For those who love to play paintball, expect a pile of clothes that are packed with paintball stains. After a paintball game, it is vital to wash the clothes right away. Although the majority of detergents can get rid of the hydrophilic fill inside the paintballs, some varieties are known to be persistent to remove than others. Read further to learn ways on how to remove paintball stains.
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Steps on how to remove paintball stains
Upon reaching home after an exciting paintball game, you must clean your clothes immediately and properly. This will ensure that your clothes will stay stain-free as possible and ready to be used for the next paintball game. Let us take a look at the steps on how to remove paintball stains.
- Before washing, get rid of any sticks, leaves, or burrs on your clothes since these can block and damage your washer. This is an essential step if you are washing rags made out of microfiber that was used to clean equipment. These rags can pick up anything with rough edges.
- Pre-treat areas on your clothes with either a liquid detergent, powder detergent or stain remover of your preference. In case a stain remover is not on hand, a combination of dish detergent and water spritzed directly on the paint stains also works effectively.
- The key is to brush the detergent or stain remover into the fibers and leave it to soak for 2-5 minutes before laundering.
- After the pre-treat session, wash your clothes regularly using the highest possible temperature. If your clothes are made of cotton or cotton mix, it can endure these settings.
How to remove paintball fill from clothes
The fill in paintballs includes sorbitol, propylene glycol, dye and occasionally wax. Each of these fundamentals can be eliminated with proper care.
- The main component in paintball fill is propylene glycol. This is a transparent, gelatinous liquid that works as a humectant. It simply means that it will create hydrogen bonds with water. Luckily, this can be removed with regular washing with detergent.
- Sorbitol is another humectant that is a sugar alcohol naturally present in pears, apples, and prunes. It is widely used in sugar-free gums or as a thickening agent in makeup and beauty products. It should also rinse out entirely after washing with a detergent.
- The dye utilized in paintballs is the same grade as the food dyes. The food dyes can be completely washed out of clothes but make sure to wash right away. If the dye is allowed to sit on the fabric for a long time, it will embed deeper into the fibers and becomes harder to remove.
Dealing with stubborn paintball stains
- In case the garment was washed promptly yet the paintball stain endures, you can immerse it in a mixture of 1-quart warm water, a tablespoon of ammonia and ½ teaspoon of dish detergent for up to 30 minutes.
- If you are concerned about colorfastness, test the solution on a seam or concealed area. If the garment is made out of cotton, this solution will effectively work.
- After 30 minutes, pre-treat the mark with a stain removal agent or scrub the additional detergent into the stain before laundering normally in the washer.
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Can you wash off paintball?
Depending on the type of paint used, the water-soluble variant can be washed out. After a game, simply wash your clothes on a normal wash cycle. Luckily, the paint will not stain and they are typically made of environment-friendly, biodegradable and hypoallergenic materials.
It is important to note that a paintball is comprised of two parts – the shell and the fill that is within the shell. The shell is the external part that breaks once it hits a target while the fill is the component within that produces the splatter effect.
How do you clean paintball gear
After a paintball game, you must know how to clean your paintball gear. It is recommended to clean your gear to prevent any oil, paint or dirt buildup.
Remove the tank and the barrel and use a squeegee on the interior of the barrel thoroughly. Only use water when cleaning. Wipe the interior with a dry towel and allow it to fully dry before reassembling. The cleaning can be carried out every few months or so, depending on how often you play. As for oiling, it is necessary to prevent rust, especially on the bolts and o-rings.
When it comes to your paintball gear, use a trash bag to store your dirty gear and clothing. Place them into a washer upon reaching home. Pack the elbow pads, knee pads and other gear in a mesh bag to allow them to dry completely. In case you do not have a mesh bag, simply hang them up to dry upon reaching home to prevent stains or odor.
How do you remove paint from a paintball gun?
When paintballs from a paintball gun strike your garments, the paint can penetrate deep into the fabric of your clothes. Due to this, cleaning up after an exhilarating paintball game can be a burdensome task.
The toughness of the paintball stains on the fabric are based on different elements including the extent of oil in the paint, material, and color of your garments as well as how long it took before cleaning them. It is important to note that the degree of solubility of the paint is also a factor that defines the ease of cleaning. Normally, water-soluble paint is simpler to remove than oil-based paints.
When removing the paint after getting hit by balls from a paintball gun, it requires a regular wash in the laundry. You must wash the clothing right away. In case the mark lingers after the initial wash cycle, pour a stain remover and allow it to soak for 30 minutes and wash again. As for white garments, you can add bleach to the laundry cycle which will work as an additional cleaning agent.
Final thoughts
Although a game of paintball can be quite fun and exciting, it can be damaging to your clothes particularly the paintball stains. With this in mind, it is vital to wash your clothes after the game. With the techniques discussed on how to remove paintball stains, your clothes are clean, stain-free and ready for your next paintball game.
