Porcelain sinks are beautiful and durable. A mixture of metal, glass, and clay, these sinks look delicate and stays in pristine condition for long.

Even with all possible care, you may end up having a paint stain on the porcelain surface.

As per sinkformula.com, A tough paint stain tarnishes the aesthetic beauty of your clear sink and removing it can be such a pain, especially if you don't know how to do it.

You may feel like using a sharp object to scrape off the paint, but that is not a good idea. Despite its strength and durability, even porcelain can get scratches, and you may remove the paint but leave permanent scratches behind.

Without further ado, let's see how to remove those tough dried paint stains with minimum effort and without damaging the delicate surface of your porcelain sink

How to Get Dried Paint off Porcelain Sink?

You can't use the same technique for removing any paint stains from a porcelain sink.
Latex paint is water-based as compared to acrylic paint that is chemical-based. Removing dried latex paint from the porcelain kitchen sink is easier than removing acrylic paint.

If you don’t know what type of paint you have on the sink, first determine whether it is oil-based or water-based. To remove dried paint you will need the following things:

• A cotton rag or towel
• A sponge, scrub, or a piece of cloth
• A brush with soft bristles or a plastic scraper
• Denatured alcohol
• Sink cleaner

Step One: Clean the Surface

First, you have to clean the surface of the porcelain sink so that there are no residues or dirt on the surface. Dip the Sponge or cotton rag in Denatured Alchohol.

You can use normal alcohol sitting around in your cabinet if you don't have the denatured alcohol it works almost the same.

Step Two: Rub the Surface

Rub the soaked cotton rag on the paint surface. You may have to rub it a little rigorously for a while if the paint is old and dried. The trick here is to keep rubbing in the same direction for some time.

Look at the rag and if it has some stains of color from the dried paint. If cotton rag has some color on it then it means it's a water-based paint. If the cotton swab turns out to be clean without color, that means the paint is oil-based.

Step Three: Removing Water-based Paint from the Porcelain Sink

Removing water-based paint from the porcelain sink is easy. Use the same denatured alcohol with a sponge or a cotton cloth and rub it over the paint rigorously. It may take some time, but you will see the stain starts to fade. Keep rubbing in the same direction for a while until the paint is completely removed from the porcelain surface. Alcohol is completely safe for the porcelain sink and won't damage the surface beneath the paint.

Use of Paint Stripper

Paint strippers are very effective in removing the tough paint stains from the porcelain surface. It can be used for removing both oil-based and water-based paints with equal ease.

Step One: Apply the Paint Stripper on the Dried Paint

Before you use a paint stripper, make sure you are wearing protective gloves and glasses to protect your hands and eyes.

Spread the paint stripper on the stained surface using as much or little as you need to cover the area completely

Step Two: Leave it to Loosen Up

Leave the paint stripper on the stain until the paint layer softens underneath. Use a nylon brush or a scraper to see if it is working or not. You may need to apply a little more if the paint is not completely removed.

Step Three: Use a Scrapper

Use a scraper to scrape off the paint. Porcelain has a smooth and durable surface, but still, it is prone to scratches. Try not to rub the scrapper too vigorously, or it will leave scratches on the porcelain sink.

Step Four: Wash With a Cleaner

Once you have removed the paint, rinse the sink with water and use a normal house cleaner or a vinegar solution to clean the paint residues or chemicals from the sink surface. Use a mild scrub and cleaner to wash the porcelain sink.

How Do I Get Dried Acrylic Paint off My Sink?

Acrylic paints can easily stain your sink. Unlike some other paints that wash off easily, these paints get dried pretty soon.

Acrylic paints use acrylic emulsion to bind pigmentation that leaves a tough stain. The paint also does not dissolve with water that makes them even more difficult to remove.

Acrylic paint can be peeled away from the porcelain surface. However, a scrapper may not work all the time, and if you have a tough acrylic paint stain, you need a solution that dissolves the resin.

You need a solvent that dissolves the acrylic resin to clear the acrylic paint stain from a sink. To remove the dried acrylic paint, you can use denatured alcohol, acetone, or an ammonia solution. Follow these steps:

• Wear rubber gloves and if you are using ammonia or acetone, cover your nose and eyes as it gives off intense fumes.
• Pour a small amount of the dried paint or use a spray bottle to spread on the surface.
• Let it rest for a while until paint resin is dissolved.
• Use a mild brush or rag to scrub the surface.
• You can try using hair spray on acrylic paint as well.
• Rinse the sink with warm water to remove the paint and other residues left on its surface.

How to Remove Oil-based Paint from Sink?

Removing oil-based paint from the sink is different from removing water-based paint. Oil-based paint does not dissolve with alcohol.
To remove the oil-based paint, you can use a commercial oil stripper, ammonia, acetone, or bleach to remove the paint stain. All these are cheap and readily available.

• Apply the paint stripper or any other solution you have chosen to remove the stain.
• Let it rest for a while so that it softens the paint layer over the sink. It may take some time, depending on how old or thick the paint stain is.
• If you are using a commercial paint cleaner, check the recommended time.
• Once the paint is softened, use a scraper (you can use a used toothbrush as well) to scrape off the paint.
• Rinse the sink with water to remove paint scrapes.
• Clean the sink with a normal household cleaner to remove the dark stains left by oil-based paint.

Conclusion

A Porcelain sink looks beautiful, but even a small stain can tarnish its beauty. Paint stains are difficult to remove as most of them don't go away with ordinary cleaners.
Scrapping the paint off should be the last resort as it can leave scratches behind, damaging your beautiful sink.

Make sure you know what types of paint you have on the sink before you set yourself on removing it. A simple test with alcohol can determine if the paint is water-based or oil-based. Use of paint stripper, ammonia, or acetone to get paint off porcelain sink.

Follow all safety guidelines before using bleach, ammonia, or any other chemical spray. Even denatured alcohol is flammable and poisonous.

The same guide can be used for removing spray paint from a sink. We hope this article answers all your queries about how to remove dried paint from a porcelain sink.