There are plenty of chemicals on the market for this job, but I’m going to show you how to remove paint from textured glass WITHOUT harming the environment and your health.
If you’ve ever painted bathroom windows, you’ll know that removing paint splashes from textured or obscure glass is more complicated than ordinary glass. The reason for this? It’s not flat, meaning there are many ripples and pockets where paint can get lodged.
Unfortunately, no amount of scraping will completely remove paint from textured glass. Instead, you’ll need the help of some simple (and cheap) household ingredients and tools.
Read on to discover the most efficient, cost-effective and safest way to remove paint from your textured glass.
Methods of Removing Paint From Glass
Some advocate using razor blades, but this is a surefire way to end up in A&E! Others recommend using acetone or other paint-removing chemicals.
I’ll share a simple hack I discovered in my many years as a property developer. This method doesn’t involve expensive chemicals or proprietary products. Furthermore, you probably have most of what you need under your kitchen sink!
The main ingredient is white vinegar. If you don’t have this in your home already, why not?! White vinegar has so many uses, from cooking to cleaning. Furthermore, as it’s antimicrobial, it also has some health benefits.
Tools & Materials
Here are the things you need to remove paint from textured glass.
Tools
- Small sponge scourer – the type used for washing pans and dishes
- Credit or store card*
- Bowl for mixing
- Rubber household gloves
- Soft cloth
*Credit cards are rigid enough to get under the paint but not sharp enough to damage the surface. Just remember to use an expired/unwanted card!
Materials
- Water boiled in a kettle
- White vinegar
- Window cleaning spray
Health & Safety Measures
All these products are non-hazardous, but you should wear rubber gloves to protect your hands from hot water.
How To Remove Paint From Textured Glass — Step-by-Step Instructions
To completely and safely remove paint from textured glass, follow all the steps below:
Step 1: Preparation
Mix the white vinegar with boiled water in equal amounts. Only mix as much as you’re likely to need, plus a little extra in case you miss a bit.
Step 2: Work the Mix into the Paint Splashes
Use the spongy side of the sponge scourer to rub the white vinegar and hot water mix into the paint. Leave it to soak in for 5-10 minutes.
Turn the sponge over and use the scouring side to remove the paint. Rub hard into the glass’ indentations, and you should see the paint coming away from the surface.
Wipe away any residue using the sponge side.
Step 3: Remove Stubborn Paint
Scrape away stubborn paint using an old credit/store card. The beauty of these cards is that they have rounded corners that allow you to scrape the glass’ indentations without scratching them.
Pro Tip: Cutting the card in half produces a flat edge that allows you to scrape the corners at 90o.
Step 4: Clean the Glass
Wipe down the glass using a soft cloth and window cleaning spray.
Ensure you get rid of all the paint specs. Otherwise, they will stick to the glass again when they dry.
How To Remove Paint From Textured Glass — Final Thoughts
If you can find a solution under your kitchen sink, use that one first. And if this it’s a non-toxic solution, all the better!
Remember, white vinegar is a fantastic product every home should have. I’m always using it!
For more paint removal tips, check out our guide to removing emulsion paint from plaster walls.