Better Paint Strippers

A reader writes The Green Guide:

I recently purchased a bookcase. I would very much like to strip and refinish it. I've heard that there are eco-friendly or possibly organic strippers. Also are there any eco-friendly wood stains and protective sealants available?

Thank you,
Pati

The Green Guide responds:

To take on hardened paints and varnishes, paint strippers need powerful ingredients, many of which are hazardous to our health and the environment. But there are steps you can take to reduce your exposure to the worst offenders. Most paint strippers on the market contain a nasty ingredient called methylene chloride, also called dichloromethane, which is an impressive stripping solvent but also a serious health hazard. In the short term, inhalation of fumes from methylene chloride can cause dizziness, nausea, numbness of fingers and toes, eye irritation and impaired hand-eye coordination. A splash of this stuff on bare skin will cause skin irritation and even burns. Long-term, high-level exposure can cause heart and respiratory problems, damage to the central nervous system and may increase the risk of cancer. In addition, petroleum-based paint strippers produce harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which provoke respiratory problems and contribute to smog formation.

Fortunately, there are manufacturers who make methylene chloride-free strippers, such as Bio Wash, 3m Safest Stripper, Ready-Strip Pro and Citrus Strip. If you can't find a methylene chloride free stripper at your local hardware or home improvement store (Most Home Depot's carry Citrus Strip) you can purchase Bio Wash and 3m Safest Stripper online at www.environmentalhomecenter.com and Ready-Strip Pro at www.readystripsales.com. Do be aware, however, that these products may contain other potentially harmful ingredients. For example, Ready-Strip Pro contains N.Methyl-2 Pyrrolidone (NMP), a known eye irritant, and Bio-Wash contains sodium hydroxide, or lye, which can irritate your skin, eyes and respiratory tract.

Test for Lead

Before you begin your project, it's a good idea to test your bookcase for lead paint, especially if the item was painted before 1980. You can purchase a lead paint testing kit at most hardware stores. If you find that the paint does contain lead, it's best to have a certified lead specialist do the stripping for you. See "Testing for Lead in Peeling Paint," at www.thegreenguide.com/doc.mhtml?i=109&s=lead.

Precautions

Read all directions and warnings for whichever stripper you choose before using, and wear appropriate safety gear such as goggles, gloves and masks. This kind of job should be done out of doors, in a designated area away from children and pregnant women. If your project involves any sanding, the dust may contain harmful paint residues. Again, wear a mask and goggles to avoid inhalation and to keep the dust out of your eyes. Because harmful gasses and residues may linger in indoor spaces long after you are finished, ventilate your workspace well before you start and damp mop all nearby surfaces when you're done. Never use flammable paint strippers near any source of high heat, sparks of flame.

Heat Guns

It is possible to avoid chemical strippers altogether, using a heat gun to soften the paint instead. This approach takes a bit of skill and really works best on flat surfaces with thick layers of paint. It's important to keep the gun gently moving, covering small spaces at a time. Holding the gun steady for too long can burn the wood. Due to the risk of burning yourself, never direct the heat anywhere away from the areas you're stripping. Heat can also easily ignite loose sawdust, newspaper and clothing and even shatter your windows. Keep a bucket of water or a AB-rated fire extinguisher nearby to safeguard against possible fires, and arm yourself with goggles and heavy gloves. Toxic fumes can release from softening paint, whether a chemical or paint is doing the softening, so ventilate your workspace well and never use a heat gun on lead-based paint.

Often a combination of heat and chemicals are used to strip paint. If you decide to use both methods, always use your heat gun first. Applying heat to areas treated with chemical strippers can vaporize or ignite the chemical residue.

Disposal

Whichever stripping method you choose, check local hazardous waste guidelines, and know ahead of time how you will dispose of waste such as dust, paint chips, leftover paint stripper and any cleaning materials used to rinse off stripped surfaces. The chips from lead-based paint will always need to be disposed of as hazardous waste, but often paint chips containing other heavy metals such as cadmium, chromium and mercury will as well. If the type of paint you're stripping and its ingredients are unknown, it might be safest to go ahead and dispose of the paint chips as hazardous waste.

The Finished Product

When you're ready to choose the stain for your bookcase, consult our wood finishes product report for ingredients to avoid and detailed product suggestions: www.thegreenguide.com/reports/product.mhtml?id=24. In general, avoid any product that lists glycol ether or ethylene glycol as an ingredient. Ethylene glycol, commonly used as an automotive antifreeze, can damage the kidneys, heart and nervous system. The solvent glycol ether can cause reproductive problems and can damage the blood, liver, and kidneys simply by absorbing it through the skin. Wood finishes also typically contain VOCs, such as carcinogenic formaldehyde, and neurotoxic heavy metal drying agents.

Osmo, available at www.environmentalhomecenter.com, makes a white wood stain and a semitransparent finish of mostly natural oils and waxes. Environmental Home Center also carries a great eco-friendly stain, Safecoat DuroStain, which comes in several earthy colors.

Luckily, there are a variety of water-based or natural wood finishes that are made with plant oils and also are low in VOCs. Natural finishes are not always common in your neighborhood hardware store and have to be purchased online. If you prefer to purchase the finish in person, choose low- or no-VOC products, which are have lower levels or are free of formaldehyde, petroleum distillates and mineral spirits. Be sure to read the ingredients carefully, keeping in mind that labels can be misleading. Even "low VOC" finishes often contain petroleum distillates. Tried and True makes three wood finishes that are made only with heated linseed oil, beeswax, and pine sap varnish, available at www.triedandtruewoodfinish.com.