Disclosed is a paint removing composition including an aluminum containing salt, calcium hydroxide, and calcium sulfate. When applied to wet latex paint, the composition neutralizes the paint molecules and causes the colloid to come out of suspension by the process of flocculation. The composition is prepared as a dry powder and added to a sufficient amount of water to create an aqueous solution. Also disclosed is a method of cleaning paintbrush containing wet paint. The composition is placed in contact with a wet paint-containing paintbrush for a sufficient time to cause the paint to come out of suspension in the form of floc.