Removing Paint From Your Metal Features Is A Breeze With This Method

Every DIY-er has experienced this annoyance at least once – you finish painting a room, only to see specks of paint on your door hinges or your furniture handles. It may not look the best, but luckily there's an easy way to remove these leftover marks. And, it only requires items you probably already have in your home, like baking soda, a large pan, tongs, and a bristled brush. The following method will leave your metal hardware clean and gleaming.

You might be tempted to just scrub at the paint with the cleaning products you already have, but resist this temptation. Using abrasive products on metal could cause corrosion and rusting, not to mention leaving handles and hinges looking dull rather than shiny. Plus, as mentioned previously, you probably already have the items needed on hand, saving you a trip to the hardware store. Below is all you should know about how to banish pesky paint specks for the next time you start a renovation project.

As well as the above items, you'll also need boiling water for this method. The first step is to pour 1 quart of water into the large pan and mix with ¼ cup baking soda. Bring the solution to a boil over heat, and then, using the tongs, place the paint-splattered metal objects in the pot. It's important that each item stays separated for the best results. Bring the pan to a gentle simmer by lowering the heat and leave the objects in for around 15 minutes. Once the time is up, remove the metal pieces carefully and put them aside to dry. When the objects have cooled down enough, use the bristled brush (or a toothbrush as an alternative) to get rid of the remaining paint stains. They should come away easily.

Since this trick requires you to put things in a pot, this method won't work for larger items or those you cannot remove. However, you could always try heating the water up beforehand and using a cloth to apply it to your door hinges instead. Additionally, as metal gets very hot very quickly, take extra precautions like wearing gloves and using tongs when lowering items in and out of the pot.