How Do Our Staff Clean Paint, Glue and Playdough in Schools?

In educational environments, such as primary schools and nurseries, materials such as paint, glue and playdough are among the most commonly used resources in art lessons and play areas. These materials are essential for developing creativity and fine motor skills, but they also lead to stains and mess on tables, chairs, carpets and floors.

If paint, glue or playdough is not cleaned immediately, and often it is not, it can dry onto surfaces and become difficult to clean. Over time, this can cause permanent staining or surface damage.

As a leading school cleaning company in London, we asked our professional school cleaners how they safely and effectively remove these substances without harming surfaces. Their methods can also be used by you at home, in nurseries and in other educational settings.

In this article, we explain how our staff clean paint, glue and playdough from hard and soft surfaces, and how you can achieve the same results.

How to Remove Paint Marks?

Paint spills are one of the most common issues in schools’ & nurseries’ art rooms. Most school paints that students use to draw paintings are water-based, which makes them easier to clean, but dried paint still requires the correct approach.

Hard Surfaces (Tables, Chairs & Floors)

Hard surfaces such as desks, plastic chairs and vinyl flooring are usually the easiest to clean, but abrasive tools should always be avoided to prevent scratching.

Here’s what you need:

• Everyday cleaning products (help protect surface finishes while lifting paint)
• Warm water
• Mild washing-up liquid
• Soft microfibre cloth or sponge
• Plastic scraper or old credit card
• White vinegar or rubbing alcohol for stubborn marks

Here’s a step-by-step method to follow and ensure paint is removed safely.

1. Wipe away fresh paint immediately with a damp cloth.
2. Mix warm water with a few drops of washing-up liquid and wipe the area.
3. If the paint has dried, gently scrape away excess using a plastic scraper.
4. Dampen a cloth with white vinegar or rubbing alcohol and rub the area gently.
5. Rinse with clean water and dry thoroughly.

This may not be enough to prevent long-term stains. Here are a few simple preventative measures to greatly reduce future paint marks.

• Cover tables with protective mats or disposable coverings during art lessons.
• Encourage children to wipe up spills straight away.
• Choose washable, child-safe paints.
• Include desks and tables in daily classroom cleaning routines.

Soft Surfaces (Carpets & Soft Upholstery)

Paint on carpets and upholstered furniture requires careful blotting to avoid spreading the stain.

What you need to clean paint off soft surfaces are:

• Paper towels
• Warm water
• Mild detergent
• Soft brush or soft toothbrush
• Clean cloths

To clean, gently blot to lift paint without damaging fibres. Here’s what you should do:

1. Blot wet paint with paper towels, avoiding rubbing.
2. Mix warm water with a small amount of mild detergent.
3. Dab the stain gently using a cloth soaked in the solution.
4. Blot again with clean water to remove residue.
5. Allow the area to air dry.

To protect the surface from long-term stains, the following measures are proven useful by several schools and nurseries we provide cleaning services for:

• Avoid using rugs at all or use washable rugs in creative areas.
• Provide aprons or smocks for children. This also protects their clothing.
• Clean spills immediately and vacuum carpets daily.
• Arrange regular professional carpet cleaning.

How to Remove Dried Glue?

Glue is widely used in classrooms and often ends up on desks, chairs and carpets. Once dry, glue becomes hard and must be softened before removal.

Hard Surfaces (Tables, Chairs & Floors)

Glue on hard surfaces can usually be removed without specialist products. But you may need the following items to deal with it correctly.

• Warm water
• Washing-up liquid
• Plastic scraper
• White vinegar
• Microfibre cloth

Most items are already available in standard cleaning cupboards.

To clean, it’s best to soften the glue so it is easier to lift. Here’s how to clean glue off hard surfaces:

1. Place a cloth soaked in warm, soapy water over the glue.
2. Leave for 5–10 minutes to soften.
3. Gently scrape away the loosened glue, using the plastic scraper.
4. Wipe remaining residue with white vinegar.
5. Rinse with clean water and dry with a few paper towels.

To prevent stains and further damage:

• Use glue sticks instead of liquid glue where possible.
• Provide glue mats or trays.
• Remind students & children to close lids properly.
• Wipe surfaces after activities.

Soft Surfaces (Carpets & Soft Upholstery)

Fabric surfaces require a delicate approach to avoid damage when dealing with glue removal. Unlike hard surfaces, to clean soft surfaces like a carpet, the glue should be completely dry & hard to make removal easier and safer. Therefore, you’ll need:

• Ice cubes
• Blunt knife or spoon
• Warm, soapy water
• Clean cloth

To clean, follow the instructions below while working slowly and carefully

1. Place ice cubes on the glue to harden it.
2. Gently scrape away the hardened glue.
3. Dab the area with warm, soapy water.
4. Blot dry with a clean microfibre cloth.

Glue damages soft surfaces a lot and may leave permanent stains and marks. Therefore, limiting glue use near soft furnishings is key. Many nurseries in London are following the following four tips:

• Keep glue activities at tables only.
• Use protective coverings.
• Clean spills immediately.
• Inspect carpets and upholstery daily.

How to Remove Playdough & Clay?

Playdough is popular in early years settings, but it may be used in nurseries as well. Clay is more common in schools, but cleaning it is fairly similar to playdough. Both playdough and clay can easily become stuck in surfaces and fibres.

Hard Surfaces (Tables, Chairs & Floors)

Allowing playdough or clay to dry first prevents smearing. To clean them, you need some basic tools like:

• Plastic scraper
• Warm water
• Washing-up liquid
• Microfibre cloth

If playdough or clay is still squishy and fresh, let it dry completely. Dry removal works best and leaves little to no damage on hard surfaces. Therefore:

1. Allow playdough to dry fully.
2. Scrape off dried pieces.
3. Wash the surface with warm, soapy water.
4. Rinse and dry.

To prevent playdough and clay stains, routine cleaning can help you keep surfaces hygienic and clean. Here’s what schools usually do to prevent stains in the first place:

• Use placemats during play.
• Encourage hand washing after use.
• Store playdough in sealed containers.
• Clean tables daily.

Soft Surfaces (Carpets & Soft Upholstery)

Playdough can become embedded in carpet fibres if not treated correctly. Cleaning them off soft surfaces is similar to removing glue. It should be dry and hard to make cleaning easier. Wet cleaning may still be required, but only if, after dry cleaning, there are still stains and marks on the surface.

Here’s what you need to deal with cleaning playdough or clay off carpets or upholstery:

• Vacuum cleaner
• Stiff brush
• Warm soapy water
• Teatowel or microfibre cloth

The following instruction is the safest industry-standard approach used by our school cleaners when dealing with playdough or clay:

1. Allow playdough to dry.
2. Vacuum loose crumbs.
3. Brush to loosen remaining residue.
4. Dab with warm soapy water.
5. Blot dry.

The best way to prevent playdough and clay stains is to control where playdough is used. Therefore:

• Restrict playdough to designated play areas.
• Use washable floor mats.
• Vacuum carpets regularly.
• Replace old or crumbly playdough.

Final Thoughts

Maintaining a clean school environment is essential for health, safety and presentation. With the correct techniques, paint, glue, clay and playdough can be removed effectively without damaging surfaces.

By following these professional school cleaning methods, schools, nurseries and parents can keep learning environments clean, hygienic and welcoming while still encouraging creativity.