Recently, I noticed that the wall paint in my bedroom is getting faded and dull. So, I want to repaint it on my own. It will be more fun for me. But the problem is removing the old paint from the walls.
The next day, I bought a paint remover from the local market and applied it to the wall. It did not work so impressively, and I also faced an allergic reaction on my hands. So I decided to make something at home that is effective and safe for use.
After doing some research, I have found some amazing ingredients. All of them are available at my house.
Do you ever think about how to make paint remover at home? If don’t, here I am going to present 7 DIY recipes for paint removers! Have a look-
What is paint remover?
Paint removers are one kind of product that can remove paint from walls, metal, or other finishes. At the same time, paint removers are used as a primary cleaner to prepare a surface for further processing.
The paint remover contains several chemicals that make suspension with the surface paint and remove them properly. Along with colors, they can remove the varnish, glue, or enamels that are applied to furniture. Hence, paint removers are also known as paint strippers.
How does paint remover work?
The paint removers are made by several chemicals like sodium hydroxide, methanol, N-methyl-pyrrolidone methylene chloride, acetone, toluene, etc. Isopropyl alcohol, acetone, lacquer thinner, and epoxy are also used for removing paints.
The paint remover creates a layer on the surface first. They work in two ways. You need to apply it on the surface then they make a chemical reaction and remove paints, varnish, rust, or other surface finish. Or you can clean paints by sanding the whole surface down.
After 20-30 minutes of applying the paint strippers, they start to make bubbles by reacting with the paint materials. You can clean the metal or wall by wiping them.
Why need a paint remover?
The paint remover is needed in certain situations like when you need to remove old paints, rust, or repair them. They are essential for maintaining your household accessories, furniture as well as walls.
Cleaning the items
When you feel it is necessary to clean old painted items, a good paint remover is a must. To clean the paint from products, paint strippers will work like magic. They create chemical bonds and clean stubborn paints, and rust from the items.
Repair the item
Sometimes we use a new coat of paint to repair any items. but too many paint coats may damage the items. It is a good habit to use a paint remover and clean the current coat before repairing it.
Maintaining the items
Regularly removing old paint from furniture or walls isn’t easy. But for maintaining your household belongings, you can use DIY paint removers. They are made with safe ingredients and are less costly.
You can easily clean the paints whenever needed and keep your furniture brand new all the time.
Types of paint remover?
Various types of paint removers can effectively remove paint from walls, metals, or wood.
According to the surface and color type, the paint strippers are varied.
Here we are going to present the 2 basic types of paint removers such as-
Caustics
The caustic paint removers are generally made of sodium hydroxide. It works on the paint surface by breaking down the chemical bonds. Then remove the paint from the surface.
You should be concerned while using the Caustic paint removers. They may have some health risks.
You should use hand gloves, an apron, and safety glasses while using the caustic paint removers.
Solvents
Solvent paint removers swell the paint by breaking the bond between the object and the paint. It can break down old and stubborn paints from any surface.
Solvents are usually made by dichloromethane, which is also known as methylene chloride. It also has health risks. So you should maintain caution during using the solvents paint removers.
How to make paint remover?
For several health risks of store-bought paint removers, using DIY or homemade paint removers is mostly popular among people. But is it possible to make an effective paint remover at home?
The answer is yes! It’s possible to make effective as well as safe paint removers at home in several ways.
You need to identify the surface type, buy the ingredients, and make a solution with the right ratio. A perfect paint remover solution will remove all paints from your preferred items and leave them sparkling. Here we go-
Homemade DIY paint remover
Here we are presenting 7 ways to make DIY paint removers. So that you can choose the best one for you based on the type of items or walls.
Pressure Wash
Using pressure wash is an efficient and easiest way to remove outdoor wall paint. Not only outdoors, but inside walls, paints are also cleaned by a pressure wash.
