How can I remove this paint on trim?

Try using Citristip which is a safe non-toxic paint remover.

Thanks. I've never heard of it but it's worth a try

Check on This Old House. They had a stripper that you paint on and it turns to a gel that you can peel off and it gets into the details of things like trim and furniture legs. Not sure the name, but they should know - or try a woodworking shop.

I agree with Janet! Citristrip is a gel paint remover. Make sure you tape and cover the walls and floor. There will still be some sanding after the paint is removed. You can use a flexible foam sanding pad for the details or (what I do) is wrap sandpaper around a dowel to get into the coves and crevices.

You can use plain whitevinegar and a little elbow.

How old is that paint - i.e. might lead be involved? If so be careful if you do some sanding or if you have to scrape. For paint stuck in deep crevices many will use dental picks or we have taken cheep plastic & sometimes metal putty knives & shaped them to match the final profile (assuming you are using a remover like the one listed above)

Last tip make sure you read the manufacturers directions & always test in an inconspicuous area

Thank you everyone for the advice! It covers a large area & I know it's going to take some elbow grease so I'll try these suggestions.

Hi Kelly, There is also if I remember correctly a stripper that you can apply and peel once it sets. I think it also will stay in place once applied. Home Depot should carry this unless it has been discontinued. Good luck.

I used a small power sander to remove the paint and gunk off my baseboards. The one I used had a point at the end, similar to the shape of an iron.

This will be a HUGE job, but just think of the satisfaction you will get when it is done. I hope you take pictures and post them. I admire you young people for your fortitude.

Hi Kelly, Good luck with this. My question is are you sure it's worth it? My first house was from the 20's with layers of paint on the trim. I did one room only to find it was rather ordinary pine. Moving forward, I stripped the baseboards which were 6 inches deep, but removed and replaced the cove molding on top and quarter round below.

If you're dealing with very expensive wood it will be worth it, if it's pine, probably not. The strippers are expensive too. By the way, the small triangular sanders are great, especially for crevices. Mine is lightweight and the point made all the difference in another project. Same is true with angled sanding blocks that come in various grits.

GOOD LUCK!

Hi, have followed your problem and if you are up for some real elbow grease......... then I have had success with nail varnish remover,had lovely old detail which previous owner painted horrid dark colour (3 layers) it took me days to remove but was a labour of love and most appreciated by new buyers when I moved home. you will need tons of remover and lots of muslin cloth ( got cheap baby white ones at boot sale/ flea market, then locked my self away from family and friends till I was finished. ) Was thrilled with my hard work and lost a few pounds in weight before I was finished. Good luck whatever you do and stick with it.

Looking at the picture it looks like there is some peeling paint. First thing I would do is get all the peeling paint off with either a gritty sandpaper or just peel off. Then I would get a mouse type sander and go over all the trim getting as much paint off as I can. Last step would be to use a striper like Citristrip over any remaning hard to remove paint. When I've had hard to remove paint in crevices I've used toothpicks or kabob skewers to scrape the stripper out. Hopefully all these steps will help you get your trim looking great again.

Goof Off is great. Comes in container that looks like old lighter fluid container. I used it on drips of paint on my woodwork that were years old and it came of very easily.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I've gotten a few great ideas. The wood is very old, heavy wood so I'm sure it will be worth the work. And the picture is deceiving, that's not peeling paint, it's two layers, just not painted evenly. I'll try to post some pics when I'm done!

I had removed old paint with this silly trick. scotch tape the painted area apply heat on the tape with high heat ," when the paint softened it sticks more on the tape " I apply ice "in a bag" on top on heated area to harden the paint on tape then peel it off. This will take more time but less toxicity.

Make sure the wood below is desireable. We, too, wanted the real thing to show, however, after much trouble , we found out the wood was yellow pine and very soft. It would not hold up well with the large family we have. We bit the bullet and applied new oak trim in our home. Costly? Yes, but it's what we were willing to save for.