Can you wash Citristrip down the drain?
Citristrip is a chemical that is used to strip paint from surfaces. You should never pour it down the drain, as it can damage pipes and create unsafe conditions. Instead, find an appropriate disposal site for hazardous materials in your area.
You can dispose of the used stripper and paint residue in the trash, just wrap it up and put it into a regular trash bag. If CitriStrip sounds like something you'd like to try you can purchase it using my Amazon affiliate link right here. Wanna see the process in action?
Report Ad. After wash removes any paint residue left from stripping, plus conditions the surface for paint, stain or topcoat. It can be used on wood, metal, or masonry, and is gentle enough for antiques and fine furniture.
Eye Contact Acute Exposure Effects: May cause irritation; redness; tearing; burns; conjunctivitis of eyes; stinging of eyes and lids. Ingestion Acute Exposure Effects: Harmful or fatal if swallowed. May cause nausea; vomiting; gastrointestinal irritation; and diarrhea.
Citristrip® Gel stays wet and active for up to 24 hours, allowing you to strip multiple layers in one step. It contains no methylene chloride, is non-caustic and ideal for indoor use. This special orange stripper has a pleasant citrus scent and is biodegradable.
I watched many videos with CitriStrip being used on bathtubs, but the actual label says to be used on wood/metal/masonry, don't use on fiberglass/plastic/vinyl.
Acute Health Effects
Inhalation: May cause headache; irritation of the respiratory system and mucous membranes, nausea, drowsiness, mental confusion, dizziness and giddiness.
Citristrip is an orange paint stripper in gel form that actually smells decent and it is safe to use indoors! No crazy toxic fumes like other paint strippers.
One of the most common ways to clean down wood after it has been stripped is to employ a combination of vinegar and water. Mix these two liquids together in equal proportions. Immerse a soft rag within this solution and gently wipe any wood that has been subject to the stripping agent.
Again – apply in thick, gloppy layers. You may see Citristrip start to bubble and froth which means it's working! I recommend checking on it every 30 minutes or so. Test a small area with your plastic putty knife – if the finish removes easily you are good.
What happens if Citristrip gets on skin?
May cause burns of the eye. ACUTE SKIN CONTACT: May cause mild skin irritation with redness, discomfort, burning, or rash. Prolonged or repeated skin contact may cause dermatitis and drying of the skin. ACUTE INHALATION: May cause irritation of the upper respiratory passages, with coughing, headache, and discomfort.
The Kwik-Strip was able to remove more varnish then the Citristrip.

Dimethyl glutarate | 001119-40-0 | 10.0-30.0 |
---|---|---|
Dimethyl adipate | 000627-93-0 | 10.0-30.0 |
N-Methylpyrrolidone | 000872-50-4 | 30-60 |
Citrus extract | 094266-47-4 | 1.0-5.0 |
PEG-15 cocamine | 061791-14-8 | 1.0-5.0 |
Step 3-Apply Citristrip
The remaining steps must be done outside! Put on chemical resistant gloves and eye protection. Shake the Citristrip bottle well. Pour some Citristrip into your soup can, or glass jar.
Hazards Identification
Caution! Combustible. Keep away from heat, sparks, flame and all other sources of ignition. Vapors may cause fire.
The instructions say to put the Citristrip in a metal bowl and use it from there. If you're stripping a flat surface, it's an unnecessary (and wasteful) step, I just squeeze it right from the jug onto the floor. Brush it out with a chip brush .
To purchase the most effective product, tell your hardware store professional the type of tiles and glaze you have; if you're unsure (or don't have a sample to show), a citrus-based paint remover, such as Citristrip (available on Amazon) is the least likely to damage glazing while still removing paint from tile.
Step 2: Cover With Plastic Wrap
Cover the CitriStrip with plastic wrap immediately after finishing applying it to a section. Don't wait until you've applied stripping agent to the whole piece – it's likely to dry out before you've covered it up.
Even if you have OLD latex paint on a window or mirror, if you wet the paint with some rubbing alcohol and rub, the paint wipes off quickly. You can also use rubbing alcohol to remove latex paint from your clothes.
In addition, WD-40 removes paint from tile floors, helps open paint can lids that are stuck shut and rehydrates paintbrush bristles.
Can paint remover go down the drain?
Never Dump Down the Drain
Paint thinner is highly toxic and should never be dumped down the drain, in order to avoid contaminating waterways. Instead, dispose of as Household Hazardous Waste (HHW).
To properly dispose of paint thinner, never pour it down a drain or into the trash – not only is that against the law, but it's also very dangerous. Experts at Bob Vila explain that this solvent has a low flash point of 104 degrees Fahrenheit, so it's highly flammable.
Acute Health Effects
Inhalation: May cause headache; irritation of the respiratory system and mucous membranes, nausea, drowsiness, mental confusion, dizziness and giddiness.
Citristrip is an orange paint stripper in gel form that actually smells decent and it is safe to use indoors! No crazy toxic fumes like other paint strippers.
Disposing of chemicals down drains can damage your plumbing which can be expensive to repair and also allow those chemicals a direct path into the groundwater. Improperly disposing of chemicals at your site can lead to environmental contamination of your site which can be time consuming and expensive to clean up.
Simply wrap the waste material in a few extra layers of newspaper and put that entire wad into a heavy-duty contractor bag. At this point, your paint thinner or paint remover waste can be safely thrown in a regular garbage can or dumpster.
When it's full, bring it to a hazardous-waste-disposal site or similar municipal facility. Never pour solvents or paint sludge down a sink drain or into a street gutter.