A Tale of Two Strippers
March 1, 2010
So I bought this little dresser many months ago from Craigslist for twenty buckaroos. It was the perfect fit for my mud room niche by the back door. I needed its drawers to store all sorts of family things like those gym membership cards I rarely use, or the computer cords that belong to some contraption lost somewhere in my house.
I also needed it to store winter scarves, hats, mittens and other seasonal items. This dresser’s proportions were perfect and its price was right ! So I brought it home and tolerated its chippy white paint job for many moons until it dawned on me.
This dresser was the perfect candidate for a little experiment I call ‘The Patina Project’. I wanted to transform this little dresser into something with a little more personality and a Provencal feel. I also wanted to find out just how two strippers would match up in the ring. Old school chemicals vs. nouveau citrus paint peelers.
The victim:
There were several layers of paint all over this baby, and I had no idea what kind of paint it was. Since my ultimate plan was to give it a rustic antique French country look, I boldly decided to strip all those layers off. To me, painting over it would have felt like putting on dirty socks after a shower. Or clean socks on muddy feet. Or something sort of like that.
Enter the two contenders. In the left corner, weighing in at 32 fluid ounces was the old school KleanStrip, famous for its speed and paint crushing abilities. Dangerous. Flammable. Unpopular with the greener public for its toxic reputation and the methylene chloride pumping through its veins.
In the right corner, weighing in at 32 fluid ounces, was the young newcomer Citristrip. A kinder smelling non-caustic version missing the methylene chloride, daring to challenge the old school establishment.
Why would I go to all this trouble if I’m just going to glaze/paint it again ? Well, I’m not a big believer in adding layer upon layer of paint to furniture. But don’t quote me on that. In fact, I may have violated that guideline sometime in the past. Or perhaps I might in the future. Oh forget it. In this case I wasn’t comfortable adding yet another layer of paint to this particular dresser since I wanted some parts of the wood to show through. So I stripped.
When engaging in any form of stripping, furniture or otherwise, it’s a good idea to use protection. I highly recommend these.
Safety goggles too.
To the drawers I applied the Citristrip. It was pleasant smelling, squishy, and a strangely attractive color, unlike anything you’d expect in a paint stripper.
Then I let it sit for several hours to do its business undisturbed.
After about four hours, this started to happen.
So I tried this.
Then this.
Lemme guess. Latex paint. Good sign.
For the tougher spots, I used my five-in-one tool to scrape. Underneath was what I was looking for, a nice honey tone wood. More on why later.
To the top and sides of the dresser, I applied the old school KleanStrip. I’ve used this product in the past with great success to remove a thin layer of paint. But this time, I was dealing with multiple layers.
After about 15 minutes, this started to happen.
The five-in-one came in handy again to scrape most of the paint off the top.
Getting in the crevices is not so easy, nor fun. After one application of the KleanStrip, all I accomplished was this.
Then I tried this little stainless steel brush and it helped a lot, but not quite enough.
I got rather frustrated with the Kleanstrip this time around. It dried out rather quickly in comparison, and smelled just awful. Nauseating at times. It also didn’t cling as well to the vertical sides of the dresser in my opinion.* So after I had finished scraping, and the dresser had fully dried, the next day I attacked with even more Citristrip.
Awww yeah.
Many of you are thinking by now, geez louise, that looks like one big messy project. And it was. Those of you who have stripped paint before know this is not any fun by any definition. It requires plenty of care for proper disposal of the paint scrapings and stripper residue. Not only that, stripping paint is extremely labor intensive – this project took at least five hours just to scrape off all these layers of paint.
After it was completely stripped, I took to my sander to give the dresser a smooth-as-a-baby’s bottom finish and prep it for its new paint job.
Now before all of you wood lovers go crazy on me, note that in several spots there was damage uncovered underneath all this paint, despite my gentle bedside manner.
So I have no regrets deciding to paint it again. I just filled all the holes with paintable wood filler, then sanded the putty down after it was dry.
Conclusion: after these two strippers duked it out on the same layers of paint, I have to vote Citristrip for all my future uses, even though it takes a lot longer to work (up to 24 hours).
Bottom line, I’m channeling Scarlett O’Hara, and raising my fist to the air . . . “If I have to lie, steal, cheat, or kill . . . As God as my witness . . . I’ll never use KleanStrip again !”
Cue Tara’s Theme and sunset backdrop.
Perhaps I’m being a little dramatic. In somber conclusion, no more methylene chloride for me.
Now for Step Two of my ‘Patina Project’. I’m out to make this dresser look like a less rustic version of this:
Wish me luck . . . the saga continues.
