Is Purple Power safe on paint?

Purple Power is an extremely versatile and effective cleaner. But is Purple Power safe on paint? That’s not exactly a yes or no answer. In this blog post, I’ll talk about the caveats of using Purple Power on paint.

Using Purple Power on paint

Purple Power isn’t very safe to use on paint, to the extent that I use it as a paint remover. So if you have other options, it’s usually much better to use a gentler cleaner on paint.

I have used Purple Power on paint before, however. Because it removes paint, that means it can be helpful when you want to remove paint splatters, painted on pinstripes, and things like that. It works similarly to oven cleaner, but is cheaper.

Purple Power generally will act much more quickly on consumer paints than it does on industrial paints applied at the factory, so you can take advantage of this by using Purple Power. Make sure you wear gloves when you do this, because Purple Power is nasty on your hands. It’s just as hard on your hands as it is on paint. Apply some Purple Power to a rag, then wipe the paint splatters or whatever paint it is that you wish to remove. If you are feeling brave, you can let it sit for a couple of minutes. Then scrub a bit more, then give the paint a break. Wipe the area with a damp cloth to remove any remaining Purple Power, and let it sit for a few hours before repeating.

This step helps you to do less damage to the underlying paint. If the Purple Power softened the paint, letting it sit for a few hours gives it a chance to harden again.

As you may have surmised, it is a slow process. The key to success is taking it slow and knowing when to call it good enough. Sometimes you clean off most of the paint and reach a point where you can’t clean off anymore without damaging the paint underneath. When you’re done, rinse it very thoroughly to avoid any long-term damage to the paint.

Alternatives to Purple Power on paint

It pays to start with the gentlest cleaner you can and then step up to more powerful cleaners. It helps you avoid damaging the paint.

Car shampoo is always a good starting point, because it does a good job of removing dirt but unlike other household soaps or detergents, it doesn’t contain any salts, so it doesn’t promote corrosion or rust.

If you need to remove stickers or labels, lighter fluid works extremely well at dissolving adhesives and it evaporates too quickly to harm the paint. Orange cleaners such as Goo Gone are also good for removing adhesives, but the lighter fluid doesn’t leave any residue behind.

And even if you are trying to remove paint or ink, it’s always worth trying alcohol first. 91% isopropyl alcohol tends to be more effective than 50 or 70%. And failing that, try a baby wipe. Yes, people always think I’m kidding when I suggest a baby wipe. But baby wipes are surprisingly effective on paint.