Removing paint - white spirit

[Curlybrunette]

Morning all,

We're tidying up the house a bit and have decided to clean our utility sink which got paint splatters on it a while years ago from cleaning brushes. I've been at it this morning with white spirit and it hasn't removed any of it. Does white spirit have to be used when the paint is still wet, have we missed the boat with removing it? I just got a cloth and rubbed at it, is there a proper way to use it?
Also, the sink is stainless steel, will the white spirit mark it, I've sort of vaguely wiped off the excess spirit, does it need thoroughly removing?

Thanks, I'm a bit crap at anything DIY'y
x

I've found the best thing for cleaning paint up is a product imaginatively called 'Big Wipes - Industrial Plus' - you can buy them in tubs in B&Q/Homebase. They have an abrasive side and a smooth side. I've never known them to mark stainless steel, although wouldn't want to promise you they won't just in case.

If the paint has been dried on for years it might be a bit stubborn - what I've done in the past is use a small scraper blade, like the sort you can buy for scraping burned-on food off a ceramic hob, just to very carefully scrape the surface of the paint blobs so the fluid from the wipes can penetrate the rest of the paint blob. We cleaned the previous occupants' paint spatter from our downstairs lavatory this way when we moved in and apart from some really stubborn spots on woodwork it came up beautifully.

like divine I would scrape a smuch as poss and then scrub with an abrasive. Might scratch the steel though

It might not be an oil based paint. water based paints are hard to remove once dry, but won't be removed with white spirit.

Sorry to intervene this thread but I have a relevant question? Can I clean oil paint with white spirit from varnished floorboards? Wouldn't the varnish come off too? My grubby painter has left some marks!

if you use white spirit before the paint has hardened it will clean off.

If not, not.

You can clean it off a stainless sink with a green nylon pan scourer. Rub only to and fro in the direction of the brushed finish, never in circles as it will show.

Great thanks, I'll get scraping. I now have a utility/kitchen that still has a paint splattered sink but now stinks of white spirit!

Thanks PigletJohn!

'Bar Keepers Friend' will probably remove it . Might need some elbow grease mind

quick tip, if worried about scratching, use an old card, like clubcard or nectar. any plastic card works, scratch off outside layer of card 1st otherwise colour will transfer FROM card, once card is without any trace of colour start scratching😁 ideal for window frames, no chemicals or prep, after you've scratched, just give it a suck (with hoover).....😉