*Necessary disclaimer to CMA: This is NOT a paid endorsement of Citristrip. This is simply my humble but sometimes loudmouth opinion of a comparison of these two products in these circumstances. Please don’t sue me, I have no money anyway. Follow all manufacturer guidelines when using either of these products for your safety. It’s also a brilliant idea to test for lead paint and follow all precautions in its removal. Lead very bad. And for further information, or a cure for your insomnia, please refer to my blog policies.
Tags: stripper
I’m another Citristrip-lover!!!! I recently used it on a small pedestool table I nabbed from a thrift store. It was fabulous! There were so many layers of paint that I think by the time I got down to the wood, the tables circumference was a full inch smaller. LOL Then I spray painted it a very shiny silver after seeing so many inspiration photos of such. It’s fabulos!
I am looking forward to seeing your makeover!
Plus, who doesn’t love a stripper with a heart of gold story?
That post was perfect for me! I am getting ready to finish a piece of furniture I have that needs a new look. I will definitely be getting me some Citristrip. Not only was that post informative, but also very clever! I loved it! Thnx a bunch.
Girl you can write!
I love how you can tell the most boring task in a funny and inspiring way.
Can’t wait to see the end result…
Oh thanks!!! I haven’t stripped for years (LOL) but when I did I used the old stuff. Always felt I was shortening my life whenever I breathed the stuff. so glad to know of the new kid on the block. I will use it next time! Can’t wait to see finished proj.
Lol…so funny, and yet informative at the same time
. Can’t wait to see your rustic paint job.
Love this post, too funny!
If you want the citristrip to work better/faster just lay some plastic bags or plastic dropcloth right over the stripper. It keeps it damp longer and definitely speeds things up. Trust me on this one…I stripped all 23 doors in my house and had it down to a science on the last one. =-)
I have been redoing a table and using some spray that is really strong but WORKS! I can’t think of the name of it but I am thinking that I will have to wait for it to warm up some before I finish it. It is just too cold in the garage.
Well, when I saw the title of this post, I had to come over and see what you were talking about! Ha. Loved the Scarlett reference.
Can’t wait to see how it turns out!
I love that you did this… I was just about to tackle a project and was wondering about Citristrip… My project is and old cabinet in the main bathroom.. there are layers upon layers and I soooo need to strip it.. problem being.. I cant take it out to do it and there are no windows in the room for proper ventilation!!! Love that you blogged on this… going to go and get me some so that I may tackle this project and check it off my list! Cant wait to see your finished paint job!
I love that you did this… I was just about to tackle a project and was wondering about Citristrip… My project is and old cabinet in the main bathroom.. there are layers upon layers and I soooo need to strip it.. problem being.. I cant take it out to do it and there are no windows in the room for proper ventilation!!! Love that you blogged on this… going to go and get me some so that I may tackle this project and check it off my list! Cant wait to see your finished paint job!
wow, so cool that citristrip worked for you…maybe I’ll try it again. I don’t know, last time I used it I found it to be next to useless. It would dry out before bubbling the paint and when I did scrape it off it left an oily residue so I couldn’t repaint my project for a week while I figured out how to get the residue off. It was a disaster!
I love reading your blog! I can’t wait to see the finished project!
Very good to know. I just bought some Kleanstrip for an upcoming project, but may need to dig for the receipt so I can exchange it for the Citristrip.
Oh, and I adore the inspiration photo for your final result. That will look fantastic!!
“Stripper residue” sounds gross, on so many levels.
I can’t wait to see the finished product! And thanks for the side by side review! I am going to have to give Citristrip a try!
Great tutorial and funny! We used Citristrip on our kitchen floor that was covered in mastic and two VERY ugly layers of linoleum. The Citristrip cut that gooey mess and removed it. Now we have beautiful pine plank floors with lots of character. I vote for non-toxic hands down! You have to wait longer but your not decreasing your life span either!
We have also used Back to Nature MultiStrip very successfully in our kitchen mini-redo & other projects. Check out my blog for more info.
~judi
the1829farmhouse.blogspot.com
Great find on that dresser! I’m loving the legs on it-just gorgeous and for $20!
I’m really glad you posted this. My husband just stripped 2 pieces of furniture…the old way, and I worry about those fumes. They give me an instant migraine. I’m glad to know there is another product that works. I’m anxious to see your finished product.
Do you have any suggestions on what to do with an ornate antique framed mirror that was antiqued decades ago. I don’t exactly have the shabby look around here, but I was thinking of hanging it over my bed since my blogging friends told me my current picture no longer matches my changed up room.
