How To Remove Chalkboard Paint (Step-by-Step Guide)

Chalkboard paint is a fun way to breathe new life into a tired wall, mirror, or piece of furniture. It’s easy to apply, and useful to keep kids entertained or write messages on.

As the saying goes, though, all good things come to an end sometimes. Whether your kids have grown out of it or you no longer need the chalk calendar, you’ll likely want to remove it at some point.

To remove chalkboard paint from a chalkboard, first wipe it down with warm water, then smooth it down with sandpaper. If the surface is rough, use some elbow grease on the sandpaper. You may also use a scraper once bubbles form from the warm water. Repeat the process as needed and coat the surface with oil-based primer.

In this article, we’ll detail different methods of removing it from various surfaces.

If you’ve ever painted over a dark-colored wall, you may have already figured out that this will take some persistence and patience.

Step 1: Fill a bucket with warm water and wet a cloth to wash all the chalk off the blackboard. Let the wall dry completely.

Step 2: Once the wall is totally dry, use sandpaper to smooth out the wall. First, assess the texture of the wall. If the wall feels rough, you’ll have to put some elbow grease into it and sand it thoroughly. If it’s only slightly textured, you can lightly sand with fine sandpaper.

Step 3: Wipe the wall again with a wet cloth to ensure the wall is free of debris. Keep wetting the cloth and wipe liberally to make sure you get all residue off the board. Let it dry again.

Step 4: Use a high-quality oil-based primer that will work with the color you want the wall to be. Let it dry, and then apply another coat.

Step 5: Paint the wall with your first coat of paint and let it dry for about an hour. Paint another layer. Repeat the process until you can no longer see the chalkboard paint.

Removing chalkboard paint from glass takes even more perseverance than getting it off your wall. But if you take your time and try not to rush the process, you’ll get it done.

Step 1: Fill a bucket with warm, soapy water and mix.

Step 2: Dunk your cloth into the soapy water and wipe the glass to remove any dirt or other debris, and then rinse.

Step 3: Wet the window again with the soapy water.

Step 4: Gently scrape the paint from the glass with the razor. The glass needs to stay wet while you’re scraping to avoid scratching the glass.

Step 5: Use a clean rag to wipe the glass. Repeat the scraping and wiping process until all the paint is gone.

Step 1: Pour the paint stripper into a smaller container and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to apply it to the wood.

Step 2: Allow the specified amount of time to let the paint stripper work.

Step 3: Use a paint scraper to remove the paint, which will have softened up for easy removal. Take care not to damage the wood when you’re scraping.

Step 4: You may need to reapply the paint stripper to stubborn areas.

Step 5: Scrub the wood with a pad or brush to remove any lingering paint stripper or paint.

Step 1: Point the heat gun at the surface, about 2 inches away.

Step 2: Move the heat gun back and forth across a small section, making sure not to linger on any one spot for too long. Do this until the paint starts to bubble.

Step 3: While you’re holding the gun with one hand, use the other hand to scrape away the paint. Go over any areas that still have leftover paint and continue to scrape until the paint is gone.

Step 4: Rinse the wood with denatured alcohol before you apply a new finish or paint.

Depending on the size of the item you’re working with, you can use sandpaper or a power sander to remove the paint. With this method, you will need a mask and goggles to protect yourself from dust and paint.

Step 1: Clean the surface of the wood with dish soap and let it dry.

Step 2: Start with coarse sandpaper to remove the bulk of the wood, being careful not to damage the wood. Once you’ve removed most of the wood, switch to a finer grain of sandpaper.

Step 3: Once the paint is removed, wipe the surface with a damp cloth.

Related Questions

How do I remove chalkboard paint from clothes?

Time is of the essence here, but the good news is that it is water-based. This gives your clothing a better prognosis. Rinse the wet paint from the clothing as soon as possible, and then wash immediately. If it has dried, you can try using a dime-sized amount of hand sanitizer along with a brief spray of hairspray.

How do I remove chalk from chalkboard paint?

After many uses, chalkboard walls can get difficult to clean with just your chalk eraser. To give it a thorough cleaning, first remove as much chalk as possible with your eraser. Then use a solution of 1:1 water and vinegar and a cloth to walk the chalkboard surface. Be sure to let it dry completely before using it.

Is chalkboard paint toxic?

There are many brands of chalkboard paint that are non-VOC (do not contain volatile organic compounds), a.k.a. non-toxic. Therefore, they are safe to use in any room.