How to Get Paintball Paint Out of Clothes: All You Need to Know?

Last updated on April 13th, 2025 at 11:18 pm

Whether you are a professional or play paintball as a hobby, you would know the struggles of getting rid of the paint from your clothes. This is an urgent concern for all the players, as some paints can be extremely persistent and harsh. As a person playing this game for quite some time, I would say cleaning is absolutely easy as long as you know the right products and steps to follow.

Wondering does paintball ruin your clothes? or does paintball paint come out of clothes? To help you with this, I have brought together this detailed guide on How to Get Paintball Paint Out of Clothes? some useful tips, and commonly asked questions that can guide you well. So, dive right in for more.

What is Paintball Paint Made up of?

Well, before you venture into cleaning your paintball clothes or gear after you are done playing, it is important that you know what is the composition of these paints. This is because it can help you in using the right techniques to cut the specific color from your clothes. Most commonly, you can find either water-based or oil-based compositions.

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1. Water-Based Paintballs

First of all, these are the compositions that use soluble liquids like oil, color pigments, and glycerin. Hence, whenever these balls hit your shirt, the water in them evaporates and provides you with a stain. These stains are relatively easy to get rid of, given that they can easily bond with gentle cleaning liquids out there.

However, I would recommend you take action quickly, or else, it can be a bit difficult to remove. Here are some common ingredients you can find in these compositions;

• Propylene glycol, also known as PGBE, is undoubtedly found in the highest intensity in these paints. These are humectants and soluble in water. All in all, these are usually found to preserve food and anti-freeze them. Some manufacturers use gelatin shells that are filled with these PGBE colors.
• Similarly, Sorbitol is another sugar humectant that is used as a sweetener. They have a distinct color and smell that is used in the paintballs. These are water-soluble which makes them not only harmless for you but easy to get rid of, from the clothes.
• Some manufacturers also use food colors or dyes to get the color. Most commonly, these are orange, red, and yellow colors that are intensely vibrant and can be seen from a mile. These are biodegradable, non-toxic, and water-soluble, so you don’t have to worry about getting rid of them.

2. Oil-Based Paintballs

Although they commonly use in ancient times, nowadays, they are relatively less popular than their counterparts. Most commonly, these compositions have harmful and toxic products that can damage the environment and are equally damaging to human health.

Similarly, these do not mix or bond well with water or liquid detergents, making it even more challenging to get rid of the stains. I would never opt for these paints as they can be a bit more expensive than usual and have non-biodegradable materials.

How to Remove Paintball Paint Out of Clothes:: A Step-by-Step Guide

Although I can understand that, as a paintball player, stains can be a constant worry. Cleaning is not so challenging if you have the right guidelines and cleaning solutions. After doing it for quite some years, I can claim that it can be an easy and time-efficient process when done properly. Here is a detailed guide on how you can get the paintball paint out of your clothes effectively;

Start with Cleaning

Starting off, you need to make sure that you have a clean canvas. For this purpose, you need to get rid of any environmental debris that is present on the clothes. By this, I mean loose dirt, sticks on the field, burrs, or even leaves. You don’t have to use any special tool for this step, just shake it once and you are all done. This will make any debris fall on the ground. If you skip this step, it will disturb your cleaning process in the washing machine and will damage the fabrics of the clothes.

Pre-Treat the Stains

Once you are done dealing with the environmental impurities, it is time to proceed with the pre-treatment of the spots. This is because it will help you in breaking the stains loose, making the entire cleaning process fast and easy for you.

For this step, I would advise you to use detergent solutions (powdered or liquid) and stain removers specifically designed for clothes. I usually prefer making my own solution using a dishwasher, regular detergent, and water. Now, you are supposed to spray it on and leave it to dry.

It’s Time for Scrubbing

After this, it is understandable that the cloth would have soaked up the cleaning solution you had used in the previous step. Now, you require to scrub the clothes vigorously, make sure you go into each and every section of the stain. This will make sure the stain is lighter than usual and loosened to be treated in the washing machine. I would advise you to at least scrub the stain for five to ten minutes until you get a light color of the stain.

