How to Clean Dried Latex Paint from Paint Sprayer (5 Steps)

Last Updated on June 27, 2022

A paint sprayer is an incredible tool. You can use it to paint almost anything in the indoor and outdoor spaces of your home. Also, a paint sprayer is easy to use and lets you apply different paints, such as latex paint. 

For the better performance of the paint sprayer, you need to maintain and clean it after each use. It becomes even more important with dried latex paint as the latex is the heaviest paint material and may corrode and clog the sprayer gun. 

By using latex paint with a paint sprayer gun needs cleaning. Thus, you must know how to clean dried latex paint from paint sprayer.

No problem, since we have covered it for you.  This tutorial will teach you the ins and outs of cleaning latex paint from the sprayer gun and its maintenance tips like a pro. 

Why Should You Clean the Dried latex Paint?

Latex paint is heavy and amongst the strongest adhesives used for paints. Thus, when you use HVLP sprayer with latex paint, the spray gun will get clogged quickly. Also, the problem increases when the paint dries. 

Dry paint is much harder to clean off than liquid paint. The more time the dried paint will get, the more it becomes to clean it. So, you have to act indeed fast to remove the dry latex paint from the sprayer gun to help it perform better. 

When the paint is liquid or has dried only a few minutes ago, you can clean it with paint remover and warm water. But if it sits on the spray gun and its tip for hours, the cleaning process becomes incredibly tough. 

You will need a powerful paint stripper to remove the paint sprayer gun’s clogged and dry latex paint. The paint stripper is nothing except mineral spirits. 

Also, when you use a paint sprayer for multiple projects such as a home renovation or recoloring or frequently, maintenance is the key for its performance. The maintenance includes unclogging the sprayer gun properly without damaging its parts. Thus, you must clean off the dry latex paint from the sprayer appropriately. 

How to Clean Dried Latex Paint from Paint Sprayer

Now that we know why it is important to clean dried latex paint from the sprayer gun, we must focus on cleaning. This guideline will guide you with the latex paint cleaning and unclogging process with every detail possible. 

But, before you start cleaning off the latex paint, you must assemble the cleaning items. It includes:

  1. A cleaning solvent such as mineral spirit or paint cleaner 
  2. A soft-bristled brush 
  3. A garden hose for supplying water 
  4. Two large buckets or container 
  5. A set of pliers 

Step 1: Removing the nozzle of the paint sprayer 

Firstly, start with the tip of the sprayer nozzle. It slides right through a tiny hole. Thus, it easily gets clogged with dry latex paint. You can scrape away the paint from the tip with a soft-bristled brush. Make sure it reaches the tip properly and apply firm pressure to remove the dry paint. 

After that, follow the user instructions of the sprayer to dismantle the nozzle carefully. Make sure you don’t break the nozzle tip in the process. Then, spray water on the nozzle tip and remove any remaining paint from it. 

Step 2: Work with the filters inside

HVLP or airless paint sprayers come with filters to safeguard them from debris and dust. It sits inside the handle of the sprayer. Firstly, remove the screws from the handle and access the filter. You can use the pliers to remove the filter from the handle inside. 

Also, the paint has to pass through the filter before you may spray it. Thus, the filter is thickly covered with latex paint, making the cleaning process pretty difficult. Also, it gets clogged sooner than any other part of your paint sprayer, making it difficult to pass the latex paint material. 

Run the garden hose and spray water with the optimal flow right on the paint to soften it. Then apply paint cleaner on it and use the soft-bristled brush to wipe off the remaining paint from the filter. Make sure you have reached every part of the filter and cleaned it thoroughly. 

clean paint sprayer

Step 3: Clean the entire sprayer body 

Now, it’s time to clean the sprayer body. For this, put the sprayer inside the container or bucket. Now, run the garden hose to spray water on the sprayer gun to remove the remaining paint and deposits from it. 

If you find that the paint is clogging the sprayer tip and filter during this process, repeat Step 1 and Step 2. You may need to run water thoroughly on the sprayer body several times to eliminate its paint. Also, use the brush to rinse off the sprayer body properly. Some may even use soapy water for a better cleaning session. 

Step 4: Clean the inlet strainer using the paint cleaner

Now, you should use mineral spirits or commercial paint cleaner for the final cleaning step. Once you have applied the paint cleaner, it will remove even the toughest paint from the sprayer body and its parts with ease. 

You may need to wait for a few minutes to allow the paint cleaner to work properly. After that, run the garden hose once again and rinse off the sprayer. After that, reach out the inlet filter right at the siphon tube’s base. Apply the paint cleaner and scrape it off with the brush. Then, run water on it and clean the remaining paint. 

Step 5: Reassemble the paint sprayer 

Once you have cleaned all the parts of the paint sprayer, allow these parts to dry in the open air. When all the parts are dried, reassemble the filters, handle, and inlet strainer. Now, you can store the sprayer for future use. 

Final Words

Cleaning dried latex paint from a paint sprayer isn’t a difficult task. All you need to make sure is to disassemble and reassemble the paint sprayer parts properly.

This guideline will help you in dismantling the paint sprayer parts safely for deep cleaning and maintenance. Also, you can use the paint cleaner for several cleaning sessions. So, store it securely. 

A clean and well-maintained paint sprayer will provide an excellent latex finish that you will love. Also, latex paint ensures a durable service with a proper sprayer.