Types

• There are many different types of varnish, and in order to find the best remover, it is best to know what kind of varnish you have. The finish on most old furniture is a simple shellac, lacquer or mix of the two. It comes off easily with a simple application of alcohol and a brisk rubdown. Many modern varnishes are oil based and require paint thinner, a remover or a stripper. Removers come in gel, powder and liquid forms. Green options for varnish removers are also available. These products use only natural elements such as soy and citric acid to strip varnish from wood. While green options are safer and more environmentally friendly, they tend to be very high priced and can take more than a few hours to work.
  
  

Active Ingredients

• Common ingredients include methylene chloride, or dichloromethane, which is a volatile liquid that can cause skin burns and eye irritation. It's also an inhalation hazard. Another common active ingredient is sodium hydroxide, also known as lye; this caustic substance can cause skin and eye irritation and even scar or burn wood when left on for extended periods. Safer ingredients include citric acid, which has no real harmful effects, and soy methyl esters, which are an acidic but entirely safe part of soy beans.
  
  

Considerations

• Many removers are filled with a wax called paraffin. The paraffin absorbs some of the acidic qualities of the remover so that it does not damage wood; however, wood soaks up the paraffin, and the result can be oily- or greasy-looking wood that resists application of new varnish. More expensive removers can be washed away with water, but water damage may result if the furniture is located indoors. Options without paraffin and toxic substances are available; however, they do not always work quite as well. Other considerations for choosing a remover include price, availability, the type of wood item (floor, chair, etc.) and the amount of varnish (e.g., one coat, two or more) to be removed.
  
  

Best Brands

• Citristrip is a strong and safe gel that uses a mixture of natural citric acids and methylpyrrolidone (a safer option to methylene chloride) to strip varnish. It can be used on oil-based varnishes, is safe enough to use on delicate lacquers and is the highest-rated stripper at both the Refinish Furniture and This Old House websites. Citristrip can work in as little as 30 minutes but may require 24 hours.
  
  Soy-It is an all-natural and safe formula that can be used almost anywhere. However, it takes up to 12 hours to be effective. Soy-it can be removed with water when furniture or wood is outdoors and is safe to flush down a drain because it relies on soy esters rather than dangerous chemicals.
  
  Kling-Strip is a strong oil-based thixotropic varnish remover that can remove up to two coats of varnish with only one application. However, it should be left on for at least 24 hours.
  
  Other options include Stripper NB-510, which is suitable and safe for removing very thin coats of varnish, and Safest Stripper, a gentle remover that works in only 2 hours.