Knowledge Builders

does citrus strip work

by Dr. Jake Torphy Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Yes, citristrip does remove stain from wood surfaces. Citristrip works on surfaces where you can’t sand, like plastic. If it’s a stain that appears in the wood grain itself, then use a sanding block. How long to leave Citristrip on?

CITRISTRIP worked great. I applied a thin layer over all of paint splotches, let it sit for 30 minutes, and then used a plastic scraper to remove the paint. The paint came up easily with just a little effort. CITRISTRIP has no harsh fumes and a somewhat pleasant citrus scent.

Full Answer

Can you use citrus stripper on furniture?

This citrus stripper doesn’t contain methylene chloride or NMP; it’s non-caustic and therefore safe for use indoors or outdoors. First, prepare your furniture. Next, apply the first coat of the citrus strip, then spread the second coat of the stripper for thickness. Let the gel work for a while, then scrape off the paint and gel residue.

Is citristrip stripping gel better than traditional chemical stripper?

Compared to traditional chemical stripper, Citristrip stripping gel is awesome in so many ways: Safe for indoor use (but still open windows for ventilation) Thicker than typical strippers so clings better to vertical surfaces like table and chair legs Admittedly it does work slightly slower than traditional stripper, but I don’t mind.

Can you use citristrip on furniture?

The primary ingredient in Citristrip is citrus acid, which acts as an organic solvent and dissolves paint from surfaces like wood, metal, or even painted walls. This citrus stripper doesn’t contain methylene chloride or NMP; it’s non-caustic and therefore safe for use indoors or outdoors. First, prepare your furniture.

How to get started with citri strip?

Getting Started 1 Apply Liberally. CitriStrip needs a thick coat to work effectively. ... 2 Cover with Plastic (Optional) If you have lots of coats of paint then you may need to let the CitriStrip sit longer and to prevent it from drying ... 3 Let It Sit. ... 4 Scrape It Off. ... 5 Clean Up. ...

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How long does it take for citrus Strip to work?

30 mins to 24 hrsIt can take anywhere from 30 mins to 24 hrs to dissolve the paint. You can do a test patch first to find the right time.

What does citrus Strip do?

0:5310:31How To Strip Furniture Using CitriStrip - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThis is a bit of a safer alternative. Now with that being said it is still a chemical strippingMoreThis is a bit of a safer alternative. Now with that being said it is still a chemical stripping agent. So you do want to take precautions when using it.

What do you do after citrus strip?

Citrus strippers such as CitriStrip have a wax in them to keep the product from drying out after it's applied to the surface. Mineral spirits is recommended after the stripping solution because it's important to break down those waxes before getting started.

How long should I leave citrus strip on?

According to the manufacturer, you can leave Citristrip paint and varnish stripping gel on a surface for a minimum of 30 minutes and a maximum of up to 24 hours. The point is, as long as the stripper remains wet on the surface it is applied to, you can leave it for longer to strip multiple layers of paint or varnish.

What happens if you leave Citristrip on too long?

As I proved above, yes you can leave Citristrip on too long. According to the manufacturer, Citristrip paint and varnish stripping gel will stay active and remove layers of unwanted paint and finish for up to 24 hours as long as it remains wet. If it dries out, then you end up in the same mess I did.

How long after stripping Can I sand?

Wait about 30 minutes and test a small area to determine if the finish has loosened. If not, wait longer, even several hours if needed. You may need to reapply a coat if the stripper dries out before the finish has softened. Once the finish has softened, remove with the scrapers.

What is the best product for stripping paint off wood?

Best Overall: Citristrip Paint & Varnish Stripping Gel Plus, it can be used on several types of surfaces—wood, metal, and masonry, including brick and concrete—removing several layers of paint in one go.

What is the active ingredient in Citristrip?

Chemical Composition/IngredientsDimethyl glutarate001119-40-010.0-30.0Dimethyl adipate000627-93-010.0-30.0N-Methylpyrrolidone000872-50-430-60Citrus extract094266-47-41.0-5.0PEG-15 cocamine061791-14-81.0-5.0May 28, 2009

What happens if you get Citristrip on your skin?

ACUTE SKIN CONTACT: May cause mild skin irritation with redness, discomfort, burning, or rash. Prolonged or repeated skin contact may cause dermatitis and drying of the skin. ACUTE INHALATION: May cause irritation of the upper respiratory passages, with coughing, headache, and discomfort.

How do you know when Citristrip is done?

You may see Citristrip start to bubble and froth which means it's working! I recommend checking on it every 30 minutes or so. Test a small area with your plastic putty knife – if the finish removes easily you are good. If not, keep it on for longer.

How do I refinish furniture with Citristrip?

