How to Remove Spray Paint from Metal

Spray paint is a great product to use to makeover almost anything. It comes in many colors and finishes and is great for imperfectly shaped pieces that you can spray much easier than brush with paint. It’s a DIYer’s dream!

But someday you might want to remove that spray paint from an object you made over. Particularly a metal one like a wall hanging, hardware, or lamps.

While I love the deep blue color, I wanted to return this lamp to its former brass glory to add more metallic to our living room.

I’m happy to tell you that yes, you can undo your makeover in just a few easy steps.

Here’s how to remove spray paint from metal.

Materials:

Spray painted object
Citristrip
Paint brushes
Old toothbrush
Plastic scraper
Lint-free rags, such as an old t-shirt
Plastic gloves
Eye protection
Respirator
Acetone

Instructions

1. Place your object to be stripped on a rag.

2. Put on plastic gloves, respirator and eye protection.

3. Using a paint brush, spread the Citristrip over the piece in a thick coat. Follow the instructions on the Citristrip, letting it work for about 30 minutes. Test a section in 15 minutes. When the paint bubbles, you are ready to scrape it off.

4. Using your plastic scraper, gently scrape off the bubbled paint. Collect the paint in a plastic bag to throw away. Use a rag to wipe off excess spray paint. Use a toothbrush to get into small areas. Repeat this until you can’t remove any more paint. Re-apply the Citristrip and continue this process until all the paint is removed.

Many objects will have crevices where it’s difficult to get the paint off. Let the Citristrip sit there longer to make it easier to wipe away the paint. Toothbrushes work great for these parts.

Once all of your paint is removed, there will likely be a film left on your object. Try wiping it off with a rag dampened with acetone.

Here is the *new* lamp now. The brass contrasts nicely with our gray walls and light accents.

See you at Decor Adventures soon. This week on my blog I wrote about how to get a really clean kitchen in 8 easy steps. Plus there’s a free checklist printable too!