather, ruining the boots.
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