Did you accidentally spill paint on your bed liner, and you’re wondering how to get rid of it? You’ve come to the right place, for we have researched this question, and we have the answer for you.
Follow these simple steps to remove paint from your bed liner:
- Use a small paintbrush to spread lacquer thinner over the paint stain.
- Let it sit for a few minutes.
- Use a medium-grade nylon brush to scrub off the paint.
- Use a clean rag to wipe off the paint.
- Repeat steps 1 to 4 as needed.
The steps above are for plastic bed liners. Learn more about the different bed liners, including how to properly clean them, in the succeeding sections. Read on!
How to remove spilled paint on a spray-on bed liner?
A spray-on bed liner is a bed liner in liquid form that you can apply to your truck like paint. However, unlike regular plastic bed liners, a spray-on bed liner doesn’t have the same resistance to chemicals.
Thus, using the method above to remove spilled paints on a spray-on bed liner can damage the bed liner. Spraying on bed liners can resist corrosive chemicals, but it is not resistant to any chemical that can remove paint. Chemicals that can remove or soften paint can also soften spray-on bed liners.
Thus, the safest solution to remove spilled paint on the spray-on bed liners is to coat it with another layer of the spray-on bed liner in the same color.
How to clean plastic bed liners?
Keeping your bed liner clean and looking new is easy if you know what to avoid.
Regular car washes are good for your car or the surfaces of your truck that are covered with car paint. However, a regular car wash is not ideal for your truck bed liner.
Regular car wash services often conclude the wash with spray-on car wax. This form of wax contains silicon that can build up on your bed liner. This can leave a dull grayish glaze that makes your bed liner look chalky, old, and faded.
Here are the simple steps to properly clean your plastic bed liner:
- Sweep off dirt and debris with a broom or a floor brush. Catch the dirt with a dustpan. Simply letting dirt slide off your truck could scratch some of the paint that is not protected by the bed liner.
- Rinse the bed liner with clean water to get rid of any dirt that the floor brush was not able to remove. You can use a pressure washer to get rid of dirt from the hard-to-reach corners of your truck.
- Use soap to clean your bed liner. Automotive cleansers and common house detergents are ideal for your bed liner. Make sure that the soap does not contain chlorine or any chemicals that can be harmful to your bed liner.
- Rinse off the soap. Use a pressure washer or water spray to rinse your bed liner. Make sure to rinse the soap off thoroughly from all corners. Any remaining soap can leave white markings on your bed liner.
- Let your bed liner dry naturally. Alternatively, you can dry it with a clean towel. Drying your bed liner thoroughly is important to avoid any possible mold growths.
Chemical Guys Mr. Pink Foaming Car Wash is available on Amazon. Check it out through this link.
How to clean spray-on bed liner?
Cleaning spray-on bed liners is similar to cleaning plastic bed liners. However, there are chemicals that you need to avoid. Any cleaning product with silicon will make your spray-on bed liner slippery, so you need to stay away from that.
Do not use brake cleaners or any cleaner that contains solvent or lye. Any cleaner with solvent or lye will weaken and soften your spray-on bed liner and ruin it in the long run. Brake cleaners will have the same effect on your spray-on bed liner.
It is a good idea to periodically apply a bed liner conditioner on your spray-on bed liner to maintain its protective layer and keep it looking new.
A bed liner conditioner is a chemical that is a recommended maintenance for your spray-on bed liner. Apply it twice a year to properly maintain your spray-on bed liner.
Does paint remover remove bed liner?
A paint remover is also known as a paint stripper. It is a chemical product that is used to remove paints and other forms of finishes. It can also be used to clean surfaces.
Paint removers will not affect plastic bed liners. However, spray-on bed liners will soften and eventually peel off when exposed to paint strippers.
Paint removers come in two types. Caustic paint removers work by destroying the chemical binders in paint. Solvent-based paint removers, on the other hand, penetrate the paint layer and removes the bond between the surface and the paint.
Both types of paint removers can wreak havoc on spray-on bed liners.
Can paint thinner remove the bed liner?
Paint thinners will not hurt plastic bed liners.
However, paint thinners will soften spray-on bed liners. It will cause the bed liner to lose its grip on the truck bed's surface and can easily be scraped off later.
Stronger paint thinners can soften and remove bed liners faster, even ones that have fully cured.
What will dissolve the bed liner?
Spray-on bed liners can be removed by chemical paint strippers. This is more effective—and results in a cleaner surface without scratches—rather than grinding the spray-on bed liner of your truck.
Aircraft strippers are highly effective against spray-on bed liners. It starts to work on it upon contact to weaken and soften the spray-on bed liner. It can be scraped off after just a few minutes, depending on the thickness of the spray-on bed liner.
If you plan to paint your truck after removing the bed liner, you should clean the surface with warm water and soap. Use a clean rag with white spirits and wipe it over the surface before repainting.
How do you remove plastic bed liners?
Here are the easy steps to remove the plastic bed liner on your truck:
- Open the tailgate and get up on your truck bed.
- Unscrew anything that fastens the bed liner to your truck. This includes any screws or bolts that are used to fasten anything to your truck bed that goes through your bed liner.
- Remove the screws along the perimeter of the tailgate.
- Carefully remove the tailgate liner with your hands. Set aside the tailgate liner.
- Lift the middle of your bed liner close to the tailgate with your hands. The edges of your bed liner close to the bed rail will start to loosen as you lift the center of the bed liner.
- Carefully unlatch the bed liner from the bed rail. Lift the bed liner off the bed of your truck and set it aside.
Safety warning
Keep these things in mind when you’re removing your plastic bed liner:
- The edges of some plastic bed liners are sharp. Keep your hands clear of the edge when removing the plastic bed liner.
- Keep your fingers clear of the bed rails when lifting the plastic bed liner. If the bed liner slips and springs back down on your truck bed, it can slam on the bed rails first in full force, and you don’t want your hand or fingers there when that happens.
- Similarly, the lip of the plastic bed liner near the tailgate can be sharp. Thus, be careful when you lift the middle part of the plastic bed liner.
Can you paint over spray-on liners?
It is possible to paint over spray-on liners.
Just make sure that the spray-on liner has completely cured before spraying over it. Check the manufacturer’s recommendations regarding the curing time of the spray-on bed liner. Different manufacturers have different curing times.
Alternatively, you can use a Raptor spray-on bed liner that can be tinted. You can mix a standard solvent-based car paint with a Raptor spray-on bed liner. This will give your Raptor spray-on bed liner a color that matches your truck—not just black that is common to all bed liners, spray on or not.
Read Raptor's instructions on how to mix car paint with the Raptor spray-on bed liner. Follow the percentages of the mix to get the best results.
The U-Pol Raptor black urethane spray-on truck bed liner kit (with free spray gun) is available on Amazon. Check it out through this link.
Conclusion
The process of removing paint from your bed liner depends on the type of bed liner that you have. It is easier to remove a paint stain from a plastic bed liner, while the safest option to remove a paint stain on a spray-on bed liner is to apply another layer of spray-on bed liner over the paint stain.
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