But considering what happened next, I’m glad I didn’t!!). Remove all old hardware, including door hinges. Recently I experienced the epic fail of letting Citristrip Paint & Varnish Stripping Gel dry on my latest furniture DIY restoration project. Hi! This post contains affiliate links, including Amazon. 4. How to use Citristrip (correctly) to its fullest. The problem is, I keep ending up some white waxy residue that will harden in a corner and no amount of paint thinner or mineral spirits will break it … After wash removes any paint residue left from stripping, plus conditions the surface for paint, stain or topcoat. Yup. Make sure to sand in direction of the wood. On projects where a water-based product will be used, we recommend cleaning with Acetone which evaporates quickly and removes any residue. Be sure to sand in the direction of the grain. First, I followed safety precautions by snapping on nitrile gloves and rocking some sexy safety glasses. This is NOT the normal Citristrip. If you have already cleaned with mineral spirits, we recommend that you clean the surface with a 50:50 mix of denatured alcohol and water before applying the water-based product. But it did what I needed – a chair with no more gunked-on, dried Citristrip. Once all the Citristrip is removed, wipe down furniture with a clean cloth and then let completely dry before sanding. Using your plastic scraper, gently scrape off the bubbled paint. My old wood rocking chair was a mess – completely encrusted with Citristrip. Depending on the condition of the wood, you may need to do a start with a coarser grit (120 or 150) before a final sanding with a … Scrape the wood with a wooden scraper to remove the stripper and finish from the wood. It wasn’t an exact science, just experimenting with the different stripping tools. Yuck…. Use a clean abrasive pad dipped in Citristrip® Paint Stripper After Wash or Klean-Strip® Odorless Mineral Spirits to loosen remaining stubborn bits of paint. For even the newest DIY’er, CITRISTRIP® is the effective brand of removers that is pleasant to use because it has a fresh citrus scent. Personally, I found the steel wool to work the best. I had hoped to go back downstairs to the project later that night after the girls went to sleep. And I was ok with that. I'm thinking the reapplied Citristrip will soften the dried and make it … Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy & effectiveness of the information displayed on this website, Everyday Old House is for entertainment purposes only. I applied a layer of Citristrip to the rocker. And I take 100% of the blame. How to Clean Kitchen Cabinet Knobs and Pulls (Secret Ingredient)! In traditional uses, after wash is a solvent applied to furniture after undergoing the stripping process. It can remove a lot of stuff! Citristrip has been working fine except that it happens to dry out very quickly so I need to keep applying more and more Citristrip to keep it moist. Not bad for an amateur, eh? Knowing my kids would wake up from their nap shortly, I wrapped the rocker in Saran wrap. And you might have to be too…. To save yourself lots of effort and time, spend about 10 minutes and sand over your entire piece with coarse sand paper. And yes, it's blotchy. But homeownership is also challenging and can be a source of stress, time, and hard work, especially with old houses. When the wood looks clear of all finish, clean the surface of all residue with soft cloths dipped in Citristrip® Paint Stripper After Wash. Repeat until you finally see a clean surface. How to Prep Your House Sitter (Checklist) – What They Need To Know, How to Find the Perfect Home Roofer – Straight from the Experts, HGTV’s How to Sand Furniture Before Painting, 5 Ways to Clean Wooden Kitchen Cabinets - Straight from the Experts, 10 Inspiring Ways to Conceal an Electrical Panel, How to (Quickly) Label A Home's Electrical Panel Directory. A few months ago I picked up a beautiful old Lincoln rocking chair for free. The container lists some other product to clean up the residue that I do In true parent fashion, I used the spaghetti and meatballs can from my kid’s dinner last night…. Time to break out the Citristrip to strip down the chair. (In hindsight looking at this pic, I should have applied a thicker layer. Subscribing is the best way to get updates and snag useful home tips! Citristip is effective only when wet, so if you need to step away, cover it with plastic wrap prevents it from drying prematurely. Note that this method may not work to the extent where you can re-stain the chair. As per directions, I checked on the rocker at intervals – 30 minutes, 1 hour, then 2 hours – but the laquer wasn’t bubbling (or as I like to call it – “frothy”). Citrus strippers such as CitriStrip have a wax in them to keep the product from drying out after it's applied to the surface. Unbeatable for many small tasks like this. Compared to traditional chemical