Now, Put the Clothes in Washing Machine

Now that you are done with scrubbing, you are almost done. In this step, all you need to do is put the clothes in the washing machine. I would recommend you use it at normal settings and high temperatures as it can help you in getting rid of the stain without damaging the fiber of the clothes. I usually prefer using my machine at super-hot or sanitary cycles, but if you do not have these settings, it is completely alright. Just make sure you are not using pure cotton. For this, you need to hand wash it with the right guidelines.

End The Process By Drying the Clothes

Last but not least, another important step is drying your clothes which often take lightly by people. For this, you need to dry it at a high level of the spinner with a high-temperature range. This is because it will also help you in further treating the stain. If you prefer drying your clothes with natural air, it can equally work incredibly for persistent stains but the condition is that you need to have time and direct sunlight coming into your house. Finally, you are all done.

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Can I Use Hydrogen Peroxide to Get Rid of Paint Stains?

Likewise, if you are most likely to be dealing with persistent and hard stains, you must be wondering whether hydrogen peroxide can save you from this mess. Well, to some extent, yes as long as the cloth you have worn is not pure and has some synthetic material in them. If this is the case, here are some steps that can help you in getting rid of old and rough stains, caused by high-speed penetration of the paintballs;

• First of all, you are required to wash the shorts with a gentle detergent and water.
• Now, put the hydrogen peroxide solution that is specifically designed for clothes on only the areas where there is a stain. Similarly, do not let it sit for more than three minutes, or else it will ruin the shirt.
• Once the spot is lightened and loose, you can gently rub it and put it in the washing machine.
• After this, you are required to dry the clothes and you are all done.

How to Get Rid of Paintball Paint Out Of Clothes: Some Tips and Tricks

Well, for this purpose, you first need to understand what the paintball fill is made up of. Most commonly, these solutions made up of dye, propylene glycol, and even sorbitol. It bases on the materials each brand is using and the demand/ prices across the market. If only you know what type of materials has been used in your paintball fill, it is absolutely easy to get rid of each individually. Here is a brief idea of what you can use to get rid of these three commonly used fill materials;

If It Made up of Sorbitol

First of all, it is common knowledge that sorbitol is a humectant. So, it is easily available in sweet fruits like apples, prunes, and even pears. Now given that it is a chemical compound, it can stick to your shirt. To get rid of this, you need to have a liquid detergent mixed with water. This is because this compound will bond with water, making it easy to remove it from the clothes. You can always use any preferred gentle cleanser for this job. All you need to do is just give it time for bonding.

If It Made up of Propylene Glycol

Similarly, just like Sorbitol, Propylene Glycol is another humectant. It is colorless, so you will not be able to figure out its ratio in the paint, but I would say it is the most used for paintball paint compositions. This sticks to the clothes in a similar fashion to that of sorbitol. Hence, to get rid of this, you need a mixture of a gentle cleanser and water. So that, it can bond with this liquid, making it easy for you to scrub away the stain. However, it can take longer than usual to bond.

If It Made up of Dye

In the end, if the manufacturers have used food dyes or other chemical colors for paintball paint. It can settle on the fiber of the clothes. This can potentially lead to the dye going deeper into the fabric with the amount of time. Hence, you need to immediately get rid of the color before it seems in and settles down. For this, you need liquid detergent solutions as they are quite efficient in getting rid of the dye. However, never let them settle in the clothes.

Are All Paintball Stains Easy to Remove?

When it comes to paintball stains on clothes, the consistency and pigment depend on varying factors, including the distance of the target, the paint composition, and the speed range of the gun. Hence, all in all, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that all paintball stains are not easy to remove. Now, you must be wondering what makes some stains extremely difficult to remove. Well, here are some reasons why it is incredibly hard to get rid of the paint from the clothes, so you can prevent them beforehand.

• The first and most common reason for this can be that the paintballs are outdated and old. This is because the paint in these balls is hardened and tough to remove. These can also be stuck in the gun, making them difficult to take the correct aim. So, if you are using old paintballs, you need to replace them as soon as possible.
• It can also be that it is shot from a very close range. This is because, at high speed, the paintball is not given proper time to dissolve, transferring a hard stain on your clothes. Hence, it can be extremely difficult to get rid of the stains and in most cases, you cannot even get them out of the shirts.
• Similarly, if you have left your paintball outside on a hot day or in any other unsuitable environmental conditions. This is because it can easily melt the paint in the balls, making the composition hard. It can be a bit difficult for you to get rid of the stains from your clothes.

