OVEN CLEANER VS. WOOD STRIPPER: Which is really better for furniture?!

In this video, I take you along with an experiment I did to see which product is really better for achieving a raw wood finish on furniture: oven cleaner or wood stripper. The furniture rehab community has been raving about using oven cleaner to strip wood furniture lately and I had to try it out for myself. But I also wanted to see how the results compare to results from wood stripper (which is my usual method).
Videos mentioned:
• Stripping Furniture wi...

[@MisterKisster]

Couple of points to make here is that typically Oven cleaner is a type of caustic acid (maybe even lye/drain opener) which can be an issue with veneered wood- that is where the surface you are stripping is actuaaly a very thin layer of wood glued to plywood. What can happen is that it will affect the veneer glue. Also lye will darken certain woods like Oak especially so you willl have a clearer looking wood if you bleach the wood after stripping. Wood bleach is Oxalic acid or a stronger acting bleach is hydogen peroxide. One more quick note is if you have ever tried covering the citristripe with saran wrap, so that it can stay wet longer? Pretty good demo young lady keep it up.

[@missyduffy5957]

Thanks for the demonstrations! I think they key when using oven cleaner is to use a stiff scrub brush rather than a scrubbing pad. Other than that, not all pieces turn out the same with either one.

[@WornWithTime]

wow! Thanks for the tip I will have to test it again!! Thank you!

[@1834RestorationHouse]

If you're looking to remove the old shellac, just use rags and denatured alcohol. D.E. is the solvent for shellac and it takes the stuff right off without any harsh chemicals. We just restored a Victorian fireplace this way and it was fast and easy.

[@tatpens]

Yikes I cannot believe you hosed off the drawer 😱 the timber will swell and with time those drawers will be incredibly difficult to open and close. Never hose furniture.

[@linetediaz.807]

Thank you for the demo and the comparison. I really appreciate it. I have a beautiful table that ID like to strip but was scared to ruin it.

[@amandajones6481]

10:41am Hi and thank you for this great video tutorial. I just thought I'd add a tip on using the Citrustrip: after you have painted on the stripper wrap the area in plastic wrap (I think you call it Saran Wrap in America) and that stops the paint stripper from drying out. You just put the plastic wrap on and then press out any air bubbles. Another thing which I always do is use mineral spirits on a soft cloth to wipe off all the gunk left behind by the mixture of old paint and the paint stripper, instead of running water over the piece to clean it. Lots of love from Amanda in Australia ❤️

[@4godandcountry663]

Why do you use a water and towel to remove? Use a metal or plastic flat spatula, way easier clean up.

[@macpakinga1271]

Soda blasting the way to go. That looks like hard work & messy 😂❤thank you for sharing ❤😅😅

[@robinthiering463]

It all depends on what kind of wood youre working with and what kind of stain is on it

[@thekraftycreech]

Hi there! New sub!! I tried the oven cleaner method.. i actually perferred the oven cleaner.. i hate stripping period.. and i still sand my pieces before over stripper.. cheaper, easier, and quicker.. in my opinion! Thanks for the comparison.

[@WornWithTime]

Yay!! Glad to have you :) Good to know! They both have their advantage . I might have had better luck if my furniture didn't have such a fresh coat of sealer on it. Do you use a certain brand?

[@thekraftycreech]

@@WornWithTime i have a video on my youtube channel as well with me experimenting with it.. i used a low fume formula.. i actually did 2 coats easy off brand and used a green scrubby.. i think what i liked better about it is i literally cannot stand that sticky gummy mess you get with the stripper. The clean up was the oven cleaner was much simpler i thought.. i also did not spray off with a hose.. i used soap and water.

[@urgtuiop5455]

polyester based finishes on wood are pretty common. esters are broken down by strong alkali (e.g. the sodium hydroxide in oven cleaner). the disadvantage would be some woods with a high tannin content would darken when alkali is applied but you might be able to correct it after with oxalic acid (wood bleach/deck cleaner).

[@hannanjaimet17]

Hello. Curious as to why you didn't use a scraper to take off the stripper?? I loved the way it came out. The wood grain is amazing. God bless.