0:007:28Easy DIY for Stripping Paint and Stain from Wood Furniture - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThis works on painted and stained finishes I prefer to use citrus strip when I'm I'm strippingMoreThis works on painted and stained finishes I prefer to use citrus strip when I'm I'm stripping furniture. You just want to start by applying a nice thick layer across the surface with a nylon brush.

Does Citristrip remove lead paint?

CitriStrip works great on multi-layers of old paint and even lead paint, which encapsulates the lead as it breaks the paint down. This stuff also easily removes enamel, urethane (staining sealer), epoxy and acrylics. Completely odorless, this solution can be used on wood, metal, concrete, brick, stone and more.

What is Citristrip Stripping gel?

Citristrip stripping gel is a special orange-colored paint and varnish chemical stripper. It’s characterized by a pleasant citrus scent, unlike other paint strippers with harsh fumes.

How to use Citristrip stripping gel to strip furniture

First, prepare your furniture. Next, apply the first coat of the citrus strip, then spread the second coat of the stripper for thickness. Let the gel work its magic for a while, then scrape off the paint and gel residue. Finally, wash the surface with odorless mineral spirits.

FAQs

Dip fine steel wool ( grade #0000) in mineral spirits or Klean Strip’s Paint Stripper After Wash and use it to scrub off the remaining stubborn traces of paint or varnish. Once there’re no more traces of paint on the furniture, you need to wipe the surface with a clean cloth soaked in mineral spirits or After Wash.

Conclusion

This stripping process is the most satisfying for me despite it being messy. I hope you enjoy stripping furniture now because you have learned how to use Citristrip Stripping Gel.

I recently used Citri-Strip Aerosol Spray on a small side table of mine, and once I saw the results I knew I had to share a review of it here on the blog!

This is not a sponsored post, nor am I being paid to give this review. These are just my honest thoughts about a product we tried.

Citri-Strip Spray Review – Step 1

First, my husband took the table into our basement and placed it on a piece of plywood. You will have overspray so you want to be sure the surrounding area is protected. He then held the can about a foot away and covered the entire table with a generous coat of stripper.

Citri-Strip Spray Review – Step 2

The directions on the can say that you can wait 30 minutes or up to 24 hours. I believe I waited about 6 before I began removing the stripper. But this was the interesting part…rather than removing the stripper with a putty knife like I have in past projects, the directions say to “scrub with a clean plastic stripping pad dipped in soapy water.”

Citri-Strip Spray Review – Step 3

Finally, be sure to use Mineral Spirits to remove any left over residue. I decided to sand my table to see if it would lighten up a bit more, but I didn’t really notice a significant difference.

How long does it take for cipristrip to work?

Let The Citristrip Gel Sit And Work Its’ Magic. According to the Citristrip product site, leave the product on at least 30 minutes to give the gel time to activate and do its’ job. You will begin to see a gooey, bubbly substance forming on your project where the gel was applied.

How long does paint stripping gel stay on?

If you have several layers of paint you can let the gel stay on longer than 30 minutes. You can leave it on as long as it remains wet. You just don’t want the paint stripping gel to dry out before it is removed.

Can you use a paint stripper after washing?

There is also a Paint Stripper After Wash made by Klean Strip brand that you can use if desired. After your project is cleaned allow it ample time to dry. Then you can sand away any remaining rough spots and wipe down to prepare for paint or other new finish. After the Citristrip and goo is wiped away.

Can you sand off varnish after citristrip?

After the Citristrip and goo is wiped away. There are a few edges with varnish still remaining that need to be sanded off. There are a few edges with varnish still remaining that need to be sanded off.

Is cipristrip a chemical?

While Citris trip is a safer product than many other paint strippers and fairly odor free, it is still a chemical. To be super safe, always wear eye protection when working with chemicals in case of splash. https://fave.co/3mxKppXGoggles or safety glasses work great. Also wear chemical resistant rubber gloves to protect your skin.

Can you use citristrip to strip paint?

A super easy, although a bit messy, way to strip off old paint finishes! Citristrip really is easy to use and it is so nice to be able to strip an old finish indoors when needed and without worrying about harmful fumes! If you haven’t given Citristrip a try, check it out!

Is Citristrip safe to use indoors?

If you haven’t tried it, I encourage you to give it a try! It really is pretty amazing! Citristrip is an orange paint stripper in gel form that actually smells decent and it is safe to use indoors! No crazy toxic fumes like other paint strippers.

What grit should I use to sand wood?

Depending on the condition of the wood, you may need to do a start with a coarser grit (120 or 150) before a final sanding with a 220 grit. Be sure to sand in the direction of the grain. I prefer to hand sand furniture with a combination of sanding blocks and regular sandpaper cut to fit my finger.

Is citristip effective when wet?

