How to Get Acrylic Paint Off Shoes

Co-authored by Marc Sigal and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: September 15, 2021 References

Acrylic paint is messy enough when it’s wet, but it’s especially annoying to scrape off once it’s hardened onto your shoes. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution for acrylic paint—however, there are special tips and tricks designed for certain materials, like leather, canvas, and suede. With a few common household items, you can clean both wet and dry acrylic paint off your shoes.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Leather

1
Blot any wet paint off leather with a clean cloth and a cotton swab. Press a clean cloth lightly on top of the paint, so you don’t rub it into the leather. Dab and pick up as much paint as you can without physically rubbing your shoes. Then, roll a clean swab on top of the area, which will pick up any leftover paint.^{[1]
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- Rubbing the paint will only spread it around, which you definitely don’t want.
2
Brush off dried-on paint with a scraping knife. Place the edge of your scraping knife on top of the dried-on paint. With light, gentle motions, scrape off as much of the paint as you can. Keep your blade centered on the actual paint instead of the leather, so you don’t scratch your shoes in the process.^{[2]
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- Always scrape on top of the paint—don’t scrape through the paint and into your shoes.
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3
Dab the area with an oil-soaked cotton swab. Dip a clean cotton swab into some olive oil and start spreading it around the paint stain. Guide the swab in small circles around the paint.^{[3]
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- If the paint is dried on, it will start loosening once you rub it with a cotton swab.
- Jojoba and coconut oil are both good to use on leather shoes.^{[4]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Marc Sigal
  Shoe Care Specialist
  Expert Interview. 15 January 2020.}
4
Let the oil sit for a few minutes. Set a timer for 15 minutes or so, which gives the oil time to soak into your acrylic paint spot and loosen it up.^{[5]
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5
Scrape off the leftover dried paint. Grab a dull knife and work away the leftover paint, using smooth, gentle motions as you go. If the paint feels soft enough, you can scrape it off with a fingernail.^{[6]
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6
Wipe the leather with a moist cloth. Soak a cloth in tap water so it’s slightly damp. Then, rub over the leather to get rid of any leftover oil still stuck to the surface.^{[7]
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7
Let your leather shoes air-dry. Find a spot in your home where there’s plenty of open air moving around. Then, keep your shoes there for a few hours, or until they’re dry to the touch.^{[8]
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- Don’t place your leather near a heating vent—this could dry out the material.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Canvas

1
Get rid of wet paint by scraping and rinsing. Grab a blunt knife and gently guide the paint off your shoe before it dries. Then, rinse off your shoe with water to get rid of any leftover paint that you weren’t quite able to scrape off.^{[9]
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- This method works with just about any surface, whether it’s floors, chairs, shirts, or shoes.
2
Scrape off any dried paint with a blunt knife and toothbrush. Coax off as much of the paint as you can with the knife, so you don’t have as much to clean. It’s okay if there’s a little paint leftover—just scrub it off with a clean toothbrush.^{[10]
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- Try not to use too much pressure as you scrape and scrub the shoe, or else you might damage the canvas.
3
Rinse off the freshly scraped shoe. Soak the shoe with warm tap water to get rid of any dried paint. Then, grab a clean paper towel and soak up any of the leftover paint. Keep rinsing and blotting your canvas shoe until all of the paint is gone.^{[11]
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4
Scrub off the soles of your shoes with soapy water. Fill a small basin with warm water and a squirt of dish soap. Dip a clean toothbrush into the sudsy water and go over any dried paint. Don’t be afraid to put in a little elbow grease—it might take a bit of scrubbing before your shoe is paint-free!^{[12]
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5
Go over the stain with acetone if you can still see paint. Don’t be discouraged if the pesky acrylic paint still lingers on your shoes. Instead, dip a cotton ball in acetone and press it over the paint stain. Then, rinse off the canvas with warm water to get rid of any leftover acetone.^{[13]
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6
Let your shoes air-dry for several hours. Don’t stick your canvas shoes in the dryer, or else they might shrink. Instead, place them in an open area where they can dry off completely.^{[14]
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- Be sure to let the shoes air-dry in a well-ventilated area—you can turn on a fan to help them dry faster, if you'd like^{[15]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Marc Sigal
  Shoe Care Specialist
  Expert Interview. 15 January 2020.}

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Suede

1
Clean off any wet paint from your suede shoes with a cotton swab. Don’t wait for the paint to dry—clean it off as soon as it drips onto your suede shoes. Wipe or scoop off the wet paint with the cotton swab.^{[16]
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- You can also use a clean cloth for this.
2
Scrape off any dried-on paint with a blunt knife. Gently work away any of the dried acrylic paint, so you don’t have as much to clean off. Guide the knife gently, so you don’t damage the suede in the process.^{[17]
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3
Soak the leftover paint with soapy water. Mix a few drops of dish soap in a bowl of warm water until you see suds. Pick up some of the soap suds with your hands and place them directly on the stain. Then, wipe down the leftover paint with a clean rag.^{[18]
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4
Dry off the suds with a dry rag. Blot away any leftover water and soap suds, so your suede shoes are mostly dry.^{[19]
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5
Spread suede cleaner over the paint stain. Pour a tiny amount of suede cleaner on top of the leftover paint stain. Then, place your suede shoes in an open area so they can dry off all the way.^{[20]
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- If your shoes are still dirty, you may need to consult a professional cleaner.
- You can find suede cleaner online, or at stores that sell cleaning products.
- Place a shoe tree in your suede shoes when they're drying—otherwise, they could lose their shape.^{[21]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Marc Sigal
  Shoe Care Specialist
  Expert Interview. 15 January 2020.}

Expert Q&A

Question

Can suede shoes be waterproofed?

Marc Sigal
Shoe Care Specialist
Marc Sigal is the Founder of ButlerBox, a dry cleaning and shoe care service based in Los Angeles, California. ButlerBox places custom-designed, wrinkle-resistant lockers in luxury apartment buildings, class A office buildings, shopping centers, and other convenient locations so you can pick up and drop off items 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Marc has a BA in Global and International Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Marc Sigal

Shoe Care Specialist

Expert Answer

A protective spray can waterproof your suede shoes. You should always spray your suede shoes with protective spray to protect them and make them easier to clean.
Question

How do I dry my shoes?

Marc Sigal
Shoe Care Specialist
Marc Sigal is the Founder of ButlerBox, a dry cleaning and shoe care service based in Los Angeles, California. ButlerBox places custom-designed, wrinkle-resistant lockers in luxury apartment buildings, class A office buildings, shopping centers, and other convenient locations so you can pick up and drop off items 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Marc has a BA in Global and International Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Marc Sigal

Shoe Care Specialist

Expert Answer

It's best to air dry your shoes. Put a shoe tree inside the shoes while they dry so your shoes hold their form and don't warp.

Warnings

Don’t use acetone on leather, or else you can seriously damage your shoes. If needed, use a non-acetone nail polish remover instead.^{[25]
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