Stripping paint can be a tedious, time consuming process. This problem can be alleviated by using the best paint stripper available.
Whether you want to spruce up an old piece of furniture with a fresh coat of paint, to customize a new find to perfectly match your space, or refinish surfaces in your home, using a good paint stripper first will create the blank canvas you need to do the job well.
Although it can be tedious, getting rid of the paint and stains built up over time is a great job that will make your furniture look new and fresh.
Here is a comprehensive list of all the currently available paint strippers. Let’s take another look.
Citristrip QCSG801 Paint & Varnish Strip Gel (2 Packs)
This buying guide ranks Citri-Strip Paint and Varnish Strip Gel at the top. Its versatility, affordability and relative safety make this an excellent choice for most painting needs.
Citri-Strip doesn’t have a strong chemical smell. Instead, it smells more like artificial oranges. You can use it indoors and not feel like you’re going crazy. This is especially useful if you live in a climate that makes it difficult to remove paint or varnish from outside.
It also doesn’t contain any methylene chloride (DCM), which is true for all of the products in this buying guide.
Citri-Strip’s other great feature is its ease of use. Paint removers usually work only if they are wet. This can lead to problems because it usually needs to be left alone overnight. This one stays wet for 24 hours with no assistance, which means you can set it and forget it until its time for removal.
Its bright orange color makes it stand out, which is important unless you are trying to remove bright orange paint. This makes it easy to see if there are any missed spots.
Although it is not the fastest or strongest paint stripper, its ease-of-use and convenience make this a great product. For those who want one paint thinner that will easily work for various jobs, Citri-Strip is a winner.
Things We Like:
- Strips multiple layers
- Stays can be kept wet for up to 24 hours
- A powerful, industrial-strength remover
- Safe for indoor use
- Stain, varnish, lacquer and latex-based paints, oil-based paints, lacquer and other stains can be removed
- Biodegradable
- Citrus Scent
Things We Don’t Like:
- You really can’t go wrong with this option
Blue Bear SOYGel Professional Paint Stripper
As the name suggests, SOY Gel is made from soybeans, 100 percent of which are grown in the USA. This powerful paint stripper is a great choice for the safety and environmentally-conscious, as it is completely biodegradable and has no known health hazards.
Its made by Franmar Chemical, a company with a 25-year history of developing effective, economical and safe cleaning solutions from soybeans and natural elements.
This product is effective on a variety of surfaces and coatings, including enamels, urethanes and sealers. However, it’s particularly effective when used with latex-based paints.
SOY Gel is easy and convenient to use-one application will remove multiple layers, and it doesnt have a strong smell.
Things We Like:
- It can be used to remove paints, urethanes and enamels.
- Biodegradable
- Made with 100% American soybeans
- Removes multiple layers of coatings in one application
- Safe to Use Indoors
Things We Don’t Like:
- A bit sticky and messy
Dumond Chemicals, Inc. 7001 Peel Away 7 Solvent-Based Paint Remover
Dumond Peel Away 7 solvent-based paint stripper makes it easy to remove oil-based paint. It’s very versatile, safely and effectively removing most high-performance coatings and finishes from both interior and exterior surfaces (including wood, brick, stone, plaster, metal and more) it excels at removing oil-based paint from wood surfaces.
Its formula contains no methylene chloride (DCM) or caustic chemicals, and it is pH neutral, making it a highly recommended choice for historic restoration.
Peel Away 7 was created by Dumond Chemicals. This company is well-known for developing environmentally friendly solutions for lead abatement and coatings removal. They will be featured a few times more in this buying guide.
Things We Like:
- Can be used in a temperature range of 40-90 degrees F
- It does not contain methylenechloride or other caustic chemicals
- Ideal for wood substrates because it wont discolor or raise the grain
- User-friendly and ph neutral; does not require neutralization
Things We Don’t Like:
- Ideal for oil-based paints only
If youre looking for a product created specifically to remove old stains, varnishes, lacquer, and shellac from wood without damage, Formbys Furniture Refinisher is a great option.
This refinisher was created to restore beautiful patinas and finishes to antique furniture without having to risk damage by sanding them down or scraping them.
It also conditions wood with natural oils, leaving your furniture looking better than ever and protecting it from drying and cracking. Its very easy and convenient to use-all it needs is a quick wipe off with some fine steel wool, and then finish your furniture off with some Tung oil for protection.
