Did I just kill this bag?

July 25, 2013 12:03 PM

I just got paint all over a Filson field bag. Do I have any chance whatsoever of cleaning it?

They're painting the hallways at my job. There was an accident. The bag is canvas and according to the painter, the paint is water-based. Most of it did seem to come off in the sink, but there's still a good amount on there. Am I screwed?

posted by Venadium to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (16 answers total)

I think the big thing is not to let the paint dry until you've got it off. If you can find such a thing, I think patient work with a nail brush and soap should remove all the paint, so long as it hasn't dried.
posted by yoink at 12:13 PM on July 25, 2013

Response by poster: It will probably be dry by the time I get home and have access to those things
posted by Venadium at 12:17 PM on July 25, 2013

Latex paint remover exists, but I'm not sure what it would do to the fabric or leather. Test in an inconspicuous location, as they say.
posted by pullayup at 12:21 PM on July 25, 2013

If the paint hasn't dried yet, can you keep it moist by covering the bag with wet paper towels?
posted by angst at 12:22 PM on July 25, 2013

I think it depends on if your bag is waxed cotton or not. If it's just straight up canvas, I'd try hot water, soapy water, and then rubbing alcohol. If those don't work, I'd move on to stronger solvents like turpentine and acetone (available from the hardware store). Filson bags are expensive enough that I'd keep trying. If it's waxed, some of these might remove the treatment and you'll have to re-wax the bag.
posted by Comrade_robot at 12:24 PM on July 25, 2013

On canvas? I'd say you're screwed. Canvas tends to absorb. All I can suggest is soaking it in some kind of detergent. Something like Oxyclean possibly. And probably keeping it soaking for a bit.

What yoink says is valid; not letting the paint dry is probably your best bet.

If it dries, you need to go into things like methylated spirits (denatured alcohol in the US, I think) or mineral turpentine, (mineral spirit) and rubbing alcohol or things of that nature even though it's water based. If it manages to loosen the dried paint again, then try rubbing dry detergent into it again and soaking it as above.

Even then you may not be able to get it all out.
posted by Dimes at 12:25 PM on July 25, 2013

Filson are actually pretty serious about service and you may be able to call them up and get their advice on this. 1.800.624.0201
posted by jessamyn at 12:42 PM on July 25, 2013 [2 favorites]

Also, you can ask @joliekerr on Twitter. Which is what I would do.
posted by Medieval Maven at 12:43 PM on July 25, 2013 [1 favorite]

I'd soak it with water immediately, then put it in a sealed plastic bag to keep it wet until you can get it home.
posted by Too-Ticky at 12:53 PM on July 25, 2013 [1 favorite]

If still wet, water based paint will come out with a strong jet of water.
Take it outside and hose it off with high pressure and a good nozzle.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 1:01 PM on July 25, 2013

Too-Ticky's point about dampening it and sealing it in plastic is a good one. I don't think you need to completely soak it (if there's leather on the bag you need to worry a little about the effects of too long an exposure to water on that) but get the affected areas good and damp and then get it thoroughly sealed and I don't think the paint will dry if it hasn't already.
posted by yoink at 1:21 PM on July 25, 2013

Response by poster: Unfortunately I had posted this after I'd left work and had no way of keeping the paint or bag from drying. I called Filson before posting this question, but they weren't able to offer much help. Looks like the bag is a loss, which really sucks being that I just got it 2 days ago. Thanks for the help and suggestions, though.
posted by Venadium at 5:27 PM on July 25, 2013

Most canvas utility stuff I use looks better with some paint on it. Own it.
posted by a halcyon day at 6:35 PM on July 25, 2013 [1 favorite]

Don't give up just yet. Latex paint isn't the most persistent substance in the world. I'd still give it the old college try with a nail brush. You'd be surprised what just a good long soak might achieve, too. And if they don't seem to be working I'd try a soak in Oxyclean (though, again, don't expose the leather to the Oxyclean; you could just put on some gloves and dip the nailbrush repeatedly into a solution of water and Oxyclean).

If nothing works to clean it you could think about dying it, I guess.
posted by yoink at 7:19 PM on July 25, 2013

Finally, if the accident was the painters' fault and not yours then you could ask them to pay for a replacement bag. That would seem to me entirely reasonable.
posted by yoink at 7:20 PM on July 25, 2013 [1 favorite]

If it's a loss at this point, why don't you try some paint remover..something like zip-strip? My former BIL heard me lamenting once about getting paint on my favorite jeans and gave me the tip. I've since used it on LOTS of clothing items and other objects. My method-depending on the amount of paint, use a small brush (old toothbrush has been my tool of choice in most cases) and drop a tiny amount of the remover on the paint. (BTW, this will work on DRY paint!) work it into the paint, with the brush. You should see the paint start to dissolve as you brush. After it seems to be completely dissolved, I usually rinse it with water, and, using a different brush, use a drop of dish liquid (or shampoo, if you're working on a fine fabric.) Again, work it into the spot, rinse completely and see if there's any paint left. Repeat as necessary. I've gotten years old paint stains out with this method. You may want to test the paint stripper on a tiny spot, just to make sure it will soften the paint, but since the bag seems to be toast at this point, why not give it a try? Also, the last stripper I used was something reasonably non-toxic, it was orange but I can't remember the name. Otherwise, you will want to wear gloves while doing this, as a lot of paint strippers BURN!
posted by LaBellaStella at 1:55 PM on August 2, 2013