How to Properly Remove Spray Paint From Metal

Spray paint is one of the more popular and reliable choices for makeovers and repainting, but it’s notorious for being near-impossible to remove—especially on metal surfaces like copper and stainless steel. You can’t brush or wipe it clean and it requires a more specific kind of cleaning procedure to remove it completely.

Fortunately, this cleaning method is easily done as all you need are a few common household materials. Handyman Connection® of Golden shares how you can do this properly.

What You Need

Here’s what you need for this cleaning project:

• Lint-free rags or an old t-shirt

• Plastic gloves and goggles

• Acetone and respirator

• Citristrip and a couple of paintbrushes

• And old toothbrush and a plastic scraper

How to Start Cleaning

First, place your spray-painted metal object on the lint-free rag or old shirt. Put on your gloves, eye protection and respirator; you don’t want the paint getting on your body. Next, use your paintbrush to spread the Citristrip over the metal surface in a thick and even coat. Let it set for about 30 minutes.

After around 15 minutes, we recommend testing a section of the spray-painted surface. If you notice the paint starting to bubble when you touch it, then it’s ready to get scraped off.

Removing the Paint

Using your plastic scraper, gently remove the bubbling portion of the paint. Expect some small bits of paint to remain on the surface. Don’t worry too much about this; just use your rags to wipe it clean as the Citristrip has loosened it from the surface. For the hard-to-reach places, use your old toothbrush to remove the paint in clumps.

The paint probably won’t get removed in one sitting, especially if the metal surface isn’t flat. Just apply the Citristrip again, let it bubble, and scrape off the remaining patches of paint. Removing the leftovers is actually easier to do since it’s already loose and simply needs an extra nudge.

Let Handyman Connection of Golden help you restore larger spray-painted metal surfaces. Fill out our form or give us a call at  (303) 848-2752 to learn more about our services.