How to Strip Paint from Trim

Trim — baseboards, door casings, window casings, and crown molding — accumulates paint layers faster than walls because it's repainted every time the room is painted. Over time, the paint buildup obscures the trim's detail and creates a thick, uneven surface. Stripping trim back to bare wood and starting fresh gives you crisp, sharp detail and a surface that holds paint beautifully. Here's how to do it.

Tools You'll Need

• Citristrip paint stripping gel — ideal for detailed trim profiles; low fume for indoor use
• Paint scraper set — multiple widths including narrow scrapers for detailed profiles
• Heat gun — for flat sections of baseboard with thick paint
• 220-grit sanding sponge — for final smoothing
• Painter's tape — to protect walls and floors during stripping
• Respirator mask
• Chemical resistant gloves

Step 1: Protect Adjacent Surfaces

Apply painter's tape along the wall above the trim and the floor below the baseboard. Lay a drop cloth on the floor to catch drips and scraped paint.

Step 2: Apply Citristrip to the Trim

Brush a thick coat of Citristrip over the trim. For vertical trim like door casings, apply extra thick to compensate for any running. Cover with plastic wrap pressed firmly against the trim surface. Leave for 4–24 hours.

Step 3: Scrape the Flat Sections

Use a wide paint scraper for the flat sections of baseboard and casing. Work along the length of the trim in long, smooth strokes. For the detailed profile sections (the curved and stepped areas), use a narrow scraper that matches the profile shape.

Step 4: Use the Heat Gun for Stubborn Areas

For any flat sections where the paint hasn't fully softened, use a heat gun to soften the remaining paint and scrape immediately. Keep the heat gun moving to avoid scorching the wood.

Step 5: Detail Work

For the detailed profile sections, use a wooden skewer, old toothbrush, or a profile scraper that matches the trim's shape to remove paint from crevices. This is the most time-consuming part but makes the biggest difference in the final result.

Step 6: Clean and Sand

Wipe down with mineral spirits to remove all stripper residue. Once dry, sand with a 220-grit sanding sponge to smooth the surface. Apply primer and semi-gloss paint for a crisp, professional finish.

Stripping trim is detailed work that rewards patience. Citristrip handles the chemical lifting, and careful scraping with the right-sized tools handles the detail work. The result — crisp, sharp trim with a fresh coat of semi-gloss — makes the entire room look more polished.