http://www.care2.com/greenliving/safely-peel-paint-off-a-porch-ask-annie.html
Safely Peel Paint Off a Porch? Ask Annie
Dear Annie,
I just wanted to know if you could help me. I have wood, which is painted, and over that it has been sprayed with an aerosol can of metallic paint (it’s already flaking) was wondering if you had any ideas of completely removing these paints. I don’t really want to use paint stripper, something homemade and inexpensive would be awesome. Please get back to me. –BigBoy008, UK
Dear BigBoy008,
Yes, I have the perfect thing for you, and synchronistically, I am helping advise a friend on his porch using just this, and it is working perfectly. Cover the peeling paint with a good thick damp paste of washing soda, keeping it damp. Let the paste set as long as possible (24 hours would be ideal, keeping it wet by spraying with water from a clean spray bottle, or just flicking water around), rinse, scrubbing with a brush as you go, and za-zing, off comes the paint! Washing soda is also known as sal soda.
Wear gloves because washing soda is quite caustic as it is very alkaline, although it puts off no harmful fumes. And kudos to you for not wanting to use a toxic paint stripper! Even the so-called natural ones that I have seen are high in VOCs.
related stories
-
annie
(6 comments)
-
(2 comments)
-
(6 comments)
Robyn
Melissa
Deepak
Eric
Dave
Dr. Brent
Isha
Susan
Delia
Michelle
Wendy
Megan
Hilary
Ann
Judi
Ronnie
Kelly
Lily
Terri
Betsy
Cait
Andrew
Jana
Annie B.
Veronica
8 comments
add your comment »Annie,
Yes it is powerful, which is why you use it very sparingly. ALL products - even natural ones -require responsible use, and I would never suggest just haphazardly dumping it straight on anything! As for people with asthma, I would suggest they not use anything NOT recommended by their doctors, but this is perfectly safe to be used by non-asthmatic persons - so long as it is used according to manufacture's recommendations.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
I have an exterior building with peeling paint. I am afraid that it is lead paint so I haven't done anything about it. I don't know what to do about it so I haven't done anything. I think the safest choice is to cover with new siding but I cannot afford it at this time.
I am an interior painter by trade so I would like to tackle this safely and affordably but I am frozen with fear. I have children that use this yard so I don't want to do nothing but everything besides re-siding seems like it would make it worse!
What would a professionally lead-paint-remover do? How do I know that it won't just end up on the ground and in the air. Of course plastic tarps would keep it contained on the ground. Yet I haven't been able to handle this myself. I want to tackle this safely!
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Amy, OMG, please, don't consider removing lead paint yourself. Hire an expert. And Deoborah, d-limonene is a pretty powerful volatile organic chemical (VOC), even if natural, and risky for anyone who has asthma
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
D-limonene is another solution for this problem (as well as a whole host of others, as it can be used for cleaning, flea and tick control and as a de-greaser and solvent for many common stains, paints, etc.) It is nothing more than the concentrated oil from the rinds of oranges, and has a wonderful orangey smell! A gallon will set you back about $60, but it takes only a drop or two in water to create a cleaning fluid (or about a tablespoon per gallon of water if you need a large amount at once) so it goes a looooong way.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
How does this apply if dealing with lead paint? It is a safe solution for lead paint too? And will it work if the paint is not peeling?
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Facebook account: