How to Remove Latex Paint From Varnished Woodwork
Most wooden fixtures within your home will feature a layer or two of varnish, which helps seal the wood against stains, fading and moisture. If you have spilled, splattered or painted with latex over your varnish and wish to remove it, you run the risk of damaging the varnish beneath. The methods that will remove the latex from varnish vary depending on the age of both the paint and the varnish. Try gentler methods before moving into the more intense ones to try to protect your varnish.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Pick or scrape at the edges of the latex paint to remove any loosened or peeling areas. Use a flat-edged plastic or metal scraper to peel the paint away from the varnish; do not use sharp edges, as these will scratch the varnish. Remove as much paint as possible this way.
-
2
Dampen a clean rag in hot water and wipe at the latex paint stain. Newer paint will soften under the hot water, but the water will not damage varnished wood as long as the varnish itself is completely dry. Scrape again after the hot water to remove any newly loosened paint.
-
-
3
Wet a clean rag with mineral spirits or other solvent cleaners; there are a variety of products available at hardware and home improvement stores. Saturate the paint stain with the solvent and allow the product to work into the surface for two to three minutes. Rub at the stain with the rag or scrape again to remove loosened paint. Continue application until the paint is removed.
-
4
Apply paint thinner to the latex if nothing else has worked. Use as little paint thinner as possible, as this chemical will also fade or remove the varnish. Rub it onto the paint and scrape and buff away the paint until it is removed.
-
5
Dampen a clean rag in warm water and rinse the area where the stain was to remove residual cleaning product. Allow the area to dry and inspect the surface. Touch up the varnish with the same product originally used on the woodwork if necessary to fix faded or thinned varnish.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Acetone and lacquer thinner will remove latex paint but will remove or weaken the varnish as well. Use these as a last resort and touch up the varnish when finished.
Test any solvent cleaner you use in an inconspicuous area of the woodwork before applying to the paint stain, to make sure it will not discolor the varnish.
If you do not know what type of varnish was originally applied to your woodwork, consult a professional at a hardware or home improvement store for advice about how to touch up your varnish.
Solvent cleaners are highly flammable and produce strong fumes. Work in a well-ventilated area away from high heat and flame.
