Using Citristrip to etch tumblers is fun and the results are gorgeous. But is it safe? The answers might surprise you.

After spending a good 4-5 hours one day experimenting etching tumblers with Citristrip (both the time and heat method), I developed a muscle spasm above my eye.

• Time Method (letting Citristrip sit on your tumbler)
• Heat Method (using a heat gun to speed up the process)

I have never experienced it before and initially chalked it up to stress. It took a week or so to resolve. Then I Citristriped again, and it came back. I have no proof it was caused by my new crafting hobby. It might’ve been coincidence, but it definitely got me thinking about if what I was doing was safe, so I started doing research.

I want to share with you my thoughts and what I have discovered on my Citristrip journey.

Citristrip Basics

Citristrip is a safer paint and varnish stripping gel. It does not contain methylene chloride or NMP (N-Methylpyrrolidone) and it is safe to use indoors.

(Note: Citristrip used to contain N-Methylpyrrolidone. It no longer does. So if you are searching and came across that information, it’s outdated information. Or if you have an older bottle check the ingredients.)

 The orange-like smell comes from natural citrus terpenes found in oranges. It is non-corrosive, so it won’t damage the stainless steel underneath the paint you are removing. 

Citristrip is biodegradable but keep in mind the paint you are removing probably isn’t, so follow local, state and federal disposal regulations.

Ingredients:

• Benzyl alcohol (30-60 %)
• Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether (5 -10 %)
• (2-Aminoethoxy) ethanol (3-7 %)
• Mineral spirits (1 -5 %)
• Alcohol ethoxylated (0.1 -1 %)
• Terpinolene (0.1 -1.0 %)
• d-Limonene (0.1 -1 %)

Featured Video

Citristrip Safety and the Time Method

With the time method you apply Citristrip to your stenciled tumbler and wait for it to work. This is the intended use of the product.

When using Citristrip time method you always want to follow these safety precautions:

Wear Gloves

• Citristrip contains benzyl alcohol which can burn your skin, so you want to protect it.
• Make sure the gloves are NOT latex gloves because Citristrip will eat away at them. I use these nitrile gloves.
• Note: I have gotten Citristrip on my skin before. I washed it off with soap and water and had no issues or reactions. But everyone is different.
• Always wash your hands with soap and water when you are finished even if you are wearing gloves.

 Wear Protective Eyeglasses

• If Citristrip can burn your skin, you definitely want to make sure you protect your eyes.
• I like these safety glasses. I mean why not be stylish while crafting.

Work in a Well Ventilated Area

• Open windows and doors. Use a cross ventilation of moving fresh air across your work space so vapors do not build up. 
• If you can use Citristrip outdoors, that is always preferred. 
• Citristrip specifically says that if you use as directed, respiratory equipment should not be needed.

Citristrip Safety and the Heat Method

Many of us also use the heat method to etch our tumblers with Citristrip. The heat method is where you let the Citristrip sit for a minimal amount of time (approx 10 minutes) and then use a heat gun to heat the Citristrip for a minute or two.  You then scrub off the paint. This not only shortens the timeframe sometimes by hours, but I also find on certain tumblers I yield better results. 

But is the heat method safe to use with Citristrip? This is what I know:

Wear Gloves

• Citristrip contains benzyl alcohol which can burn your skin, so you want to protect it.
• Make sure the gloves  are NOT latex gloves because Citristrip will eat away at them. I use these nitrile gloves.
• Note: I have gotten Citristrip on my skin before. I washed it off with soap and water and had no issues or reactions. But everyone is different.

 Wear Protective Eyeglasses

• If Citristrip can burn your skin, you definitely want to make sure you protect your eyes.
• I like these safety glasses. I mean why not be stylish while crafting.

Work in a Well Ventilated Area

• Open windows and doors. Use a cross ventilation of moving fresh air across your work space so vapors do not build up. 
• If you can use Citristrip outdoors, that is always preferred. 

Vapor Respirator

This is very important because this is a huge difference between the two methods. When heated, the Citristrip and paint produce fumes. The question is, are these fumes unhealthy? This is what I’ve discovered: 

• When Benzyl Alcohol (main ingredient in Citristrip) is heated, it emits irritating but not hazardous fumes. This might be cause for a respirator alone – to avoid irritation.
• However, the fumes I’m more concerned about are the fumes from the powder coating (paint). These fumes are dependent on what powder coating paint was used and what was in it.
• Some pigments and curing / hardening agents used in powder coats can produce toxic fumes when heated.
  • One example is Styrene which is used as a curing agent in some powder coatings. 
  • Another example is Xylene which can be found in popular powder coatings.
  • Once these chemicals are in a solid cured state they are no longer toxic, but the heat method changes their state.
• I have no way of knowing which chemicals were used in the production of the powder coatings on my tumblers I’m etching. I do not know what I am releasing into the air. I don’t know in what quantities and how much exposure I can endure before they are toxic to me. And honestly, I do not want to find out.  So I’m being cautious and wearing a vapor respirator mask now.
• Please be aware it’s a VAPOR respirator. A N95 mask will not protect you from the fumes. You need cartridges that protect against organic vapors and particles. 
• I use this mask and these cartridges. I went with 3M because the reviews are consistently good, and it’s a trusted company. I am sure there are other quality masks out there as well.

Citristrip is Non-Combustible

• I also worried the Citristrip would burst into flames if I heated it enough. However, on the Safety Data Sheet it says that the product is non-combustible. I have heated it to 1200 degrees (which I don’t recommend because I destroyed all of the paint on my tumbler), but there were no issues with combustion.
• If for some reason you do have combustion, you can use water spray, dry chemical, carbon dioxide, or chemical foam to extinguish it. 

Safety Materials List

• Nitrile Gloves
• Protective Eyeglasses
• Mask and vapor cartridges

Conclusion

It’s still unknown as to what caused my tiny little muscle spasm (which was incredibly annoying), but since I’ve been wearing a respirator when using the heat method, it has not returned. My theory is that I could have been exposed to toxins in the fumes the paint released.

After my research I’m pretty confident that the time method is safe if you follow the safety guidelines.

I also believe when using the heat method, it’s the paint fumes that you need to be cautious of.

I continue to do the heat method, but now with the proper safety gear that I was previously missing (respirator).  

Please always err on the side of caution when your health is involved and please be aware of the children or pets in your home that are also being impacted.