Things We Like:
- Dissolves easily old varnish, shellac, and lacquer
- No sanding or scraping necessary
- It is great for stain removal
Things We Don’t Like:
- Requires tung oil application at the end of it’s use
This eco-friendly paint stripper is a no-brainer for indoor and outdoor use. The Smart Strip Advanced Paint Remover is a 100% biodegradable, water-based paint stripper that uses Benzyl alcohol to get the job done.
It can effectively remove multiple layers of architectural and industrial coatings from so many different surfaces-wood, brick, metal, concrete, stone, plaster, and most fiberglass and plastics included.
A single coat can remove as many as 15 layers of paint. Its easy-to-spread consistency makes it easy for anyone to use, including vertical, to spray, brush, roll or apply to any surface.
Things We Like:
- Removes multiple layers
- Odor free
- Safe for removal of lead-based paint
- Works well on intricate, carved, or molded surfaces
- You can remove marine paints without causing damage to the gel coat
Things We Don’t Like:
- Creates a bit of a mess
- Pricier than other options
Take A Look At These Features
Know Your Surface
Consider first whether a paint stripper would be the best paint removal method for your project. For some larger, immobile projects like baseboards and siding, heat may be the best way to go.
For hardwood floors and larger pieces of furniture with flat, even surfaces, sanding is usually the recommended method. However, if the surfaces of your furniture are bumpy and uneven, you probably need to use paint stripper.
Paint stripper is also a great choice when you have furniture with complex details or odd shapes. You can also use it to finish up a job thats been mostly completed with heat or sanding, using the paint stripper to clean up the small areas or corners you may have missed.
Safety
When working with paint stripper, safety is an important consideration. Many chemical paint strippers sold in the France contain a substance called methylene chloride (also known as dichloromethane, or DCM), which is favored for its strength and speed.
However, DCM is widely accepted to be hazardous. Short term, DCM fumes can temporarily reduce the bloods capacity to carry oxygen and leave you feeling dizzy and short of breath. Prolonged exposure to DCM, either through the lungs or skin, has been linked to liver failure, kidney damage, and cancer.
DCM fumes can be very strong and even overwhelm air-purifying ventilation systems. We recommend that you avoid paint strippers containing DCM.
You should take safety precautions when using chemical paint strippers, even if there are safer options. Protect your eyes and hands with impervious gloves.
Lastly, and importantly, if you suspect you may be working with lead paint, it’s best to do extra research and/or contact a professional to ensure safe handling.
Types of Paint Strippers
Paint stripper is not a one-size-fits-all kind of product-its really important to get the right kind of paint stripper for your specific job.
There are three main categories of paint strippers: caustic, solvent, and biochemical, but there is additional variation within these categories as well. Make sure to read all labels before you purchase any paint stripper.
Caustic
Paint strippers use lye to turn the top layer into soap. This chemical reaction causes the paint to be loosened from the surface. Lye can be made from caustic soda (sodium hydroxyxide) or caustic potassium (potassium hydroxyxide).
These strippers will remove most latex and alkyd paints, but they have to remain on the surface for at least a few hours. Though they’re slower than other solvents, they’re also associated with fewer health risks. Lung irritation and skin burns are the most common side effects. However, proper clothing, ventilation, gloves, and protection are all possible.
One downside to caustic solvents is that they do often darken the wood, which means you’ll have to bleach your furniture too if you plan on staining it a lighter color. Also, they work best at temperatures over 50 degrees F.
Solvent
Paint strippers that use chemical solvents to remove paint do so by weakening or destroying the bonds between layers of paint or stain. This causes the coating bubble up and then to peel off.
As mentioned above, one type of solvent is methylene chloride (DCM), but it is not recommended due to associated health risks.
Other types of solvents include ones using N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), alcohol, toluene, acetone, methanol, and/or ketones. Though these options have fewer associated risks, they should still be used with caution-be sure to read and follow all safety information on the bottle!
Biochemical
Paint strippers that are biochemically based are very similar to chemical solvents. However, they use solvents derived primarily from plants.
These include lactic acids made of corn sugars, pine or citric terpenes and citric acid.
These products have minor side effects, but can cause skin irritation. They should be used in an area that is well ventilated. These products may contain NMP, which can be added to the biochemical agent.
Wrap Up
It is crucial that you are safe when stripping paint. You also need a paint stripper that does the job correctly and doesn’t contain any toxic chemicals.
There is also the matter of what surface needs the paint removal needed. You may need to make different choices depending on the type of paint being removed and the surface it is being taken from.
All of the options on this list do just that, but our choice for the best paint stripper is without a doubt the Citi-Strip Paint and Varnish Stripping Gel, which offers maximum strength stripping abilities along with a scentless application. If you’re interested, you can check it out here.
