If your Citristrip dried before you could scrape it off, don’t worry! Here’s the 5 BEST ways to remove dried Citristrip residue on furniture.
How To Remove Dried Citristrip
Citristrip is my all-time favorite paint stripper. I LOVE how easy it is to use AND that it is safer than most other types of paint strippers.
Citristrip is a low-VOC paint remover that actually has a nice, citrus scent. I’ve used other paint strippers that work well.
But all of those other paint strippers I’ve used have a horrible, strong fumes. So, they need to be used in well-ventilated areas. Citristrip is safe to use indoors, in small areas that aren’t ventilated well.

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I share YouTube videos and furniture makeover tutorials using Citristrip often. BUT, there is one mistake beginners make with Citristrip that I get comments about.
They let the Citristrip completely dry before trying to scrape the gel stripper and paint off. Dry Citristrip is pretty stinking hard to scrape off! In fact, nearly impossible.
But, don’t worry, today I have the 5 best ways to remove dried Citristrip on wood, metal, masonry, and furniture. And, some tips for getting the best result when using Citristrip Paint Remover.
Table of contents
Let’s start with the easy way to get Citristrip off after it dries and hardens.
More Citristrip
Whenever I need to remove dried Citristrip residue, I just apply a new layer of wet Citristrip on it. Let that soak into the dried Citristrip for 20 minutes or so, then it should be ready to scrape.
In my opinion, applying a fresh layer of Citristrip is the quickest and easiest way to remove dried Citristrip gel.

Paint Stripper After Wash
You can also remove dry Citristrip or any paint stripper residue with Klean- Strip’s Stripper After Wash. It’s a liquid product you apply to a rag to use.
But, Stripper After Wash has strong fumes. Be sure to follow the directions for safety and proper use on the container. You can see Stripper After Wash on Amazon here.
Use Another Paint Stripper
You can also use another paint stripper to remove dried Citristrip. Just remember to use those high-VOC, high fume paint strippers outdoors or in a well-ventilated area. The fumes can last all day.
I haven’t actually tried this, but I have had quite a few people comment on my YouTube videos that this works.
Mineral Spirits
You can also use Mineral Spirits on a paint stripping pad to scrub the dry Citristrip off. This will require elbow-grease on thick layers of dried Citristrip.

Again, I prefer to just apply a fresh layer of Citristrip. That’s easiest. But using Mineral Spirits will remove paint stripper residue.
In fact, I always use Mineral Spirits on a paint stripping pad to remove any Citristrip residue on wood furniture. You can find Odorless Mineral Spirits here and paint stripping pads here on Amazon.
Denatured Alcohol
You can also remove gummy or dried paint stripper with denatured alcohol on a clean, lint-free rag.
Just be sure to use it outdoors. Alcohol has strong fumes. And, don’t forget to follow the safety directions on the container.
How To Strip Paint With Citristrip Paint Remover
If you are new to using Citristrip, here’s how to use Citristrip paint remover to get the best results.
- Apply a thick layer of Citristrip with a chippy paint brush.
- Cover the Citristrip with Plastic Wrap to keep the gel wet and help it penetrate deeper.
- Wait 30 minutes, then scrape the Citristrip and paint layers off with paint stripping tools.
- Repeat steps 1-3 for multiple layers of paint.
- Clean off any Citristrip residue with Mineral Spirits and a Paint Stripping Pad.
If any of these steps are confusing, watch this video to see me using Citristrip on a chair with thick layers of paint.
What You’ll Need
- Citristrip Gel Stripper
- Chippy Paint Brush
- Paint Stripping Tools
- Odorless Mineral Spirits
- Paint Stripping Pad
How To Get Citristrip Residue Off Wood
I use Odorless Mineral Spirits to get Citristrip residue off wood. You can apply Mineral Spirits to a heavy-duty paint stripping pad to scrub off any residue and small gummy bits of Citristrip and paint.

Can You Sand Dried Citristrip
You should remove the dried Citristrip before sanding. If you still need to remove old paint or stain, I prefer to remove dried Citristrip with a fresh layer of Citristrip.
Let that sit on the dried layer for 20 minutes and you should be able to scrape off the Citristrip with paint stripping tools.
If you only have a light layer or small spots of dried Citristrip, you can use Mineral Spirits and a Heavy-Duty stripping pad to remove it from wood, furniture, metal, and concrete.

What Removes Residue After Stripping Paint
You can use Mineral Spirits or Denatured Alcohol to remove residue after stripping paint. Just be sure to follow the safe usage directions on their containers.
More DIY Tips and Tutorials for Furniture Flips
- Stripping Paint from Wood Furniture With Citristrip: Easy Steps & Video
- Make Chalk Paint with Plaster of Paris – Easy Recipe & Video
- Easy DIY Steps to Paint Built In Bookshelves And Cabinets
- How to Paint Furniture: Super Easy Steps And Best Paints
- 12 More Super Helpful DIY Tips for Painting Furniture
- 25 Easy And Beautiful Furniture Painting Tutorials For Beginners
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Feeling inspired? That’s it for how to remove dried Citristrip on wood, furniture, metal, and concrete! Let me know if you have questions.
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