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Though it’s not the ideal solution to remove paint from a wall or floor, it works great when you need to scrape it off metal tools or doorknobs. Sodium bicarbonate, also known as baking soda, is an excellent alternative to expensive paint removers. Michelle Ullman is the home improvement/tool expert for The Spruce. Latex paint is commonly used to paint the interiors of homes. If the paint has dripped from the walls onto the floor, or if you need to remove several layers, a spray bottle of Krud Kutter can help.
Ideal for metal, this product also works on masonry and wood without damaging the surface or lifting wood grain. After just 15 minutes, it can remove multiple layers of paint or other products—but in some cases, you’ll need to let the product sit on the surface for longer. For especially old or thick paint, you might need to do a few rounds of application. Some soy- or citrus-based paint strippers do a good job of softening the paint for later manual removal. If you are planning on working inside, consider investing in a biochemical or low-VOC paint stripper that won't be as harmful as a solvent or caustic stripper. The method for application differs slightly among the various paint stripper types.
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This will prevent chemical stripper, paint, and dust from damaging the floor below.For a small object, spread out the sheet and place the item on top. For a large or immobile object, cover the ground around the object with the sheet. You can find two basic types of paint strippers, liquid, and semi-paste.

This paint remover is effective at removing several types of paint and varnish, including latex-based paint, oil-based paint, shellac, varnish, and polyurethane. Plus, it can be used on several types of surfaces—wood, metal, and masonry, including brick and concrete—removing several layers of paint in one go. If you have a small project, you might not want a giant supply of paint remover. Plus, the spray bottle makes application easy, even on oddly shaped items or into crevices or angles. Before you strip paint off a surface, start by either moving the object outside or by covering indoor surfaces in plastic and opening windows to increase ventilation. Leave the stripping agent on the surface for at least the minimum time listed on the package, then use a plastic paint scraper to remove the paint.
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For some older homes, there is a good chance that the exterior has lead-based paint. Be very careful if you want to use an open flame to remove exterior paint. When the paint is peeling on a house, many homeowners opt for replacing it with fiber-cement siding or covering it with vinyl siding.

After being left to do their work, the paint bubbles up and softens. Good paint stripper - quite runny, so can be a bit messy, but works pretty quickly and can be used on really old paints as well as modern ones. You can cover with cling film if you’re removing layers, but I find it can be quicker to work on a layer at a time with a good scraper with changeable blades.
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Giving something a fresh paint job is a great way to give it new life. But applying new paint over old paint can cause a variety of problems, including chipping, peeling, and bubbling. To prevent this, sometimes you have to strip the old paint before you can apply a fresh coat. There are a number of ways to strip paint, but the safest and most reliable method is applying a chemical stripper to loosen the bonds, and then scraping and sanding away the paint. I had many layers of paint to remove from plaster coving and ended up leaving the paint remover on for 24 hours, covering it in clingfilm to stop it drying out. Once you get the surface to a certain state the layers just pull off like a strip of vinyl, but it takes a while to get this right, so you need time and patience.
Once the chemical paint stripper has had time to soften and dissolve the paint, you'll be able to scrape the paint off the wall. Start at a section of bubbling paint and use a plastic paint scraper to get under the peeling paint. Hold the scraper at a slight angle out from the wall and push it under the paint to scrape it off. Dwelling time is the amount of time a chemical stripping agent must stay on a surface to properly soften and dissolve the paint. For most chemical strippers that contain methylene chloride, the dwell time is only 20 to 30 minutes.
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He is skilled in residential, commercial, industrial and institutional plumbing, electrical, carpentry, installation, renovations, and project management. The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. For beginners and experienced DIYers, our checklist will take any paint job from "good" to "amazing." Get it free when you sign up for our newsletter.
These strippers do not work on epoxy or polyurethane, though they are suitable for both water- and oil-based paints on masonry, metal, and wood surfaces. Despite being gentler than solvents and caustic paint strippers, biochemical strippers are still powerful and can cause adverse effects to your respiratory and reproductive systems. Make sure to use appropriate safety equipment when working with any paint stripper.
For small surfaces, sand the area by hand or use a sanding block. For larger surfaces, use an orbital sander to make the work more efficient.For wood surfaces, sand in the same direction as the wood grain to avoid swirl marks. In addition, you’ll want to avoid paint strippers that contain the following. Keep your gloves on and use a putty knife or plastic scraper to do the job.

These types of strippers can remove up to 30 layers of paint at once, and require less scraping than other chemical stripper types. This type of stripper isn't great for furniture, as it can stain. Make sure to wipe away all remaining paint stripper with a cloth that is treated with water and vinegar.