How to Fix Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Painting Mistakes

What's the best way to remove latex paint drips from trim, walls and floors without damaging the paint job or the surface?

Immediately wipe off fresh splatters. For those that have dried, sand down the drip or spill until the surface is smooth. Then clean off the area with a damp cloth and repaint if needed. If you need primer, prime first and wait for it to completely dry before you paint. If you have spots on a hardwood or tile floor, remove those by running a razor blade carefully under the drip. It should just peel away. If you have drips on carpet, read the question below on how to get paint out of carpet.

To prevent future spills, use drop cloths and painters tape between the walls and the trim work. Remove wall plates and tape over outlets. Cover door knobs with plastic bags and tape. It'll prevent speckled hardware.

How do I refinish furniture that has layers of paint on it?

The best way to remove paint on a piece of furniture is by using a paint and varnish stripper. These strippers can be used on wood, metal or masonry to lift and remove coats of paint. For furniture, you’ll want to ensure the stripper you’re using won’t raise the woodgrain.

This project typically goes quickly. Apply a layer of the stripper with a brush and follow the directions on the container for removal time. Use a paint scraper or putty knife to remove the gel. Then wipe down the surface with a soft cloth. If the first round of stripper doesn’t remove all of the paint, apply a second coat.

How do I get paint out of carpet? 

Clean up the spill immediately. Use a scraper to remove as much of the wet paint as possible. Try to keep it in one location and not spread it into clean carpet. Use a thick sponge to soak up any paint the scraper doesn’t collect. You may need to repeat this step several times. Then place a clean dry cloth over the spot to soak up the rest of the paint. Change the cloth out with a new one as it picks up the stain. After the stain is gone, clean the area with warm water and dishwashing detergent. Allow it to dry completely.

If the stain is already dry, there are paint removers that you can purchase at Lowe's. It’s recommended that you test on a hidden spot first and follow the manufacturer’s directions.

There are spots where the paint has wrinkled. How do I fix this?

Wrinkled paint is usually caused when the paint has been applied too heavily, in extreme temperatures or without enough drying time between coats.

Fortunately, there's a way to fix this. Wait for the paint to dry completely and then sand the wrinkled area. Once the wall is smooth, dust with a damp cloth. Let it dry and then prime, let it dry and repaint.

I painted a light color over a dark color, and the dark color is bleeding through. How do I fix this? 

Did you skip the primer? When you’re changing from a dark paint color to a lighter one, it’s important to prime. To help you save time, Lowe’s sells paint-and-primer-in-one products that’ll effectively cover old paint colors.

If you have enough of the light paint for a coat or two more, then purchase paint primer. Add one coat of primer. If the darker color is still showing through, apply a second coat. Make sure that you let the primer completely dry before adding the paint.

There's lint on the walls from a new paint roller that I used. How do I remove it from the wall?

Before you paint again, wash the roller in warm, soapy water. Spin the majority of the water out of the roller and then let it stand on end to dry. Then run a wide roll of packing or duct tape over it to ensure the roller is lint free. With the paint completely dry, use a light sanding block to carefully sand the lint off the wall. Once you're finished, run a damp cloth over the wall to remove the dust. Then repaint the walls.

How do I tone down a paint color that’s too bright?

You have a couple of options. First, you can take the paint back to the store and ask them to tint it. They can add a bit of white to tone it down.

If you’ve finished the job and you’re out of paint, consider using a glaze to lessen the color intensity. The color glaze that you use depends on the effect that you're trying to create. Talk to a store associate about what you need, and they can mix a custom glaze.

How do I paint uneven plaster walls?

The best way to paint plaster walls that have an uneven texture is to use self-leveling paint. Self-leveling paint helps to eliminate brush strokes, creating a smooth, hard finish.

I patched a small hole and painted over it. Now the patch is showing through. How do I fix this? 

Did you prime the filled area before you painted? If not, this is probably why you see a blended finish. It's important to use a good primer if you've patched spots, especially with latex paint.

The best way to fix this is to apply a coat of primer over the filled area. Use a small roller instead of a brush. Wait for the primer to dry before painting over it.

How do I remove paint marks on the ceiling?

If the paint is still wet, spray some glass cleaner on a small brush and wipe the marks away.

If your paint is already dry, touch up the marks with white paint and a small brush. If the marks are close to the divide between the wall and ceiling, run painters tape along the wall so that you don’t mark the wall while touching up the ceiling. Most ceilings are a flat pure white, so try using that if you’re unsure of the ceiling color.

I removed the painters tape and some of the paint came off. How do I fix this? 

More than likely, the tape was left on too long. Generally, it's best to remove tape about an hour after you've finished painting to avoid paint chips. Make sure the tape doesn't touch the wet wall as you remove it.

In your case, wait for the paint to dry completely. If you haven't removed all of the tape yet, use a razor blade to cut away pieces of tape and raised paint. After you get the remainder cut away, use a sanding block to lightly go over the area until it's smooth. Then you should clean off the dust with a damp cloth, prime and paint.