Things You Will Need
Paper towels or lint free cloth
Protective clothing that covers all skin
Chemical resistant gloves
Protective goggles
Face breathing mask
Drop cloths
Chemical Solvent
Old paintbrush
Flat edged scrapper
Steel wool
Tip
If you are worried about lead paint you can buy DIY lead testing kits from most home stores.
For small rooms with only one or two windows, place a fan in the doorway, directed away from the area you are working on, to help circulate air.
Take frequent breaks while applying the chemical solvent, go outside or into another room.
Warning
Always wear protective clothing, goggles, gloves and breathing masks when working with chemical solvents.
Heat guns can not be used to remove lead-based paints. As the paint heats up, the lead vaporizes and can be inhaled.
Always follow safety, storage and usage instructions for chemical solvents.
Never use chemical solvents or heat guns if you are pregnant.
Keep children away from areas where chemical solvents are being used.
If possibly turn off the electricity to rooms where you are using flammable chemical solvents.
Painting can change the character and look of your house. Removing paint, however, is not as much fun as applying it. There are many ways to remove paint, from the elbow grease method of sanding and scraping to heat guns and chemical solvents. Chemical solvents are, oddly enough, the safest way to remove paint from wood work. Heat guns pose fire hazards, and if used with lead paint, health hazards. There are several chemical solvents to choose from: environmentally safe solvents take longer to work and need more applications; Solvent based strippers are flammable and volatile but work quickly; Methylene chloride or DCM strippers remove both latex, acrylic and oil based paint, however it takes several applications to remove all the paint and some are flammable. You can find chemical solvents in gel, liquid or paste forms.
Removing paint from window frames
Use dry paper towels or a lint free cloth to remove fresh, wet paint drips from window sills. Wipe the paint up with one swipe. Do not scrub as this could causing staining.
Don protective clothing, chemical proof gloves, protective goggles and breathing mask before trying to remove old paint from window frames. Open all doors and windows for ventilation.
Lay drop cloths or newspapers on the floor under the area you will be working.
Working from top to bottom, apply chemical solvent with an old paint brush according to package directions. Follow all safety instructions and read warnings before opening solvent.
Use a flat edged scrapper to remove paint from window frames, again working from top to bottom. For small areas and crevices use steel wool.
Re-apply the chemical solvent to areas with remaining paint and use the scrapper to remove the paint.
