Top 5 Paint Strippers
Longest Lasting: Citristrip Paint & Varnish Stripping Gel Best For Indoors: Dumond Smart Strip Advanced Paint Remover Best For Latex Paint: Motsenbocker’s Lift Off Latex Paint Remover Fastest Acting: D SUPER REMOVER Paint Stripper Best Comprehensive Stripper: MAX Strip Paint & Varnish Stripper
Longest Lasting: Citristrip Paint & Varnish Stripping Gel
This stripping gel takes 30 minutes to wet your paint and get it ready for removal. It also keeps it wet for up to 24 hours in case you want to take a break from your project and pick it back up the next day. It can remove multiple layers of oil and latex paint in addition to varnish, lacquer, polyurethane, and shellac.
Key Features
Has a gel consistency Comes in a 32-ounce container Meant for latex and oil paint, varnish, lacquer, polyurethane, and shellac Works on wood, metal, and other surfaces Stays wet for 30 minutes to 24 hours
What Customers Are Saying
Customers who like this product said that it adhered well to surfaces, had a pleasant scent, and was easy to use. However, some dissatisfied customers claimed that it sometimes failed to remove more than one layer of paint. They also said that it left a difficult-to-remove residue.
Best For Indoors: Dumond Smart Strip Advanced Paint Remover
Removing paint indoors, especially in spaces where there’s minimal or no ventilation, can be risky if your paint stripper contains toxic chemicals. This paint stripper, however, has a non-toxic, eco-friendly, and odorless formula, ensuring that you won’t get lightheaded or faint.
Key Features
Has a paste consistency Comes in a 128-ounce container Meant for paint and other coatings Works on wood, brick, metal, and other surfaces Stays wet for three to 24 hours
What Customers Are Saying
Those who left positive reviews for this product said that it worked quickly, was easy to clean up, and could be applied to multiple surfaces. However, those who left negative reviews claimed that it covered less surface area than expected and had an unpleasant scent.
Best For Latex Paint: Motsenbocker’s Lift Off Latex Paint Remover
This paint stripper removes latex paint from a wide variety of surfaces, including fiberglass, carpet, brick, and upholstery. Because it comes in a small sprayable bottle, it’s only meant to remove the occasional blotch of paint. However, it has a water-based, biodegradable formula to ensure you don’t breathe in harmful chemicals as you work.
Key Features
Has a liquid consistency Comes in a 22-ounce container Meant for latex paint Works on fiberglass, carpet, brick and other surfaces
What Customers Are Saying
Satisfied customers said that this paint stripper was simple to use, worked on multiple fabrics, and was effective on old paint. However, some customers who left negative reviews claimed that the bottle leaked.
Fastest Acting: D SUPER REMOVER Paint Stripper
This product is effective at stripping paint from wood, metal, and concrete, working in a similar way to products that use methylene chloride without containing it itself. It wets paint within minutes, though it’s recommended that you wait 15 minutes for the best removal results.
Key Features
Has a liquid consistency Comes in a 128-ounce container Meant for latex and oil paint, varnish, epoxy, polyurethane, and shellac Works on wood, metal, and concrete Wets paint in 15 minutes
What Customers Are Saying
Positive reviews for this paint stripper said that it worked quickly and got rid of old paint effectively, especially on wood. However, customers who left negative reviews said that it didn’t work well on automotive-grade paint. Others said that they had to apply multiple coatings to get it to work.
Best Comprehensive Stripper: MAX Strip Paint & Varnish Stripper
This paint stripper fits the needs of almost every customer. It can remove layers of paint, varnish, shellac, and other coatings from a wide variety of surfaces, including wood, glass, laminate, metal, fiberglass, plastic, brick, and porcelain. Because it doesn’t contain harsh chemicals, it doesn’t have a strong smell, so it’s safe to use indoors as well as outdoors.
Key Features
Has a gel consistency Comes in a 32-ounce container Meant for latex and oil paint, varnish, shellac, and other coatings Works on wood, metal, brick, and other surfaces
What Customers Are Saying
Those who left positive reviews for this product said that it was fast-working, didn’t have an overpowering scent, and came with easy-to-follow directions. However, customers who left negative reviews said that this paint stripper was less powerful than expected and dried too quickly.
Buyer’s Guide
Before deciding which paint stripper is best for your painting project, consider the factors in the following buying guide.
Type
There are several types of paint strippers, including:
Solvent
Solvent paint strippers break down the bond between the paint and the surface. They effectively remove paint, epoxy, and polyurethane from a variety of surfaces, including wood, masonry, and metal. Though effective, they contain harmful chemicals, such as methylene chloride and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, that pose serious health risks.
Caustic
Caustic paint strippers turn the paint into a soap-like substance. This type of paint stripper works well with oil-based paint.
Biochemical
These paint strippers are a safer alternative to traditional solvent ones, as they’re made from plant-based solvents. They’re effective at removing water- and oil-based paints from masonry, wood, and metal surfaces.
Non-Toxic
Non-toxic paint strippers usually have either no volatile organic compounds or a minimal amount. They’re the safest option on the market for removing oil- and water-based paint on metal or masonry.
VOC Level
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a group of chemicals that are often found in home-maintenance products. They release a gas that can irritate your eyes, nose, and throat in the best case scenario or cause cancer in the worst case scenario. A safe paint stripper for indoor use has a low VOC level. If you’re working outdoors, VOC level is less of a concern because you’ll have the open air around you for ventilation.
Paint and Surface Compatibility
Different paint strippers work on different coatings and surfaces. If you need a product for a particular project, make sure its label lists the type of paint and surface you’re working with. However, if you’re an avid DIYer, choose a versatile product that works on a variety of coatings and surfaces to complete a range of projects.
Application
How you apply a paint stripper depends on the type you’re using. Solvent strippers can be applied in a thin one-eighth-inch layer. They stay on the surface for about 15 minutes before being removed. For caustic strippers, use a thicker quarter-inch layer. Leave the layer on for at least half an hour before removing the paint with a scraper and neutralizing the stripper with water or vinegar. Biochemical paint strippers should also be applied in a thick layer. However, they should remain on the surface for longer, typically between two and four hours. Finally, non-toxic strippers can be applied in a layer between one-eighth and a quarter of an inch. They should be left for anywhere from three to 24 hours depending on the amount being used and the surface being stripped.
What are paint strippers?
If you apply a layer of paint over an already painted surface, it may cause bumps or other uneven textures. A paint stripper keeps this from happening by helping to remove the old paint before applying another coat. It’s a chemical solution that reacts with the paint to loosen it.
What safety precautions should I take when I’m using a paint stripper?
Here are a few guidelines to follow regardless of the type of paint stripper you’re using:
Make sure the work area is as ventilated as possible. This may involve opening vents, windows, and doors. Clear the area of children and pets. Wear long-sleeve shirts, pants, close-toed shoes, safety glasses, and chemical-resistant gloves.
How do I dispose of extra paint stripper?
Never dispose of paint stripper by throwing it in a trash can or dumping it down a drain. Instead, bring it to a hazardous waste collection facility.
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