When you strip the paint from the walls, you can see the beautiful wood underneath. If you have an older home or furniture, you may want to eliminate the paint. It is important to take precautions when you are stripping paint because you will need to use chemicals that can be dangerous. 

Make Sure You Have Ventilation

When you are stripping paint, you need to make sure that there is ventilation in the space. Paint strippers put off strong chemical fumes, so it is important to prepare the room first if you are working indoors. Make sure that you open the windows and doors in the room, and use fans to draw the fumes outside. If you can’t ventilate the room enough, you should wear a respirator. The chemicals are very dangerous, and you can suffer serious harm to your brain if you don’t take these precautions.

Protect Everything Around the Wall, Including Yourself

It can be messy to strip paint off walls, and you need to protect yourself and the area around the wall you are working on. Start off by making sure that your clothing is resistant to chemicals, and completely cover yourself and wear chemical-resistant gloves. If you get the paint stripper on your skin, it can cause a terrible chemical burn, so this is very important. You should also wear protective goggles or safety glasses to make sure you don’t get it in your eyes. 

You need to cover the floor with a heavy plastic drop cloth. If there is furniture in the room, cover it with plastic as well. Using drop cloths will ensure that you don’t strip the flooring while you are stripping the walls. 

Avoid Smoking While You Are Stripping Paint

It is very important not to smoke while you are stripping paint. The fumes from paint strippers are flammable, so you could accidentally set the entire place on fire. Make sure that there is no fire anywhere nearby. Turn off any halogen lights and appliances that use pilot lights before you start stripping. 

Be Thorough with Your Clean up

When you are stripping paint, you will create trash that contains dangerous chemicals. You need to take any paint or finish that you remove and place it in a metal can where it can dry. The can shouldn’t go into the trash until the finish is thoroughly dry. You should take any rags or cloths that you use, and then soak them in a bucket of water before you throw them in the metal can.  

Final Words

When you set out to strip paint, you need to take precautions because strippers contain dangerous chemicals. It is important to protect your body and the surrounding area before you get started. Make sure that you have ventilation in the room, and avoid smoking or any kind of flame. Paint strippers are flammable, and you can ignite the entire area. When you finish, be sure to dispose of your trash properly.