stripper, Citristrip stripping gel is awesome in so many ways: Admittedly it does work slightly slower than traditional stripper, but I don’t mind. And odorless mineral spirits are doing a good job of cleaning up the minor residue. Curious what happened the rocking chair once I removed all the gooey Citristrip? I went through 2-3 packages of it! And if you do try my method described below, first try it out in an inconspicuous spot. Its unique patented formula is safer and strips most paints and … According to the manufacturer, Citristrip paint and varnish stripping gel will stay active and remove layers of unwanted paint and finish for up to 24 hours as long as it remains wet. Remove everything. I’m a parent – the kids come first, right? Please, please, please if you find yourself in a similar mess of dried Citristrip on wood, do your own research to determine the best method to rectify. Owning your own home where you can unwind and enjoy life can be one of life’s most rewarding experiences. I use 50/50 D-natured alcohol/H20 & a soft bristle tooth brush to remove excess Citristrip. I use a plastic scraper to remove the majority of the Citristrip/paint sludge - I have a cardboard box handy, and wipe off the scraper on the edge of the box. How to Remove Mastic. Bubbling indicates that Citristrip is doing its thing and working to separate layers of paint or finish from the wood surface. It didn’t have to be perfect, just needed to remove the gooey-sticky Citristrip. Dried Citristrip was encrusted all over the rocker. The dried crud won't be just dry Citristrip naturally, it'll be softened finish gone hard. Pictured below are the different tools and products I tried to remove the dark/black floor adhesive (glue). When the wood looks clear of all finish, clean the surface of all residue with soft cloths dipped in Citristrip® Paint Stripper After Wash. (Honestly, I’m not sure if the generic term is “after wash” or just “wash”. The scraper may not move all the finish and stripper. Use CITRISTRIP® Paint & Varnish Stripping & Removing Gel to remove dried latex and oil-based paint, varnish, lacquer, polyurethane and shellac from wood, metal and masonry surfaces. Hopefully you will never find yourself in the same stripping gel mess, but if you do, you might want to read on…. I was unable to return to my project until 2 days after I applied Citristip stripping gel to the rocker. CitriStrip can be used effectively to remove multiple layers of latex paint, oil-based paint, varnish, lacquer, enamel, polyurethane, shellac, acrylics, and epoxy from wood, metal, and masonry surfaces.Other than cured glues there is very little you can't get off with CitriStrip. Yippee!!! Manufacturer Account Custom Coatings Registration Form, COMPARE Paints, Glazes & Pigmented Topcoats, COMPARE Primers, Sanding Sealers & Undercoats, Water Based Paints, Glazes and Pigmented Top Coats, Enduro Ready to Match (RTM) Water Based Stain, Fill Sticks -NEW Assortment Pack of 15 Color Groups, Touch Up Markers - NEW Assortment Pack of 15 Color Groups, Water Based Paints, Pearl Effects & Glazes, High Performance Polyurethane Water Based Topcoat, Fill Stick and Touch Up Marker Assortment Pack. But I had already bought $80 worth of woven cane to fix the seats. Mineral spirits is recommended after the stripping solution because it's important to break down those waxes before getting started. Mastic is a resin-based adhesive that is used to set tile and other substances. The stuff wasn't working to remove … I have used the regular brush-on Citristrip for years. Shake the canister well. However, I’m left with the goo inside narrow grooves that is proving very difficult to remove. Want to join me? I tried 3 different ways to remove dried Citristrip stripping from my rocker – first more Citristrip, then mineral spirits and last, After Wash. After your project is cleaned allow it ample time to dry. Explains how to even remove stain from the wood. The first two didn’t work, but luckily After Wash did the job! While I was successful in removing the gunked-on, dried Citristrip, I couldn’t re-stain the piece. Step 4 Wait, what?!?! Mineral spirits is recommended after the stripping solution because it's important to break down those waxes before getting started. Collect the paint in a plastic bag to throw away. I recommend at a minimum safety equipment such as chemical-resistant gloves, safety glasses or goggles, and long sleeves and pants to avoid splash burns. What you’re doing is prepping the remover to do an even better job than its advertised. Most of the stripping tools require gently scraping in the direction of wood grain. It seems I too am going to be doing a lot of sanding in which case I shouldn't have bothered with the CitriStrip. Use a clean abrasive pad dipped in Citristrip® Paint Stripper After Wash or Klean-Strip® Odorless Mineral Spirits to loosen remaining stubborn bits of paint. Step 3 Scrub the wood with