As the times change, so do tastes in paints and varnish finishes on wood. There may come a time when you decide that you are no longer happy with how a wood portion of your house is painted and wish to remove the paint. But how do you do so?
Paint can be removed from any wood surface using sandpaper, a hot air gun, or chemical stripping, but you can also use household items like vinegar to get the job done. Before you choose your paint removal method, check the wood for rot and nails so you don’t waste your time.
Ready to remove paint from a wood surface in your home? Let’s look at the process for removing paint and some things to look out for before you begin.
How Do You Remove Paint from Wood?

There are a couple of different ways to remove paint from wood, and the method you should use will depend on the type of object you have.
Sandpaper
For example, sandpaper is one of the easiest methods of removing paint from wood. While this method does work well if you have a wood floor you are trying to remove paint from, sanding it down could take hours.
Hot Air Gun
The second recommended method for removing paint from wood is with a hot air gun. However, a hot air gun can be dangerous, as improper use may scorch the wood.
Also, before using a hot air gun, you need to be sure it is paint you are removing and not varnish, as trying to remove varnish with a hot air gun will have the opposite effect.
Chemical Stripping
Therefore the best method for removing paint from wood is chemical stripping. Chemical paint strippers come in several different types, so you will need to choose one best suited for the kind of paint you are removing and the wood you are removing it from.
The easiest chemical to use is solvent paint removers because they won’t damage the wood. They tend to be more expensive, though, and those on a budget may prefer caustic paint removers. In addition, both chemical removers produce fumes that require you to wear protective equipment when applying.
Step by Step Process for Removing Paint
Here is the step-by-step process for removing paint from a wood surface.
Step 1: Prep the Surface
Start preparing the surface by removing any nails or screws and testing for lead if you suspect the paint may contain it.
Step 2: Apply Safety Gear
Even if your paint doesn’t contain lead, you need to protect yourself. Ensure you wear a mask to protect yourself from fumes and gloves to protect your skin from contact with the chemicals. You may also want to wear eye goggles.
Step 3: Apply the Stripper
Apply the chemical stripper you have chosen, following the directions on the bottle. Concentrate on just a tiny section at a time, using a paintbrush to apply the stripper.
Step 4: Wait
Wait for the paint to bubble and peel; this will take about 20 minutes.
Step 5: Scrape

Use a paint scraper to scrape away the bubbling and peeling paint. Don’t wait too long, or the paint will adhere to the wood and be more challenging to remove.
Step 6: Wash and Sand
Wash your wood and sand it to remove any remaining paint before refinishing or repainting it.
Can You Remove Paint from Wood with Household Items?
While chemical strippers are the easiest way to remove paint, you can also use many household items. For example, vinegar and pressure washers can both be used to remove paint depending on the type of paint and how much you need to remove.
To remove paint with vinegar, dilute it in a solution of one-third vinegar and two-thirds water. Warm it, then dab it on the paint. Wait a few minutes, then try to scrape the paint away. Because vinegar isn’t as abrasive as paint stripper, it may take a few applications to get the paint off.
A pressure washer can only be used to remove paint from an outdoor surface like a deck. Even then, it needs to be an extremely powerful pressure washer. But if you have one on hand, it’s worth a try!
Chemical vs. Non-Chemical Products
Besides just household products, some non-chemical strippers (on Amazon) can be used to remove paint without having to worry about breathing in fumes. These non-chemical strippers are typically citrus based.
Non-chemical products have terpenes in them which is what dissolves the paint. Unlike chemical products, you may need to allow 24 hours for the non-chemical stripper to seep in before you try to scrape away the paint.
How to Remove Oil-Based Paint
Oil-based paint can be challenging to remove from wood using natural or household methods. However, a caustic chemical stripper should be able to remove most oil paints.
Be cautious, however, as caustic strippers can blacken wood types like Maple and release lots of fumes you need to protect yourself from inhaling. Looking into a special oil-based paint stripper may be worthwhile before purchasing a caustic chemical stripper.
How to Know if Your Paint Has Lead
Because it used to be legal to put lead in paints, it is tough to know whether or not the paint you are stripping contains lead. However, as a general rule of thumb, if your home was built before 1978 (or the furniture you are stripping is from before then), it likely contains lead.
Lead poisoning is severe, and before you start stripping an item made before 1978, you must buy a lead test strip to know what to expect. Even if your item was made after 1978, it’s a good idea to test regardless, as you never know when an item may have been painted with old paint that was from before it was illegal.
Lead test kits are available at most hardware stores as well as online. They are inexpensive and well worth it if you find out the paint you were about to strip does indeed contain lead. Follow the instructions exactly to obtain a sample of your paint to test.
How to Prep Your Surface Beforehand
No matter what paint stripper you decide, you must prepare the surface before applying it. Here is how you do so.
Step 1: Check for Rot
Wood isn’t worth saving or repainting if it is rotted. Check for spore dust, as well as a musty scent. If you find a small pocket of rot, you may be able to treat it, but if most of the wood is rotted, you will need to abandon the project and replace it entirely.
Step 2: Check the Paint for Lead
Check the current paint on the wood for lead. If it contains lead, you must follow a special procedure to remove it.
Step 3: Remove Protrusions
Remove any nails or screws that may be embedded in the wood. You should also remove door knobs or any other decoration that is not wood from the surface.
Step 4: Decide on a Stripper
Once you see the wood without any ornaments or nails, take a moment to evaluate the project. A scrapper and sandpaper could do the trick if the paint is thin. However, if you’ve got a thick layer of paint, you may need to resort to a chemical stripper.
Once you decide, your surface is ready to be stripped of paint!
Final Thoughts on How to Remove Paint from Wood
Overall, paint can easily be removed from wood using various methods. Whether you decide to sand, naturally, or chemically remove paint from wood, ensure you prepare your wood in advance.
If your wood is thin, cracked, or rotted, it is probably better to abandon the paint removal project and replace the wood altogether.