Use a utility knife to carefully removed dried latex paint drips.
Drips have a tendency to be discovered when the paint is already dry, a surprise no painter wants when he stands back to survey his handiwork. Maybe it was an overloaded paintbrush or paint that was thinned or poorly mixed. Perhaps the paint roller was the culprit. The key to fixing latex paint drips is to tackle the job as soon as possible. Latex paint cures in 14 to 30 days and once the paint has hardened a little drip becomes a real drag.
Instructions
1. Remove a wet drip immediately. If the drip is on the floor or other surface that you were not painting, use a damp rag to wipe it clean. If the drip is on the surface you are painting and the surrounding paint is still wet, go over the area with your paintbrush or roller to remove the drip. If the surrounding paint has dried somewhat, smooth out the drip so the surface is even and allow the paint to dry fully. If you see lap marks -- areas of uneven paint which form when painters "touch up" an area of drying paint -- give the entire surface another coat of paint.
2. Remove a dry drip on a previously painted wall with a flat razor blade or utility knife, taking care not to cut yourself. If you will be repainting the area, lightly sand the surface with 220-grit sandpaper to make sure the drip area is no longer raised. Prime the spot if bare drywall or plaster is visible. Repaint using paint from the same can but thin it 10 to 15 percent with water. If the area was originally painted with a brush, repaint with a brush. If it was painted with a roller, use a trim roller.
3. Remove a latex paint drip from a satin- or glossy-finish surface like wood or vinyl flooring using a flat razor blade. Take care not to cut yourself or scratch the surface below the paint drip. Apply heat to a stubborn drip to soften it and make it easier to remove with the razor blade. Start with hot, soapy water. If this fails to soften the drip sufficiently, try heating the drip using the low-air, high-heat setting of a hairdryer.