How to Deal with Persistent Stains on Your Clothes?

Now, you must be wondering how you can deal with complicated and difficult stains. Cleaning these types of spots is not challenging as long as you know what products to use and how to proceed. Well, there are some useful ways with which you can pre-treat these stains;

• First of all, you should never use fabric softeners as they can damage the fiber of the clothes.
• Likewise, do not use a dryer, and always utilize natural air to dry the clothes once you are done cleaning.
• Immediately wash the clothes once they get stained with the paint before it gets settled in.
• Always pre-treat the cloth with a gentle cleanser to make sure it can completely be cleaned.
• Similarly, I would advise you to not use either hot water or cold water to wash the clothes as it can damage the fibers of your clothes. Instead, always prefer lukewarm water and a mild detergent to make sure you get rid of the stain without damaging the fabric.
• Always use the low cleaning setting and high temperature while washing the clothes in the washing machine as it is perfect for paintball shirts and other pieces of clothes
• Never ever leave the paintballs outside on a hot day or in any other unsuitable environment that can melt the paint inside the ball.
• Although many people would advise you to use a bleaching solution to get rid of harsh stains, it is not practical at all. This is because it has some dangerous chemicals that can ruin your clothing and provide you with a faded color. If it is completely necessary, you can opt for some gentle bleach solutions and always patch test to make sure it is not strong enough to damage your piece of clothing. At least wait for fifteen minutes to check the damage.

Apart from this, here are some other things you can do to treat and avoid harsh and persistent stains;

Use White Vinegar to Cut the Stain

First of all, instead of using harsh and harmful cleaning solutions for your fabric, I would always recommend you go for white vinegar. Mix it with three parts water and gently rub it only to the area where you can see the stain.

After waiting for at least fifteen minutes, rub it repeatedly with the help of a clean microfiber cloth. After at least rubbing it for thirty minutes, you need to wash it with cold water. Make sure there is no smell or remaining vinegar on the cloth. Finally, end it with a round of the washing machine.

Always Wear Protective Gear

It is equally important to always use protective gear, so that, during the gameplay, you don’t have to worry about getting your clothes stain by the paintball paints. This is also significant, given the fact that some compositions can be dangerous for human skin as well.

I would also recommend you wear some old clothes that you do not worry about. Here, using a paintball vest is important, so that the impact reduces while you are playing. These come in different sizes and shapes, so you are good to go.

Soak the Clothes in a Gentle Cleaning Solutions

Lastly, this is undoubtedly the most effective way of cleaning the stains from your clothes. All you need to do is take a bucket of water and mix some gentle cleaner and a spoon of ammonia. After you have done this, soak your piece of cloth in it for a total of thirty minutes. This will help you loosen the spots and break their bonds. When you wash it in the washing machine, it is absolutely easy to get rid of the stain in no time.

How Do You Wash a Paintball Vest?

Well, just as with other pieces of clothes, washing paintball vests is equally important to clean. The key to cleaning these vests is to act immediately as soon as you end the match. To start with, you need to empty it and remove everything that is in the pocket. Now, most vests come with velcro straps, so you can easily remove things in time.

Once you are done, it is time to put it immediately in the washing machine. For this purpose, use a normal cleaning round at high temperatures. As it can not only get rid of the spot without damaging the fabric. If you do not have time for air drying, make sure to prefer drying it at low temperatures and heat settings. I would again stress that do not use bleach solution as it can damage the fiber easily and will discolor the entire gear, providing you with irreversible damage.

Final Thoughts – Paintball Paint Out of Clothes

In the end, for anyone who has been playing paintball for quite some time, cleaning can be a mess, specifically if you don’t know how to proceed. The key to getting rid of these harsh and persistent stains is to act immediately and use the right tools. Finally, I hope this guide on how to get paintball paint out of clothes can help you with the entire process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Anderson

In his impressive career, John M. Anderson has played alongside the best players in the world and earned the respect of many top competitors. His skill, versatility, and timing have helped him become one of the top players in the paintball world. He is a true pro who will likely be remembered as one of the greatest players in the game’s history. His impact goes beyond the field as well. He has become a spokesperson for the sport, sharing interesting stories and facts from the past, and he also regularly contributes to this blog to help and guide new players in the world of paintball.