Citristip is effective only when wet, so if you need to step away, cover it with plastic wrap prevents it from drying prematurely. Here’s where everything went downhill. I had hoped to go back downstairs to the project later that night after the girls went to sleep. But no luck.

Is cipristrip stripping gel safe?

Compared to traditional chemical stripper, Citristrip stripping gel is awesome in so many ways: Safe for indoor use ( but still open windows for ventilation) No nasty methylene chloride (aka non-caustic) Thicker than typical strippers so clings better to vertical surfaces like table and chair legs.

Etsouth

Need help! Used citristrip to strip varnish off an old Craigslist find. A shelf unit with very intricate legs. The citristrip is all gummy and I cannot get it out of the grooves and dips. Can anyone help me out? I've tried scraping, but the angle makes it nearly impossible. I've used another stripped to no avail.

PaulMarcel

Have you tried a brass brush or very stiff bristled plastic brush? Plastic may not fare well with that stripper; depends. Brass is soft enough it won't cause damage to the wood if you aren't going Arnold on it. There are small ones sold for cleaning router bits.

Boatworks Today

Try a wire brush . Depending on the type of wood, a brass brush should be soft enough...

AceHoleInOne

Go to the store and buy a good paint stripper that contains methylene chloride. Those areas your talking about have the heaviest build up of finish. The BBQ brushes that are brass work great and don't use a standard wire brush or you will scratch the crap out of your wood.

Milo

This may be a tad radical for you, but if you want to avoid a caustic stripper (no offense, Ace!), you could try knocking the entire piece apart and stripping the individual pieces. You'd have much better access to all the crevasses of the legs.

Boatworks Today

As far as strippers go (the kind that's used for removing finish; not the.. well, you know ) I've had good results with a product called Aqua-strip.. Water based. Works really well but has to sit for about 4 hours for it to do it's thing.. Then wipe off as much as you can and go at whatever's left with the brass brush..

AceHoleInOne

This may be a tad radical for you, but if you want to avoid a caustic stripper (no offense, Ace!), you could try knocking the entire piece apart and stripping the individual pieces. You'd have much better access to all the crevasses of the legs.

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1.How To: Use CitriStrip (Kinda) - The Craftsman Blog

Url:https://thecraftsmanblog.com/how-to-use-citristrip/

1 hours ago  · The primary ingredient in Citristrip is citrus acid, which acts as an organic solvent and dissolves paint from surfaces like wood, metal, or even painted walls. This citrus stripper doesn’t contain methylene chloride or NMP; it’s non-caustic and therefore safe for use indoors or outdoors. How to use Citristrip stripping gel to strip furniture

2.How to Use Citristrip Stripping Gel on Furniture [5 Steps]

Url:https://woodworkingclarity.com/how-to-use-citristrip-stripping-gel/

20 hours ago Citristrip® is the safe brand of removers that can be used indoors and has a pleasant citrus scent. About Us

3.Citri-Strip Spray Review- My Honest Thoughts - Pine and …

Url:https://www.pineandprospecthome.com/citri-strip-spray-honest-review/

6 hours ago STEP 1: Prep the area and protect yourself. Prepare the work area by covering the ground with drop cloths. STEP 2: Apply paint stripper. Pour a small amount of the stripper into a glass or metal can. STEP 3: Scrape the paint. STEP 4: Apply mineral spirits. STEP 5: Clean the metal.

4.How To Strip Furniture Easily Using Citristrip - Simply …

Url:https://simplyrefinished.com/how-to-strip-furniture-easily-using-citristrip/

30 hours ago  · Buying a jar of cherries is easy, but peeling thin strips of zest off of a citrus fruit is tedious. A y-peeler makes it easier, but as esteemed bartender and cocktail book author Jeffrey...

5.How to Slice a Strip of Citrus Without Risking Life and Limb

Url:https://lifehacker.com/how-to-slice-a-strip-of-citrus-without-risking-life-and-1848686991

27 hours ago Does citrus strip work? In general, citrus is one of the poorest finish removers. It works quite slowly and does an incomplete job. Generally, it requires multiple applications to completely remove a finish. The fastest stripper is one that contains methylene chloride and it will do the most complete job.

6.How to Remove Dried Citristrip From Wood - Everyday Old …

Url:https://everydayoldhouse.com/how-to-remove-dried-citristrip-from-wood/

23 hours ago  · Used citristrip to strip varnish off an old Craigslist find. A shelf unit with very intricate legs. The citristrip is all gummy and I cannot get it out of the grooves and dips. ... Those areas are tough, its best to apply the stripper and let it do all the hard work. May take you 2 to 3 times. You must get that all removed. In addition, you ...

7.Help! Citristrip gone wrong! - Finishing - Wood Talk Online

Url:https://www.woodtalkonline.com/topic/10329-help-citristrip-gone-wrong/

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8.Videos of Does Citrus Strip Work

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