How can I remove latex paint that was smeared on some wood trim, without damaging the finish?
J.G., Haverhill A. Try Goof-Off, sold in hardware stores for that purpose. (I take no reponsibility for silly names.) Another way you can do it is to apply a bit of oil — any kind will do — let it sit for 15 minutes, then wipe off or scrape off with a wood scraper. The oil softens the paint enough so it might even be rubbed off with a rough cloth. Paint remover Most home improvement projects are really kind of fun. But here’s one project that is no fun at all, and by the time you are ready to make it look good, you’re so tired that you would just as soon quit. And sometimes do. Such a project is removing paint. The more coats of paint on the old wood that you want to restore, the tougher it is to get it off. Or, the wood has all kinds of nooks and crannies that nothing will get the paint from, except maybe tedious sanding. Even tougher is getting paint off brick. William F. Allan has been living in his Victorian in Jamaica Plain for 17 years, and found that after 17 years, it’s time
