Homemade Varnish Remover

Ingredients

Part 1:

1 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup water (cold)

Part 2:

4 cups water (hot)
3/4 cup baking soda
1/2 cup household ammonia
1 TBS vinegar

Notes:

Mix recipe in a pail or container that is heat resistant since you’ll be using it to hold the hot water.

First bring water to a boil, remove from heat and allow to rest for 5 minutes before mixing the recipe. Make sure to boil enough to provide 4 full cups of hot water, add two cups first–mix–then add the other 2 cups and mix.

Directions:

• In a bowl, mix the cornstarch and 1/2 cup of cold water together, dump in the pail. Add the rest of the ingredients, mix everything very well.
• Wearing rubber gloves, generously apply the hot varnish remover with a paint brush to the varnished area you wish to strip. If it’s a large area or project you’re working with and the recipe temperature is no longer hot, reheat. The job is a lot easier and the recipe works best when hot.
• Allow the recipe to set and work a bit then once the varnish starts lifting, scrub to remove the varnish from the wood with clean wet rags (hot).

For removing varnish from old furniture items, see Refinishing Antiques.

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