If you’re having trouble removing dried enamel paint from skin, metal, or other hard surfaces you’re not alone! Although the durability of enamel paint is a benefit, it is difficult to clean up paint spills. If you’ve gotten enamel paint on an object, you’ll need to act quickly. Try to blot or scrap as much as you can, before it gets dry.
Fortunately, there are some tried-and-true methods for removing dried enamel, a cleaned surface will be your reward for being patient.
If you want to quickly remove enamel stains then just get any of these removers and you’re done:
Best Enamel Paint Removers
1. Goof Off FG653 Professional Strength Remover
Goof Off is an excellent paint stripper that you can use to remove enamel paint from metals, glass, brick, wood, concrete, grout, fiberglass, hand tools, and most automotive surfaces. Apart from enamel, you can also use it to remove adhesives, glues, crayons, ink, stickers, and decals on various surfaces. It can even remove chewing gums.
Goof Off is a powerful cleaner, and it contains some chemicals that are harmful to your health. Hence, it is advised that you wear a face mask and use the cleaner in a well-ventilated area. One buyer mentions that the cleaner showed great results, but it has a strong smell that can cause headaches.
There are 100s of reviews that mention that this is the best enamel paint remover users have ever tried. The biggest disadvantage of using this product is that it stinks awful.
2. MAX Strip All Purpose Remover
Max strip is a convenient and easy-to-use enamel stripper that you can use on various surfaces such as metal and porcelain. One user mentioned that he removed enamel paint from porcelain with this remover, and it took only 30 minutes to complete the task. It works better than expected.
Overall, the cleaner gets mixed reviews. The common praises from buyers include no smells, easy to work with, and efficient results.
The negative reviews mention that this product doesn’t work. We suggest you only buy it if you are looking to remove enamel paint and nothing else. Its success rate with other materials varies from user to user.
3. Wagner Spray Tech Heat Gun
A heat gun is an excellent way to remove enamel from hard surfaces, especially metals. The gun generates hot air and softens the paint on metals. You can then use a metal scraper to peel off the paint.
It is a dangerous tool and requires some practice before you can master it. Hence, you must practice holding it and pointing it toward a surface. Another precaution you need to take while using a heat gun to remove enamel paint is to use it only on surfaces that can withstand the generated heat. Moreover, you must heat small sections and then scrap the paint.
User reviews rate this heat gun as a great machine to get the work done. It can remove enamel from metals in a blink of an eye. It even works where other strippers fail.
The biggest problem with these guns is that they are not durable. However, they are extremely affordable and slightly more costly than most liquid enamel removers.
4. Bates- Paint Scraper and Taping knife
A paint scraper is used with a heat gun to remove the softened paint from metal and other surfaces.
The few things you need to consider before buying a scrapper for removing enamel are its head size, grip, and what other things it can do for you. This one can also open paint cans for you. Overall, it is a must-have tool for every painter and a great addition to your DIY arsenal.
Bates scrapper has some great reviews from buyers. It is also one of the most affordable scrappers on the market and lasts long.
5. 3M Paint and Rust Stripper Brush
A paint stripper brush makes things easy for you if you have a household drill. You can just attach it with the drill and scrub the surface to remove the paint. It can also clean rusty surfaces like metal, wood, and fiberglass.
It is also a great tool for preparing a surface for painting/repainting it. The stripper brush saves elbow grease compared to using sandpaper.
6. -Lanney Sandpaper Box – 42 Pack
Sandpapers are an essential item for your DIY arsenal. You will need to scrub enamel paint for removing or painting a surface. Sandpapers come in handy for various projects, so it is a great idea to get a sanding block. Luckily, this one comes with a sanding block to make things easier for you.
Users mention that this is one of the best sandpapers they have ever tried for various applications, including enamel paint. The product always gives results and never lets you down.
Removing Enamel Paint from Skin:
- Wipe your skin to remove any wet paint.
- Get a small bowl.
- Make a mixture of
- 50% Vegetable oil/Coconut oil
- 50% Baking soda/Dish soap
- Dip a washcloth into the mixture.
- OR you can use a toothbrush.
- Gently scrub your skin with the cloth/toothbrush.
- Then, wash your hands with soap and water.
Removing Enamel Paint from Fabric:
In the case of fabric, you need to act quickly.
- Soak the fabric in water for 5 minutes.
- Then, place the fabric on a hard surface.