No. CitriStrip Paint & Varnish Stripping Gel The orange gel has a pleasant citrus smell. Use a clean abrasive pad dipped in Citristrip® Paint Stripper After Wash or Klean-Strip® Odorless Mineral Spirits to loosen remaining stubborn bits of paint. I like to buy it for the non-offensive citrus smell and this smelled like bandaids. It can be used on wood, metal, or masonry, and is gentle enough for antiques and fine furniture. I’m Jen, an “everyday” homeowner on a mission to make homeownership a little easier and a lot more fun. Ready for refinishing. Citristrip stripping gel is a powerful stripper that removes multiple layers of latex and oil-based paint, varnish, lacquer, enamel, polyurethane, shellac, acrylics and epoxy from wood, metal and masonry surfaces. I guess it was easier to remove because it was more of a dry crud then a sticky goop, but I wouldn't say I'm much closer to bare wood here. Now that you’ve gotten all your tools and your piece is prepped and ready, add some Citristrip to one of the tin cans. However, mineral … America's leading manufacturer of innovative water-based finishes. If that doesn't work, try reapplying a small amount of Citristrip to the detailed areas and use an old toothbrush to get it out. Read on…. This is some serious stuff, so please read the manufacturer’s safety recommendations. Step 4: Fill a Tin Bucket with Citristrip. Your stripping tools will get gunked up and gooey with old dried Citristrip and finish, so have a stack of old rags nearby to wipe them down. However, mineral spirits is not compatible with water-based products. After the Citristrip and goo is wiped away. I found using a combination of tools eventually removed the Citristrip. How to Remove Citristrip Before removing the Citristrip and the stain, test a small area to make sure the old stain (or paint) is easily coming off. Today I'm sharing how I removed the stain from my dining room table top without sanding. Pour some mineral spirits into a cup and get out all your scrubbers. Read my complete disclosure here. I've bought this many times in the past and the smell and consistency is not normal. Hi friends! I thought I'd share another option that is pretty simple, that doesn't remove any of the original surface through sanding, leaving those pretty curves completely intact. I have a LOT more posts on the horizon (and they might be just as amazing ) so be sure to either follow me on Pinterest, Instagram or Facebook, or better yet sign up for the monthly newsletter to get the latest and greatest! Once all the Citristrip is removed, wipe down furniture with a clean cloth and then let completely dry before sanding. Better than the alternative of just throwing it out, right? Be sure to stock up! I prefer to hand sand furniture with a combination of sanding blocks and regular sandpaper cut to fit my finger. *What Should I Use to Clean Away Citrus Stripper Before Applying a Water Based Product? I think it may be a knock-off. If it dries out, then you end up in the same mess I did. Hi Folks - I have a few cast aluminum pieces I am stripping with citri-strip. Pour about ½ cup into a metal container and apply after wash to the locations with dried Citristrip with a chipbrush. More, America's Leading Manufacturer of Innovative Water-Based Wood Finishes. Except steel wool, which was easier to throw out once gunked. While tempting as it was to just toss the chair, I persevered and eventually figured out a way to remove dried Citristrip from my old wood rocker. But no luck. As I proved above, yes you can leave Citristrip on too long. Those you can rub in a circular motion like washing and waxing a car (any Karate Kid or Cobra Kai fans out there?). Wait a few minutes, and then using one (or more) of the stripping tools listed above (aka plastic scrapper, abrasive stripper pad, or steel wool pads) start removing loosened Citristrip and old finish. I had to paint it. But first, a bit about this amazing stuff. I have found that the longer you can leave the product on your wood, the better it will remove the paint. The first thing I usually reach for when removing the stain from a piece of furniture is my handy dandy sander. There is no fast way to remove mastic, but elbow grease or chemical removers will do the job. The wood appeared to be in great shape and at first didn’t appear to need stripping and re-finishing. Adventures (and Misadventures) of an Average Homeowner. A coat of wood conditioner that I make (50/50 Shellac/D-natured alcohol) & let it dry. My newsletters are once a month. Citrus strippers such as CitriStrip have a wax in them to keep the product from drying out after it's applied to the surface. As far as the crud in the corners and crevices goes, reach for your best friend: the old toothbrush! Stripping furniture can be fun & fast, without ANY flesh-eating chemicals. Dust with a soft cloth, and wa-lah! You’ll save yourself time by not having to fix stupid mistakes. Except