Reusing old furniture can be a definite green move. It keeps it out of the garbage and reduces consumption of new materials. But even just a few years ago, we were torn about refinishing old furniture because of the toxic steps involved in refinishing. Now days, there are plenty of green options for breathing new life into old furniture...
We had a white-painted flat file we purchased off of Craigslist many years ago. At the time, the only way to remove its gunky white paint was with toxic strippers. Now, there is SoyGel, which is perfect for cleaning and stripping paint and other eurethane finishes off of old furniture.
Next, if you're repainting the piece, choose a good green paint. We used to use oil paints on our furniture, which had us fuming that we couldn't keep our refinishing projects VOC-free. But now, as shared by Maxwell, there are great green paints like Marston & Langinger.
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Wow. That's a REALLY lovely picture! Of peeling paint, no less!!
And non-toxic strippers! Yahoooo!!
view rockypondgirl's profile
There's also "Peel-Away", which works very well (on wood at least), doesn't smell bad, and doesn't irritate the skin. I used it to remove paint from baseboards and other trim; at one point I ran out of gloves and was scraping and scrubbing with bare hands, and it didn't irritate my skin at all. (Probably not the official recommendation for use.) It did sometimes need multiple applications to remove extra-thick paint.
view carolyn_suzanne's profile
Can anyone recommend anything for metal? I have a cabinet with some rusty spots that is in desperate need of a make-over.
view azure's profile
Azure, with metal, try a wire brush. You can do it by hand, or get a small wire wheel for drills. a little elbow grease and the spots should come out.
I used Citrus Stripper and it works beautifully. I've refinished several pieces of furniture with it (indoors), and am quite pleased with the results. Its also much more economical than Peel-Away.
Although I love the idea of Low VOC or VOC free paints, you can't beat oil based paints for a smooth, durable finish. If I was painting walls I'd be inclined to use VOC free, but not something like cabinets. For furniture, I prefer linseed oil and wax for furniture anyway. Wood is too beautiful to cover up with paint.
view nordicfreak's profile
I love soy gel, and use it myself, but don't kid yourself that it's non toxic.
http://www.franmar.com/MSDS/sg.pdf
it contains N-Methyl Pyrrolidone and should still be used with ventilation and wearing gloves.
Safer than the rest though? yes.
view kvh's profile
That looks like some kind of beautiful undersea fflora or fauna.
view Curtis's profile