- Use a spoon or butter knife to pick up some stains.
- Use a toothbrush to apply a layer of laundry detergent to the stain.
- Then, soak the cloth.
- After 5 min, scrub the cloth gently with a toothbrush.
Caution: DO NOT use a blunt-edged knife against stain, as it will damage the threads of fabric.
Removing Enamel Paint from Metals:
Listed below are a few methods for removing paint from metal surfaces with the least effort required.
Use Baking Soda:
- Take a small bowl.
- Make a mixture using:
- Hot water
- 2-3 spoons baking soda
- Immerse the metal product in the bowl
- Baking soda will consume the paint; thus, the stain removed in an hour.
Use Steamer:
- For large metal surfaces, use a steamer.
- Start by gently steaming the painted metal surface.
- Increase the temperature gradually once the metal begins to react to steam.
- The paint on the metal begins to peel off after about 30 to 40 minutes.
- Use a scraper to remove the paint.
Use Scrappers:
- There are two types of scrappers to be used against a paint stain on metal:
- Traditional Scrapper is the most used technique to remove paint stains, yet it consumes much time.
- Chemical Scrapper has become popular in recent years. It has the following features:
- Chemical depositions are present to remove the paint.
- Its tip has a large number of pores that allow chemicals to flow over the metal surface.
- As a result, this tool offers both mechanical scraping and chemical scraping.
Learn more: How to Make Your Own Enamel Pins?
Use Chemical Solutions:
- For removing paint from metal surfaces, the two most commonly used chemicals are:
- Ammonia
- Acetone
- First of all, increase the PH of the solution.
- Then, add Ammonia.
- Expose the stained metal to the solution.
- Ammonia reacts with metal and thus, stabilizes acrylic emulsions.
- Wipe off and its surface will be freshly clean.
Caution: You should wear gloves and a mask before coming into contact with chemical solutions.
Removing Enamel Paint from Glass:
The paint stains on the glass either, on windows or doors, do not look good. Let’s talk about some handy techniques to get rid of such stubborn stains.
Use Razorblade:
- Make sure your razor is flat (i.e.at 45 degrees) on the surface.
- Slowly press down and move the blade against the painted area.
- Keep doing this until the paint starts to separate and peel off.
Caution: Handle a razor blade with care, or you may cut yourself.
Use Vinegar:
- Take a bowl.
- Make a mixture of:
- 50% of white vinegar
- 50% of water
- Heat the mixture in the microwave.
- Take a clean cloth and immerse it in the mixture.
- Rub it against the glass.
- Keep rubbing until the paint peels away.
Use a Nail polish remover:
- Take a clean cloth.
- Dab a few drops of nail polish remover on it.
- Rub the cloth against the stained glass.
- Acetone in the nail polish remover will remove the paint stains in a few minutes.
- Then dry clean the glass.
Remove Enamel Paint from Wood:
If there are paint stains on wood, whether on your treasured piece of furniture or your home’s main door, it will not look good! Get rid of them as soon as possible and, here are some tested techniques.
Use a Heat Gun:
- Warm-up a small area with the heat gun. Keep it a few inches away from the metal surface.
- Using the opposite hand, scrape the paint off.
- OR You can use a scraper to remove the paint.
- After removing paint, clean the surface with a cloth.
Caution: DO NOT hold the gun for a long time, as it can burn the wood.
Use a Sand Paper:
- Cleaning the wood surface with a household cleaner is a good idea before sanding.
- Wait until the surface is dry.
- Use 80-grit sandpaper to smooth out the surface.
- Sweep away the dust before using 150-grit sandpaper in the second sanding round.
- Dust off the surface again.
- Utilize 220-grit sandpaper to remove the remaining paint from the wood.
Caution: DO NOT use more pressure to remove the paint, this will prevent the wood from being damaged.
Remember that: the EPA recommends hiring a professional if your paint was designed before 1978 to avoid exposure to toxic lead dust.
General Good practices for Enamel Paint Removal:
- Use safety precautions as wearing a mask, gloves, etc.
- Read the paint label to best handle a removal.
- Do a test spot: to watch if or if not, the method is causing damage to the surface.
The above-explained methods are convenient and cheap, but the paints can get messy. If you cannot handle any of the above methods, use the appropriate removal tools and procedures for the type of surface you are working with, or you may inadvertently cause more damage.
And DO NOT forget to follow precautions!