The best paint and varnish strippers for DIY projects

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As an experienced DIYer, I regularly refinish thrifted furniture, and stripping the original finish is one of the most important (and tedious) steps. A good stripper should get down to raw wood quickly and cleanly, leaving a surface that's ready to paint, stain, or seal.

For this review, I tested popular options on a solid white oak nightstand that had an oil-based stain. I also painted the drawer fronts with latex paint to evaluate how well each product handled both paint and varnish. (One of the products I tested is a varnish-only stripper, so I did not test it to remove paint.) I tested outdoors in a well-ventilated area, wearing thick rubber gloves and protective goggles.

Below are the best paint and varnish strippers I tested, along with the task each is best for.

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Our top picks

How I tested paint and varnish strippers

Editor's note: Max Strip and Citristrip are intended for both paint and varnish while Minwax is suitable for finished wood only, and Smart Strip is suitable for use on painted surfaces.

There are four different types of paint and varnish strippers. Solvent strippers contain toxic chemicals, caustic strippers are lye-based, biochemical removers contain non-toxic plant-based chemicals, and non-toxic strippers are often water- or alcohol-based.

Some paint strippers are toxic to humans, animals, and the environment, and others have low or no volatile organic compounds (VOC). VOCs can cause everything from eye, nose, and throat irritation to liver, kidney, and nervous system damage and, in some cases, cancer in humans.

Max Strip's main ingredient is triethyl phosphate and is classified as non-toxic with very low VOCs. Smart Strip is a low-VOC stripper that is water-based and includes benzyl alcohol. Citistrip is alcohol-based (benzyl alcohol) and contains VOCs; it can cause burns if it makes contact with the skin. Minwax is a toxic solvent-based stripper that is also flammable.

We recommend working in a well-ventilated area while using any paint stripper and wearing protective gloves and goggles. If ventilation is inadequate, a respirator will provide additional protection.

I tested Max Strip, Citristrip, and Smart Strip on the painted drawers of my thrifted nightstand.

The nightstand was finished with an oil-based stain, so I painted over the drawers with latex paint for this review. After the latex cured for a week, I went to work testing out the paint strippers.

Max Strip was the best paint stripper I tested. It's easy to apply, works within 30 minutes, and leaves a consistent finish behind.

I used a small paintbrush to apply a thick layer of Max Strip to half of a painted drawer front. Because it's a no-drip gel-based product, it wasn't messy and stayed right where I wanted it to.

I used plastic wrap to cover the product during the recommended 30-minute soak time. This prevents the gel from drying out. I was pleasantly surprised to encounter no harsh odors while using the product; in fact, it almost had a "clean" smell to it.

After the allotted soak time, I removed the latex paint with a plastic paint scraper going with the wood grain.

The paint rolled off like butter, even in the detailed trim sections of the drawer front. It took very little effort to completely scrape off all the paint. I didn't notice any damage to the wood underneath, and I was ready to move on to sanding immediately. The entire process took about an hour.

It took more elbow grease to remove the Citristrip with a scraper, but the results were pretty good.

Citristrip is a stripping gel that really does smell like oranges, which was delightful during application. The instructions recommend leaving it to soak in for at least 30 minutes. I applied the gel with a paintbrush, then let it soak in for 30 minutes.

Citrstrip came off in nice thick pieces. It contains natural wood oils that condition the wood as the finish is being taken off, making it great for antique wood furniture that has dried out over time.

Smart Strip was the most difficult to scrape off and I was left with plenty of paint on the surface of the drawer.

I'm all about efficiency when it comes to flipping furniture and Smart Strip paled in comparison to the other strippers. It was very thick and goopy, which made the application messy. While it doesn't plastic wrap isn't needed for the soak time, it requires a minimum of three hours to penetrate the paint. I had to work much harder when removing Smart Strip with a scraper and ultimately did not see even results.

Minwax was the MVP of wood strippers. It was easy to apply and I saw immediate results.

While Minwax is considered a "gentle product" for wood, it contains toxic solvents and is flammable, so I was extremely careful while using this product. I worked with it outdoors and wore thick rubber gloves and protective eyewear. Minwax had a harsh odor, but I didn't find it to be irritating.

I dipped the steel wool into a metal jar filled with Minwax and rubbed it in circles onto the top of the side table. Using moderate pressure, I saw the original finish begin to come off immediately. It was easy to get into all the corners and detailed areas and only took about 15 minutes to complete the top section. Per the product recommendation, I washed everything off with water to neutralize it after I was done. I was able to immediately move on to sanding to finish the piece.

You'll need to dispose of Minwax safely. There are toxic waste disposal sites in most cities, and I recommend utilizing one as soon as the project is completed.

Citristrip is a good alternative to Minwax If you're looking for a less toxic varnish stripper.

Aside from Minwax, Citristrip was the best for removing finish. While the manufacturer recommends leaving it to soak in for at least 30 minutes, I noticed the finish bubbling up after only about 12 minutes. Plastic wrap isn't required for a shorter soak time, but the stripper can be left on overnight for tough surfaces. In that case, they do recommend covering it with plastic wrap to avoid drying it out.

It was extremely satisfying to scrape off the Citristrip in thick gobs thought it took more effort than Minwax.

Overall, it took about 5 minutes for application, 30 minutes of soak time, and 15 minutes for removal. It was extremely satisfying to use the plaster scraper to remove the Citristrip in thick gobs. I did notice I had to work harder to remove everything, using more elbow grease than with Minwax or Max Strip. I then neutralized the wood surface with water before moving on to sanding.

Like with Minwax, you'll need to follow directions for the safe disposal of both Citristrip. There are toxic waste disposal sites in most cities and I recommend utilizing them as soon as the project is completed.

The bottom line

Max Strip is an excellent paint stripper, and we recommend it for DIY furniture projects. It's non-toxic, evenly removes paint, and makes quick work of the paint removal process.

When it comes to removing finishes, Minwax is hands down your best bet despite the extra caution required during application and disposal.

If you're looking for a good stripper to use on a piece of furniture that is finished with both paint and varnish, Citristrip is a good bet for getting the job done in one pass and you'll save a some money by purchasing only one stripper.