- 1). Open windows if you're working inside. If possible, however, you should take the furniture outside and work in a covered area. Put on a dust mask and protective gloves.
- 2). Use an electric sander to remove paint and varnish from flat surface tops and big pieces of furniture, such as tables. Remove wood dust with a clean paintbrush.
- 3). Use 150- to 320-grit sandpaper to sand smaller or more delicate pieces of furniture by hand. Sand the entire piece, including hard-to-reach sections such as joints and intricate carvings. Remove wood dust with a clean paintbrush.
- 4). Use soy gel to strip off the remaining paint and varnish. Soy gel can remove harmful lead paint without releasing the vapors into the air, since the lead becomes encapsulated in the gel.
- 1). Put on protective gloves. Apply a thick coating of soy gel to other types of furniture, such as stone, brick, concrete, plaster or metal. The gel can strip surface paint, varnish and rust or other stains. Wait for time indicated on the product bottle.
- 2). Use a scraping tool to see if the soy gel coating has softened and lifted the surface. Since there is no harsh odor and the soy gel is gentler, it can be left on the furniture surface for a few hours to totally absorb the surface paint and varnish.
- 3). Scrape away the paint and varnish with a scraping tool. Mix 2 capfuls of trisodium phosphate in half a bucket of cool water, then scrub the furniture with the mixture to remove any soy gel residue. Use a strong-bristled brush, and wear protective gloves. Rinse with clean water, then let the furniture dry.
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