If you have a piece of furniture that has been painted with chalk paint and you don’t like the look of it, removing the paint probably comes to your mind. Chalk paint is an extremely popular choice for painting furniture, but it isn’t for everyone. You might think your piece will turn out great, but later on it doesn’t.
So, will mineral spirits remove chalk paint? Yes! One simple way that you can remove chalk paint from a surface is by using mineral spirits. The process is incredibly easy, but you do need to be safe. Prepare your area thoroughly and protect your eyes, hands, nose, and mouth.
While you can find tons of information on how to paint with chalk paint, it’s harder to find information on how to remove it. Luckily, there are some easy ways to strip chalk paint from a surface that you don’t want to have it on anymore. Let’s read on!
How to Remove Chalk Paint With Mineral Spirits
Using mineral spirits is a simple and quick way to remove chalk paint from a surface. First, you will need to make sure you are working in a well-ventilated area with great air flow. If you can, work outside. You will also want to prepare your area by covering any places you don’t want to risk spilling the mineral spirits on.
One of my favorite brands for mineral spirits is Gamblin Gamsol Mineral Spirits. Most of their products are odorless, and work amazingly.
Make sure you wear long sleeves and pants, gloves, eye protection, and a mask. This will prevent you from any potential harm from the mineral spirits. You can never be too safe when working with these strong chemicals, so it is best to be prepared.
When you are ready, apply the mineral spirits to the chalk paint. The best way to do this is with a cloth. Dip the cloth into the mineral spirits and start applying it across the surface of the chalk paint. You don’t want to add too much, but it needs to be enough to efficiently coat the surface.
You are then going to want to wait a specific amount of time. It should be listed on the instructions of the mineral spirits, and the time is usually between 20 and 30 minutes. When it is close to the time being up, you will start to notice the paint is bubbling.
After the specified time has passed, you can begin removing the paint with a wire scraper or putty knife. It shouldn’t take too much pressure to get the paint off, so you don’t need to worry about scratching the surface during the removal process.
What Removes Chalk Paint?
Another way to remove chalk paint that will require more work is using sandpaper. You will want to use a very coarse sandpaper that is about 80-grit. You will start by working off as much of the chalk paint as you can with the sandpaper. Spend extra time around the corners and edges to make sure you don’t warp them at all.
Gently sand the entire surface to make sure you don’t cause any unnecessary dents or scratches. If you have any areas that are tough to reach, you will want to use a paint scraper to remove the paint.
When you are finished with the 80-grit sandpaper, you will want to move on to a finer 120-grit sandpaper. This will help remove any remaining paint as well as smooth the surface and get rid of any potential scratches from the removal process.
It is not recommended to sand furniture that you know is fragile because there is a much higher chance of damage. You also need to keep in mind that chalk paint is incredibly dusty, and you can expect the dust to fly around during the process. Protect your mouth and nose to prevent these particles from entering your respiratory system.
Heat will also work to remove chalk paint from a surface. If you have a heat gun lying around, you can put it to use by using it to remove chalk paint. This is not the most recommended idea because it can be dangerous.
You can also try to remove the chalk paint with soap and warm water. Since chalk paint is water-based, it will have the ability to be removed by water if there is no wax sealant on the surface.
To remove chalk paint with soap and water, you will need to fill a bucket with water and stir in the soap. Using a sponge, gently rub the soapy water in circular motions. This should start to lift the chalk paint from the surface. If this doesn’t work, you might have a wax sealant on top that is working as a prevention.
How Do You Remove Wax From Chalk Paint?
If you notice that your chalk paint has a wax sealant on it, you will need to remove it before you can remove the wax paint. There are a couple of different ways you can efficiently remove wax from chalk paint.
First, you can use mineral spirits and a cloth as listed above. Like you are applying wax, you will want to gently work the mineral spirits into the surface of the wax by rubbing with the grain of the wood. This will reduce the risk of scratching the surface of your furniture.
Another way you can remove wax from chalk paint is by creating a DIY solution. You can mix together 1 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of water. You will want to apply the solution the same way you would the mineral spirits. The vinegar will dissolve the wax and remove it from the surface with ease.
How to Remove Chalk Paint From Wood
To remove chalk paint from wood, you can either use a sponge with soapy water or mineral spirits. Both of these methods will start to dissolve the chalk paint without damaging the wood underneath. It is best to use a sponge, but you can use a cloth if you don’t have a sponge.
When you have removed as much of the chalk paint as you can, you will want to sand the surface to ensure you got it all off. You can also use a steel scrub sponge instead of sandpaper if that will be easier. Use some warm water and gently rub the surface of the wood until you don’t see any paint anymore.
When you have all of the paint removed, leave the wood to properly dry. When the drying is complete, you will be able to repaint the wood with a finish or a different kind of paint or stain. You will be left with a finished piece of wood that you will be happy with and that looks brand new.
Final Thoughts
If you find yourself wanting to remove chalk paint from a surface, you are going to wonder what the best way to do it is. Luckily, removing chalk paint from a surface is incredibly easy. The quickest way to remove chalk paint is with mineral spirits.
Mineral spirits will strip through the paint in about 30 minutes, allowing you to then scrape the paint right off. If your chalk paint doesn’t have a wax sealant on it, you might be able to remove it with just some soap and warm water.
Make sure to follow all my tips and recommended products to ensure your chalk painted project turns out great! Also, don’t forget to check out my other articles for all your painting Q&A’s. Happy painting!