Stripping Paint from Old Doors, Doorframes, Windows, and Baseboards

Skill Level: Novice to intermediate

Stripping paint from woodwork and trim means getting into odd, awkward angles, corners, and bevels, where it can be difficult to reach with a paint scraper and sandpaper. Heat removal of paint with a blow torch or even a heat gun is now illegal in most areas. In these cases, use a chemical solvent to remove the paint.

Chemical solvents work by blistering and lifting layers of paint from wood over the course of several minutes. The paint can then be gently scraped off with a flat-edge tool. Proper safety precautions must be followed, and it is advisable to have all of your necessary tools and equipment ready before beginning to strip paint from doorframes, window frames, and baseboards.

Step 1 – Prepare for Safety

Fresh air is essential when removing paint from interior surfaces. That’s why it is best to remove paint when it’s possible to open all windows and doors. Fumes from chemical solvents can be harmful. Plan to work when you can take breaks for fresh air away from the solvent. Always read the instructions on the can of solvent and follow them as well as all safety precautions. Paint stripper/remover is highly toxic and caustic. Use goggles, plastic gloves, a long sleeve shirt, and a good respirator. If the stripper gets on human skin, it will burn, and the vapors are harmful and should not be inhaled.

TIP: Note that if any of the old paint was applied before the late 1970s, there may be lead in it. This is dangerous. Doityourself’s painting consultant Edward Kimble has important information on lead abatement at his Interior House Painting Blog.

Step 2 – Apply Stripper

Apply solvent liberally to about 2 feet of the painted surface, working from the top of your doorframe or window frame to the baseboards. Paint it on with the brush. Use a toothbrush to make sure you cover every tight corner.

Step 3 – Wait

The solvent needs time to work. The chemical’s instructions should specify an amount of time.

TIP: Edward suggests, “Don’t rush it. Give the paint stripper time to work, but do not let it dry. Less time will be needed for the actual removal of the paint sludge.”

Step 4 – Scrape off the Paint

Scrape the peeling paint off into many layers of newspaper. Remove all of the solvent by wiping and rubbing thoroughly. Use rags for flat surfaces. Pitted wood may require more work – use steel wool or a brush to get into small crevices. Allow the stripped area to dry overnight before beginning the refinishing process. You may have to repeat this process several times if there are many layers of paint on the wood.

Step 5 – Clean Up

Allow the solvent to evaporate from tools and from newspaper wrappings outside, then dispose of it in coffee cans. Regulations in most areas require that the coffee cans full of sludge soaked newspaper be disposed of at a hazardous waste facility. Contact your local waste management facility for specifications on disposing of potentially harmful chemical agents.

Manually stripping old paint off of window frames, baseboards, doorframes, and doors takes a lot of time and elbow grease. However, the work is well worth the effort. Few things in a home are more beautiful than natural wood surfaces. They add warmth and character to a room.

Edward Kimble, professional painter and author of Interior House Painting Blog, contributed to this article.