I've heard that Citristrip's formula changed a while back and many people are unhappy with it now. I really like the idea of a biodegradable paint stripper, but I need something that's going to work without a hassle. Has anyone had recent experiences with Citristrip and can share if it's still as effective as it used to be?
3 Answers
Yeah, it's still pretty bad. The formula has a fast evaporation rate because it's based on dimethyl ether, which means they added wax to slow it down. Unfortunately, that wax leaves a residue that you can't just clean off with regular solvents. You’ll need their special cleaner to fully remove it, or you'll end up having to strip it again. It's not really environmentally friendly either, since you end up using extra chemicals to get the job done. There are way better options out there that don’t even use citrus!
Glad to hear I made the right call by skipping Citristrip for my project!
Honestly, I’d recommend switching to something like Smart Strip from Dumond. It really works well, especially when you keep it covered with wax paper overnight. Plus, it cleans up with just water, and it’s biodegradable too!
Is it Dumond? Just want to make sure I'm getting the right brand.
Yes, that’s the one! You'll love it.
I tried Citristrip once, and it didn’t do much at all. I recently switched to using a heat gun with a scraper, and I've been getting way better results. It's a lot more effective if you're stripping paint.
Right? It's so much easier and less messy!
Good suggestion! I think I might give that a shot next time.
Thanks for the heads-up! I was curious about the wax issue since I had a bad experience with it on my brick house.