Tripod member Angelyna asks:
I just recently moved into my first apartment. The landlord was kind enough to install new carpet, but then his crew painted the walls without covering the floors. How do I get paint out of the carpet without ruining it?

Handy Girl Candi suggests:
The folks at DuPont, makers of Stainmaster carpet, lab-test every possible stain-removal method for common stains, and here's what they say works best on dried paint. First, buy one of these three dry cleaning solvent products at a hardware store: Carbona #10, K2R, or Afta. (Not all hardware stores carry these products, so you may have to shop around.) Then, test your carpet for color-fastness. On a leftover scrap of carpet, or on an inconspicuous bit of carpet in a closet or on the edge of the room, apply a bit of the solvent, then wipe it up with a white rag. If none of the carpet's color comes off onto your rag, you can go ahead and use the product on those paint messes. Follow the instructions on the bottle, paying special attention to all safety and ventilation precautions as these are powerful chemicals.

For more carpet advice, check out questions I answered on what to do if you accidentally bleach your carpet, and how to remove wax from your carpet.

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