the steel wool and toothbrush. Whew! It’s true that you can leave Citristrip.on for 24 hrs. I debated just throwing out the rocker. Here’s where everything went downhill. If it isn’t easily coming off, leave the stripper on longer. How to Remove Paint and Varnish Prep. I’ve used it a few times and have been successful – except this time…. Depending on the condition of the wood, you may need to do a start with a coarser grit (120 or 150) before a final sanding with a 220 grit. In all honesty, it took me 2-3 sessions of applying after wash with a chipbrush and scrubbing with steel wool to finally remove all the old dried Citristrip and lacquer off the rocker. I’ll just use “after wash” for this post.). Mix vinegar and water together in equal proportions, and rub it on the surface to neutralize caustic paint removers. Took my 180 grit sand paper and smoothed it out with my sander. Safe for indoor use (but still open windows for ventilation), No nasty methylene chloride (aka non-caustic), Thicker than typical strippers so clings better to vertical surfaces like table and chair legs, For crevices and detailed work – toothpicks, toothbrushes. Since I work in one foot sections (or one drawer at a time when I am stripping drawers) I apply the Citristrip to the area, then get a piece of saran wrap and lay it overtop.The saran wrap keeps the stripper from drying out.If the stripped dries out it will not stay active and work to remove the old finish. Repeat this until you can’t remove any more paint. Citristrip did a very good job of getting the varnish off a 20-year-old fireplace mantle. Before we begin, I must add a disclaimer. And work outside to minimize exposure to harm fumes. It DID remove paint, but not as well as what I am used to. without it drying up. Directions from a container of Citristrip Stripping Gel: "Use this gel to remove multiple layers of latex based paint, oil based paint, varnish, lacquer, enamel, polyurethane, shellac, acrylics and epoxy.....Use a paint stripper wash or mineral spirits with an abrasive stripping pad to loosen and remove remaining residue. You can dispose of the used stripper and paint residue in the trash, just wrap it up and put it into a regular trash bag. Things get messy quick! There are a few edges with varnish still remaining that need to be sanded off. Don’t take the lazy route and try to just go around them. Admittedly it’s far from perfect. Re-apply the Citristrip and continue this process until all the paint is removed. Chaos reigned until the next day. So spirits might not work anyway. NO spam, I promise! If you’ve reached the bottom of this post, then maybe you liked what you read? I’m an average homeowner, novice furniture restoration DIYer. And all in one step! I hate spam….despise it as much as 1970s vinyl floors. But once I got it home and took a closer look, I noticed chipped lacquer on a few places on the wood. Step 3 Rub mineral spirits on solvent paint strippers to neutralize the remover. There is a lot of uneven stain color. Use a finer 000 or 0000 steel wool and mineral spirits to scrub the surface down well and wipe it off with a cotton rag. Well, here’s a pic – I painted it with an Amulent ceramic paint recommended by one of furniture restoration friends and replaced the cane seat and back. Citristrip is a stripping gel that effectively removes paint and varnish from wood, metal, and masonry. For more tips on sanding check out HGTV’s How to Sand Furniture Before Painting. Follow the safety precautions for after wash. The Easiest Way to Remove Paint from your Old Wood Furniture 00 steel wool to remove traces of finish from the pores in the wood. Allow the rags to dry outdoors before disposal in accordance with federal, state and local regulations to reduce the risk of fire. Note that all used rags need to be stored in a well-ventilated area. Here’s my chair after going through the after wash and sanding process. Then you can sand away any remaining rough spots and wipe down to prepare for paint or other new finish. In the Midwest you don’t necessarily have a lot of days to work on projects outdoors or even in the garage. And it didn’t look pretty. Use a rag to wipe off excess spray paint. Wrap it in Saran wrap? You should be ready for priming and painting now! When the wood looks clear of all finish, clean the surface of all residue with soft cloths dipped in Citristrip® … I then set the table in the sun for a few hrs to dry out. Full disclosure located here. After using Acetone, wash with the 50:50 mix of denatured alcohol and water. As such, I earn from qualifying purchases. Use a toothbrush to get into small areas. I work in the garage or driveway, and use water to wash off the residue, with a plastic scrubby or plastic-bristled brush, depending on the grain of the wood. I needed to find a fix. And can be a source of stress, time, spend about 10 and... 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