[@robinuher7158]

I've never heard of using water when stripping furniture. I just scrape off excess then clean the rest with a scouring pad with either paint thinner or mineral spirits. Citristrip has such a bad reputation, but I've always used it but with saran wrap over it. You can wait until the next day if you want as long as you keep it moist. I might try the soapy water method, but I don't know.

[@dclaet1135]

Yes, water can loosen the glue that holds joints, veneers, etc. It can also cause the wood to expand, and it doesn't always shrink back down.

[@NotProvided-k5o]

U am stripping my oak cabinets that are painted, as we speak. I have been so so tempted to just take it outside and hose it down. I was worried there would be water stains in the corner from not drying completely. Have you had any trouble with water stains?

[@kellythompson2267]

Great video!!

[@gerryboyer2448]

Thanks for reviewing, you are doing a good job. With either of the products, do you see with rinsing with water that the grain of the wood becomes raised? That is a concern.

[@WornWithTime]

Good question! Yes, the water does cause the grain to raise. Raising the grain is actually beneficial if you are going to stain the wood because it can help the stain sink in deeper. However, if you are not wanting to have a raised grain because you aren't staining, you can lightly smooth out the surface by sanding with a high grit sand paper. Hope that helps! 😊

[@Leni.cypriano52]

Thanks for sharing this video !!!

[@dclaet1135]

I would like to see you compare a heavy duty oven cleaner and the citrus stripper with removing oil based enamel paint. That would be a better challenge.

[@dclaet1135]

I read on another post that the heavy duty ez oven cleaner does a better job, but has terrible fumes. Cost is much cheaper than the stripper.

[@ginamaria2579]

Thanks getting ready strip a table 🤗

[@jenniferorr5170]

I actually thought on camera the oven clean drawer looked better…

[@christinadzindzio3632]

Thanks

[@Droxy72]

Great post! Not sure if you mentioned the timeframe for the citristrip...but, how long did you leave it on for? Thanks

[@Linda-cb8ui]

Hi looks awesome BUT quick question 🤗 if I would like to repaint my furniture now after stripping it could I do that? Or is this method just for the raw woody look ? 🙈

[@billcaldwell2451]

You didn’t use regular oven cleaner or the extra strength Easy Off. You used the not as strong lemony smelling less fume one. That could be your problem. If your stripping furniture the regular yellow can Easy Off would work better.

[@margaretroberts6258]

You need to use a good stiff brush with the oven cleaner!

[@ripsagoly]

Would you put a finish wax on the wood

[@kisha7571]

We have the same floors how do you clean your floors

[@shirleykozinski6786]

Hosing down wood furniture and soaking it is not a good idea. You run the risk of the wood warping and splitting not to mention the drawers not fitting properly. I would never do this on a piece I was going to sell.

[@fayestewart6263]

Ok did the oven cleaner damage your lawn. I just read that it does

[@WornWithTime]

it didn't surprisingly for me, but it might have been because i didn't actually use a lot of oven cleaner since i only did one drawer. i do find stripper kills grass so I use that in my drive way! Hope this helps!

[@susantinberg7441]

Most people use Easy Off. I think you used a different brand.

[@ellissmith111]

If the agent's health hazards aren't enough of a red flag, the harsh solution might also throw a wrench in wood DIY project before it truly begins. Oven cleaners will most definitely dry out wood, eventually resulting in splits and veneer separation, it's fair to expect a bleaching effect, as well, with oven cleaners. Instead turn to gel strippers that have "less splash, better accumulation, and are fairly inexpensive when working on any wooden pieces.

[@PoorJohnn]

Don't feel this was really a fair comparison as the stripper was a name brand and the oven cleaner was a store brand. Store brands are by their nature a lesser quality product. Feel you should have used Easy Off to make a fair comparison

[@notexactlyhuman]

Actually you'd be surprised how many store brand products are the exact same as name brand. Some are even produced in the same factories.

[@pameladuggan9910]

Say goodbye to your green grass there

[@NotProvided-k5o]

I *not u*

[@Bestfonvideo]

Will u marry me🌹 because you are really hard worker

[@SilverSpur1]

Woman

[@Bestfonvideo]

Plz share your ig