How to Remove Old Paint From Metal Lawn Chairs With Oven Cleaner

Removing paint from any metal is a challenge, especially if you're dealing with an item that has a combination of metal and fabric, such as a lawn chair. Many paint strippers and removers are expensive and will significantly damage any type of fabric or cloth, so you have to be very careful. The main ingredient in oven cleaner is sodium hydroxide, which is a corrosive substance that acts as a paint remover. The advantages to using oven cleaner on your lawn chairs are that it is a less expensive alternative and it allows you to spray the product on the metal, creating less of a mess.

Garbage bags
Scissors
Tape
Face mask
Goggles
Rubber gloves
Oven cleaner
Wire brush
Hose
Vinegar

Instructions

- 1
  Check your lawn chairs to see if the fabric can be removed without ruining the chairs. If not, tape garbage bags in place over the fabric to protect it before spraying the metal parts of the chairs with oven cleaner. Cut the garbage bags to the proper size, if necessary.
- 2
  Put on your face mask, goggles and rubber gloves to protect you while using the oven cleaner.
- 3
  Spread out several garbage bags on a flat surface, such as a driveway, and place one chair on each garbage bag. This will protect the surface on which you are working from discoloration or damage from the oven cleaner. Spray the areas from which you want to remove the paint with oven cleaner. Let it sit for 15 minutes.
- 4
  Scrub off all of the paint with a wire brush. Spray with a hose to remove the oven cleaner and residual paint. Pour a small amount of vinegar on a cloth and wipe down the metal. The vinegar will neutralize the chemicals in the oven cleaner. Rinse a second time with the hose. Allow the chairs to air dry.

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