Good luck with the project. I was not sure what this post was about when I saw it in the reader but I am glad at least the citristrip worked for you. I love to paint furniture but I have never used anything to take the paint off. Note to self …use citristrip!
Where was citristrip when I refinished my dinning room table and chairs!? I’m sure it was right next to the yucky kleanstrip I used. Ugh! I have recently discovered your blog and have been completely inspired and motivated to get moving on projects I have been putting off. Thanks for all the fabulous ideas!
I’m about to take on a similar project for my new (old) dining room table! Thanks for the inspiration! I’ll be posting about the makeover soon!
Whew!..I got tired looking at all that work.It reminds me of child birth.You see (man) Love (man) carry baby in tummy ,then strip down ( delivery room) & voila!! Hard work but the end product is Oh so Fabulous! Worth every minute:-)
I’ll be working on my thrift find and send you a pic of end product.Thanks for the encouragement.
Great post and super informative.
How do you go about painting a vintage piece with a stain and poly finish?
I usually just sand the heck out of it then prime and paint. I am wondering if there is a better way or if i’m on the right track.
Thanks so much for the inspiration!
Thanks for the tip. I’m in the midst of stripping-painting-finishing a vanity. Citristrip is going to be my new companion. I love the dresser look you’re going after, can’t wait for further instructions.
Great comparison post! I scored an amazing antique desk on Craigslist and plan to strip it before repainting. I’ve printed your post and plan to go with the Citristrip.
Now in the process of prettifying this piece, I hope you remember to lavish some attention on the inside, too!! We’re redoing a former junker of a desk for my college-aged niece. I did a quick, cheap and easy (all good things, right?) drawer liner that really makes the piece much more personal and fun. I’ve done a tutorial on it here: http://shannahhayley.blogspot.com/2010/03/pretty-drawers.html
I love the play by play. you are too funny.
I am so glad I just read this! I was actually in home depot yesterday looking at both these products and trying to decide if the citristrip would work! I held off on buying as I have to strip the fabric off my flea market chairs first, but I will get the citristrip. Thank you!
Thank you so much for this post – I am going with Citristrip next time for sure!
Chelsea
this makes me excited, since it’s been awhile since i’ve looked at paint strippers and i didn’t know there was an eco-friendly version out, *and* it works really well. i hate using something that’s toxic, and i’m extremely sensitive to the fumes from those things.
I am going to try the Citrus one again…I used it on my daughter’s bedroom floor and it was really not great. But you have encouraged me…and I have my office floor to do. I need to get that black linoleum residue off of there somehow….I want to paint the floor white.
ok. that was funny. brilliant headline and excellent training wrapped up in engaging prose. who knew it would be so enjoyable to learn about stripping… ha.
I’m with Katie – has anyone used CitriStrip on stain/shiny finish of unknown origin (not painted)? Results?
I have a little bedside cabinet project I keep delaying b/c I don’t want to break the furniture
The name of your post is comical! I love it! lol!! This may seem a bit odd but I actually like the look of the dresser after one application of Klean Strip! Now a photo and real life can differ very much so but I do like the funky look. Someone would enjoy the rustic verrry aged appeal I’m certain. But scrolling my way through to the end and landing upon the patina chest took my breath away. That style would make a nice statement piece in an otherwise neutral room! Don’t mind me if I save this photo for inspiration later down the road. I will be returning to this post when I tackle my vintage vanity and little matching bed. It’s so hard to pick and choose which pieces we are going to keep for ourselves and the ones to put out in our little shops. After spending so much time and putting so much love into a piece I get very attached. Does the same happen to you?
I’d like to offer a suggestion to your readers……if you’re ever in a bind and need to clean a brush DO NOT use the stripper on the Left to attempt this! Holy moly will that brush ever be the biggest goopie mess you’ve ever seen in your life!
Don’t ask me what the hairy heck I was thinking when I tried this but it was late, everything was closed and I probably had inhaled far to many paint fumes that evening.
Blessings to you and yours!
I used citristrip to strip the carpet adhesive off hardwood floors in 4 rooms and a hallway. I am totally in love with it! The original hardwood floors not only had adhesive but layers and layers of paint in some spots and it all came up insanely easy!
Thanks so much for doing this little experiment and sharing the results. I shared this tip and linked to your site in my blog post today. (http://www.snugasabugbaby.com/?p=1105) I am planning on using Citristrip on my next project (my first project that has required paint stripping).
Again, thanks for the advice. I love your blog!
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