Remove Old Paints & Varnishes

You want to paint your bathroom or kitchen? Do you want to give your garage door or other metal objects a new look? Find out here if and how you have to remove an old coat of paint or varnish beforehand.

Table of contents

Let's start with the good news: You do not necessarily have to remove old paints and varnishes before repainting - with our paints you can easily repaint an old layer of paint or varnish. However, if the old paint is damaged and peeling, the first step is to remove it. You can find out exactly how to do this in these instructions.

Preparation: How to choose the right tool

Depending on the method and surface, different tools or aids are used to remove old layers of varnish or paint

Which methods are suitable for removing varnish?

There are various methods for getting rid of old paint, depending on the surface material:

• Mechanical removal of varnishesn: The old varnish is removed with sandpaper, sanding pad or - if large areas are involved - with a sanding machine. Be sure to wear protective clothing, gloves and a respiratory mask, as the (fine) dust is harmful to health and the environment. This method is particularly suitable for wood and metal if you want to get rid of loose parts. Veneered surfaces can also be easily sanded. However, you should be careful here, as veneers are very thin layers of wood.
• Chemical removal of varnishesn: A chemical treatment of old paint is also called stripping. This involves treating the surface with certain solvents so that the old layers of paint or varnish can be removed in the next step. When using paint strippers, be sure to take your own protective measures. Follow the instructions on the label very closely. If they contain strong solvents, this method can pollute the environment

  An environmentally friendly alternative to removing varnish with solvent-based stains is Painting the Past Remover. It dissolves old varnish so that it can be removed with a spatula. However, this only works with water-soluble varnishes and not with old two-component varnishes, paint stains or industrial varnishes. This method is non-toxic and odourless. Use the remover mainly on solid wood to restore the natural effect and on metals.

From which substrate should the paint or varnish be removed?

If you want to repaint, the substrate must always be clean, grease-free and load-bearing. If an old layer of paint is flaking or sanding off, you must remove it first
Depending on the substrate, the following tools can be used for the mechanical removal of old varnishes and paints. As mentioned above, wearing protective clothing is important.

Which paint or varnish do you want to repaint?

If you have used chalk paint for the old coat, you can simply paint over it - provided the paint does not blister or flake off. Old oil paint, synthetic resin varnish or acrylic paint can also be painted over.

Tips for removing varnish splashes

Don't panic about varnish splashes on adjacent furniture or your clothes! If the paint hasn't dried yet, you can remove it easily with a damp cloth. If it has already dried, simply scrape off the splash with your fingernail or a scraper, depending on the hardness and amount.
Alternatively, you can simply wear our comfortable painter clothes. They look great even with paint splatters.

Instructions: Remove paint & varnish

Here we explain in detail how you should proceed in order to get rid of your old varnish as efficiently as possible:

Step 1: Preparation

Depending on the method of removing the old paint, you may need protective clothing and a protective mask. Since working with a sanding machine is a rather dusty affair, it is best to do it outdoors. Also, when using chemical stains, make sure you have adequate ventilation. Painting the Past Remover can also be used indoors. If necessary, protect your floor with newspaper or foil.

Step 2: Removal of coarser damage

Step 3: Remove the varnish

Depending on the surface, you can now use different methods to remove the varnish from the surface:

• Removing paint from wood

To remove an old layer of paint or varnish from wooden surfaces, Painting the Past Remover is often sufficient; the same applies to old layers of wax on wood. However, for garden furniture, sanding is necessary before repainting, as these weather and chip over time or the surface is no longer even.

• remove varnish from metal

Especially with metal, it is important to remove not only the old varnish, but above all loose rust. Only if the surface is rust-free will the paint last well and for a long time. It is best to sand both the varnish and the rust with sandpaper or a wire brush. If you have areas of bare metal after sanding, it is important to apply a primer, e. g. Mylands Metal Primer in various colours or To Block - MissPompadour Stainblock.

• Remove paint from stone

Outdoors, a high-pressure cleaner or sandblaster is excellent. If the varnish is more stubborn, you may need to use a heat gun to clean the stone surface.

• removing wall paint

Usually you do not have to remove old wall paint for a new coat. This applies to chalk paint, emulsion paints and emulsions. If you want to repaint latex paints, test in advance on an inconspicuous spot whether the new coat will hold.
If the removal of wall paint cannot be avoided, use a sander or a spatula.

Step 4: Final cleaning

Before you give the surface a new coat of paint, you should do a final cleaning. If you have only sanded the surface, it is sufficient to remove loose paint residues and dust thoroughly. After using Painting the Past Remover or another chemical stain, you should also thoroughly clean the surface with water to remove any residues. Allow the surface to dry very well.

Stripping paint & varnish: step-by-step instructions

Step 1: Clean the surface

Step 2: Apply

Then apply the remover generously to the surface with a brush or roller and cover the surface with foil to prevent it from drying out. Leave it on for at least 1 to 2 hours (see package insert)

Step 3: Remove the varnish

Then you can remove the old varnish layers with a spatula. A little water will dissolve everything even better. If your varnish is very stubborn or there are several layers, repeat the process if necessary.

Step 4: Cleaning

Wash the remains thoroughly with water and a sponge and let everything dry well.

Professional tip: If after stripping you discover minor quirks and holes in the surface that bother you, you can touch them up with To Fill - MissPompadour Filler. Then sand briefly smooth and simply paint over.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions

In case you still have questions, we have put together the most frequently asked ones for you here:

Material and accessories for removing old varnishes and paints

• Newspaper or foil: To protect your floor.
• Sandpaper or sander: Our To Sand - MissPompadour Sanding Pad is great for removing loose varnish particles.
• Brush:Painting the Past Remover or other chemical strippers can be easily applied with a brush or paint roller.
• Spatula: Loosened layers of paint are best removed with a spatula.
• Bucket and sponge: For thorough cleaning after using Painting the Past Remover or other chemical paint strippers.