How to Remove Latex Paint From Wood Trims

Well meaning do-it-yourselfers sometimes make an unexpected mess elsewhere while doing an excellent job on their intended DIY project.
Did someone paint your living room but didn't do a very good job of keeping latex paint off the wood trim?
With a little patience and effort on your part, you can remove the latex paint from your wood trim. No one will ever know there used to be splatters, splotches, or streaks on it.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Rags or other soft cloths Plastic scraper Nylon scrubber (the kind used to scrub non-stick cookware) Heat gun (if desired) Paint removing product

1. To remove latex paint splatters, place a wet cloth over the splatter until the paint softens. Then gently scrape off the latex paint. Use a nylon scrubber or soft cloth to remove any remaining residue.

2. Use a heat gun to soften the paint splatters and then gently scrape off with the plastic scraper. Use a nylon scrubber or soft cloth to remove any remaining residue.

3. Use a commercial paint remover, such as Peel Away 7. Read and follow manufacturer's instructions. This method is thorough, although it will remove the finish along with the paint splatters. Use after exhausting other DIY methods of paint removal.

4. Remove the trim and take it to a commercial batch stripping business operation. This method takes the least amount of effort at paint removal, but is more expensive than the other methods.

Tips & Warnings

• Test any chemical paint remover in an inconspicuous spot on your wood trim before doing any spot removing in case the chemical paint remover damages the wood trim.
• Follow manufacturer's instructions when using any chemical paint remover. Provide adequate ventilation when working with any chemical product.