How to Get Spray Paint Off Glass

You can remove spray paint from the glass with acetone, white vinegar, alcohol, and more DIY spray paint removal solutions.
Written by Talullah Blanco
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
If someone vandalized your car with graffiti, you can get spray paint off glass with nail polish remover, white vinegar, rubbing alcohol, fine steel wool, a scraper, and more. 
Maybe someone vandalized your car with graffiti or you’re dealing with overspray from your do-it-yourself window frame paint job. If the fresh paint has hardened and you’ve got spray paint on your window glass and it needs to be removed. 
Luckily,
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can help you remove hardened spray paint with the right solvent and a little elbow grease. In this guide, we'll cover the best ways to get spray paint off the glass and even show you how to save on car insurance with our
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How to remove spray paint from glass surfaces

Spray paint can be difficult to remove from glass surfaces, especially if it's hardened. But with the right solvent, you can remove hardened spray paint without damaging the glass surface underneath. 
The right solvent depends on the type of glass surface you’re dealing with. Acetone-based solvents like paint stripper will damage fiberglass and plexiglass but work wonders on regular window glass. 
Once you’ve determined the type of glass surface you are working on, it’s time to prepare for your project. If you’re dealing with strong solvents, choose a make sure you’re working in a well-ventilated area, you’ve got the appropriate safety equipment, a dropcloth to protect the floor, and of course the necessary supplies 

Gather your supplies

These DIY spray paint removal methods use simple supplies that can be found inside your home or at your local hardware store if you don’t have them already. Here’s what you’ll need to remove spray paint from glass like a pro: 
  • Scouring pad
  • Safety glasses
  • Rubber gloves
  • Measuring cup
  • Paint scraper or razor blade
  • Microfiber cleaning cloths
  • Bucket
Now that you’ve got your supplies you’re ready to remove spray paint from the affected area. 

Remove spray paint with mineral spirits or turpentine

You can use mineral spirits or turpentine to remove spray paint from the glass but only if you're dealing with fresh paint or only slightly dried paint.
Moisten a clean microfiber cloth with your solvent and place on the affected area until the paint softens then wipe away stains. Rinse the affected area with soapy water or glass cleaner and dry with a clean cloth. 

Remove spray paint from glass with acetone

Acetone is best for removing paint from regular glass (think mirrors and untreated windows). If you were upgrading your window frames with a fresh coat of spray paint and noticed a bit of overspray, you can use an acetone-based product like nail polish remover, paint thinner, paint stripper, or lacquer thinner to remove paint from the glass.
Wet a clean rag with acetone and apply the acetone-soaked rag to the hardened paint spots until the paint softens and loosens. After a few minutes, you’ll be able to scrub the paint stains away with the rag. 
Wipe away any excess acetone with a damp microfiber cloth before you clean the area with warm soapy water or a glass cleaning solution and wipe it dry with a rag.

Remove spray paint from glass with white vinegar

If you want to avoid chemicals and are looking for a natural cleaning solution that is safe to use on fiberglass and plexiglass, you can use white vinegar to remove spray paint with this recipe:
  • One cup of white vinegar
  • Two tablespoons of dish soap
  • One gallon of warm water
Bring the vinegar to a boil in the microwave or on the stovetop and mix the dish soap and warm water in a bucket. Soak a clean rag in the hot vinegar and place it on the dried paint for several minutes before scrubbing with force. If the paint won’t come off with just the rag, you may have to use a scouring pad to fully remove the spray paint stain.
Dip a microfiber cloth into the warm soapy water to wash the glass and eliminate the vinegar smell then use a dry rag to wipe away the excess cleaning solution.
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Remove spray paint from glass with alcohol

You can use rubbing alcohol to remove paint from glass, but make sure it’s at least 70% concentrated rubbing alcohol or it won’t be effective. 
Denatured alcohol also works as a paint stripper but is very potent so you’ll want to proceed with caution. If you opt to use denatured alcohol test a hidden area to make sure it doesn’t damage the glass.
Dampen a dry cloth with the alcohol solvent, press against the affected area until the paint softens, and scrub vigorously. Once you’ve removed the paint with alcohol, clean the glass with soapy water and wipe dry cloth. 

Remove spray paint with a razor blade

One of the best ways to remove dried spray paint is by scraping it off with a razor blade. However, you’ll need to clean the affected area with warm soapy water to protect the glass from scratches. 
Place the brand new razor blade at a 45-degree angle and push upwards to scrape away the paint. Make sure you push firmly enough to chip the paint but not too hard that you end up chipping the glass. 

Remove spray paint with fine steel wool

You can use fine steel wool to remove spray paint from the glass without scratching the surface if you prep it with warm soapy water or oil. Just lightly scrub the paint spots with the steel wool to remove the paint.
Once you’ve got the paint off, wash the affected area with warm soapy water and dry with paper towels or a clean rag.

Remove spray paint with graffiti remover

If the DIY solutions mentioned above just aren’t cutting it, you can purchase a graffiti remover online or from your local hardware store. A half gallon of
Safe n’ Easy
is under $40 on Amazon and removes graffiti and oil-based paint from the glass without damaging the surface.
MORE: Does car insurance cover graffiti?

Find hassle-free car insurance

Removing spray paint from glass is a huge hassle especially when it’s because someone graffitis your home or car. Luckily, damage due to vandalism is covered under
comprehensive car insurance coverage
. If you don’t already have comprehensive coverage and need to upgrade, you can use
Jerry
to find hassle-free car insurance. 
Just download the Jerry app, answer a handful of questions and Jerry will provide you with competitive quotes in a matter of seconds. After providing you with a comprehensive cross-analysis of the best policies across providers, Jerry will handle the phone calls, paperwork, and renewals for your top pick so that you don’t have to. They can even help cancel your old policy! 
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FAQs

Windex will soften spray paint but you’ll need a paint scraper or blade to remove the spray paint altogether.
There are plenty of ways to remove spray paint from your glass windows including acetone, white vinegar, alcohol, razor, and more.
You can use a sharp razor or solvent to get dried paint off the glass.
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