Is Stripping and refinishing furniture safe during pregnancy?
Best left to someone else while pregnant: strippers are strong solvents and old finishes may contain lead.
What the sources say
MotherToBaby says pregnant people should not remove old paint and should not scrape, sand or burn it, since that releases lead and other metals. EPA lists paint strippers as VOC sources and advises keeping methylene chloride exposure to a minimum and using such products outdoors. CDC/NIOSH advises reducing solvent exposure in pregnancy as much as possible; solvents can pass into breast milk. If breastfeeding and you do it: work outdoors, gloves, follow label precautions, and avoid sanding old painted pieces.
Also listed as
citristrip, dichloromethane, furniture stripper, methylene chloride, paint stripper, refinishing furniture, sanding furniture, stripping furniture, varnish remover
Sources
- MotherToBaby: Paint
- EPA: Volatile Organic Compounds' Impact on Indoor Air Quality
- CDC: About Solvents and Reproductive Health
Last reviewed . This is general information, not medical advice. Ask your doctor or midwife about your own situation.