The Risks of Paint Removal

Paint stripping is an essential task, but as with many DIY jobs there is always an element of risk. Many paint stripping products are solvent based so they are filled with various concoctions of hazardous chemicals including acetone and methanol. Although the products do the job there should be no cut corners when using them, the effects they have can be serious.

Paying attention to what you're doing with solvent based paint strippers is critical to the safety of not only yourself but to those around you as well. Even a splash of the product could cause serious burns to the skin and maybe even develop into conditions like dermatitis. Although the risk is high for any user the burn could be more severe to fragile skin on young children or the elderly.

Wearing coveralls is important and even more so is the addition of gloves. Though using tools the solution can still get to your skin so being precautious with protecting yourself is the best way to prevent any accidents.

The same applies to your face. Though it is highly unlikely that you will deliberately splash your face with the hazardous solution the fumes released can do damage of their own. Inhalation of the toxic fumes can result in serious internal problems and complications. Respiratory problems and organ failure being the beginning of the list. Wearing a face mask does help to minimise inhalation of the product but having windows open can also help to let in more oxygen and air the room.

Another risk to be aware of is where you put the product. A danger of accidentally drinking the product is very real. It sounds highly unlikely but when you're distracted it can happen. When using solvent based paint strippers you need to find somewhere safe to put the container. A place where it is out of reach from your family, and pets, and also somewhere not even close to your drink. The damage it can cause can be fatal so by keeping the product out of reach the risk of consumption is drastically minimised.

Being aware of the risks and taking the necessary measures to minimise the chances of accidents from happening will allow you to successfully remove paint from any surface. However just remember that out of sight shouldn't be out of mind when staying safe.

For all of your paint stripping tasks try Biostrip Plus - available from our webstore