Answer to Question #30475 in Inorganic Chemistry for Christian

Question

What house hold items remove/strip paint off of concrete? Is it possible to make something?

Answer 1

Using stripping agents to remove paint from concrete is still the most common method. There are several types of stripping agents and knowing the type of paint and even the brand will help to decide which one to use. You can contact the manufacturer of the paint (if you know it) for recommendations.

It would be great if there was a chemical that could just melt the paint away, but unfortunately you still have to do most of the work. Once the paint is softened and loose, you need to scrape it up.
The problem with most chemical strippers is toxicity. They can be very dangerous without good ventilation and harmful to the environment. Take all precautions including respirators, covering all your skin and eyes, and even turning off furnaces, boilers, and pilot lights.
There are some new, soy based products that will remove paint from concrete or any surface. These strippers are low odor, environmentally safe, and easy to use. They come in a gel form. Just spread the gel on, let it sit for while, and the paint will easily scrape right up. Watch this soy gel paint removal video to see how it's done. The key is to be patient and let the gel do the work, not you.
I've only been able to find the soy based products at contractor supply stores and online. They really do work and are completely safe. They say you can eat the stuff and it won't hurt you, but I'll just have to take their word for it. The nice thing about the gel is, when you scrape it up, you can move over to the next area and spread it again. You can do this two or three times unless there are multiple coats of paint to remove. So you don't have buy enough to cover the entire surface, just reuse it as you go.