It’s also a fully non-toxic way of removing paint. Additionally, it requires less effort to rub the paint. But make sure the item or wall isn’t made of wood. That may damage the wood. Pressure wash is suitable for metal or cement walls.
In case you want to remove wood paints by pressure wash, keep the PSI range between 3000 to 4000. Also, use the spray pipe at 2 to 45-degree tips for better results.
Sandpaper
Sandpaper is another cheap but excellent tool for removing paint. You should buy heavy grit sandpaper for removing old paints. Because low grit sandpaper can’t clean all that paint properly.
Sandpapers produce a lot of dust. So, while rubbing with sandpaper, use a mask for protection. Again, this removal task may be quite laborious, but in the end, you will be happy to see the result.
Ammonia and Borax Paint Remover
Now it’s a DIY paint remover that is made with only 3 ingredients. You need Borax, ammonia, and washing soda. To make the solution, you need to pour these 3 ingredients in a 1:1:1 ratio. Then mix some water to make the solution perfectly. The thickness is dependent on the type of the surface and paint.
Apply the solution on the surface, and keep it for 15 to 20 minutes. The solution will break down the paint during this time. Then rub with a brush to remove the paint.
Hot Vinegar Paint Remover
When you are looking for one ingredient to remove paint, we will recommend vinegar for you. It’s a common ingredient that can be found in our kitchen all the time.
Though the vinegar alone can’t remove paint properly, rather softer the paint. If you use hot vinegar, it will lose the paints and you can remove them with your hands. Apply hot vinegar on the surface and keep it for a while until it softens the paint.
Then clean it or wipe it. If painting particles exist after that, repeat the process. For small items or small portions of walls, hot vinegar is a good choice to remove paint. It also works so fast
Washing Soda Paint Remover
Another ingredient in paint remover is washing soda. It’s a cheap and effective paint remover. If you don’t want to invest too much money and time in removing paint, washing soda can be the best choice for you.
Put 4/6 teaspoons of washing soda in a large bowl. Add 1 cup of water for each teaspoon of washing soda. Then add them properly. You can use more or less water until it creates a creamy consistency.
Once it is done, apply it on the target surface. Use a washing brush, and rub the surface after a while. Wash them out, you will find a paint-free, even surface.
Baking Soda and Hot Water
Baking soda with hot water can be a good and time-saving DIY paint remover for you. If you want to remove paint from household tools or kitchen items, use baking soda and hot water. You will find the brand new. Baking soda is a pretty good solution to remove paint from plastic accessories.
Take a bowl and add ¼ cup of baking soda. Then add hot water to them. Mix them well. After boiling the solution, put the items in which the paint needs to be removed. Keep it for 10 minutes in the bowl, then wash the items. You will see how effectively this mixture removes the paint!
Hydrogen Peroxide
Our last pick is Hydrogen Peroxide. It is a simple and easy recipe to remove paint. You can use hydrogen peroxide to clean old wall paints.
First, apply on the targeted wall. Then dap a scrubber or cloth with the solution. Fully cover the surface and keep for a few minutes. The paint will start breaking down reacting with the hydrogen peroxide.
You can wash them out and get a clean, smooth wall for further processing.
Advantages of DIY paint removers
Various paint removers are available in the market. Then why should you use DIY homemade paint removers? well, homemade paint removers provide a lot of benefits to you like
- Homemade paint removers are safe to use. Chemical removers may cause adverse health effects. For this reason, DIY paint cleaners are mostly popular among people.
- Easiest and most affordable solution. Most ingredients are available at our house all the time.
- Requires less labor work and cost.
- Ingredients are eco-friendly and don’t damage your items.
- Precautions are not mandatory during applying homemade paint removers
Final Words
It’s time to wrap up the content. I have summed up 7 homemade paint remover recipes for you. All of them are tested and successfully able to remove paints from walls, plastic, and metal accessories.
The homemade paint removers are also safe to use. You just need to know which ingredients will work properly for your items.
