Much like a vegetarian gets asked often, "Do you only eat salads?" by an innocent non-vegetarian who isn't sure what foods are available outside of meat and potatoes, paintball players are asked this question about paint frequently. In the early days, yes the paint did stain. And that's a huge reason many people won't play paintball today. In the beginning, the industrial guns used to fire paint pellets used a marker dye that was made to last for marking trees and livestock.

Today, the paint is made from water-soluble materials and washes right off your clothes, a shower will take the paint off your skin, and a damp cloth is usually all you need to get your equipment dry. Commercial jerseys made for playing paintball will clean a little easier than your street clothing, but you will find the washing machine will do the trick for getting all the paint out.

When you're out playing on a field, keep a rag handy to wipe off your visor area on your headgear. Some people use commercial baby wipes, which usually cuts through the paint quickly. Just remember to not use anything with ammonia to clean your plastic parts. Ammonia can make many plastics brittle over time.

Many people are shocked when they see someone who plays paintball frequently "suiting up" to go play the game. Most people expect to see paint spatters from head to toe, but if the player washes their gear after a game, that won't be the case. Your favorite playing clothes will certainly look worn from hard play, but they won't be covered in paint!