1. Easy-Off Oven Cleaner
If you’ve ever tried cleaning an oven, you know the power of Easy-Off. This iconic cleaner was originally designed to tackle the toughest baked-on grease, but many people discovered that it could do a lot more than just clean ovens. When sprayed on painted surfaces, Easy-Off would often strip the paint right off, revealing the bare metal or wood beneath. Its caustic nature made it an effective but dangerous tool in the cleaning arsenal, as it didn’t just remove dirt—it removed layers of paint, too.
While Easy-Off has improved over the years, the formula from the 1970s and 1980s was especially potent. In fact, many DIYers and home renovators swore by it for peeling off old, stubborn paint when updating kitchens or other spaces. While it’s effective at stripping paint, it’s also a reminder of how harsh cleaning products were back then.
2. Lysol Basin Tub and Tile Cleaner
Lysol Basin Tub and Tile Cleaner was the go-to for homeowners hoping to tackle tough grime in bathrooms, but its strong chemical formula had unintended consequences. When applied to painted surfaces, the cleaner would often leave bare patches behind. It was designed to handle soap scum and mildew in bathtubs, but when used in the wrong places, it could dissolve much more than grime.
What made Lysol particularly dangerous for paint is its bleach content, which, over time, could weaken the bond between the paint and the surface. As a result, while it kept bathrooms sparkling clean, it sometimes left walls and tiles looking less than perfect. It wasn’t just about removing stains—this cleaner had the power to expose what’s beneath the paint.
3. Drano Drain Cleaner
Drano is known for clearing clogged drains, but its strong chemical composition could do much more than unclog pipes. People who used it for drain cleaning sometimes found that it had an unexpected effect on painted surfaces, especially when it was spilled or splashed during use. The powerful lye in Drano, while great at breaking down organic matter, was notorious for eating away at the paint and leaving behind unpainted sections.
Though it was never marketed as a paint stripper, many found that Drano’s potency extended beyond pipes, and walls, floors, or any surface that came into contact with the product could suffer damage. This was a harsh reminder of the dangers of using cleaning products in unintended ways, as Drano could be both effective and destructive.
4. Comet Powder Cleanser
Comet was a household staple, often used to scrub kitchen and bathroom surfaces to a shine. But its gritty, abrasive formula, originally created to tackle tough stains, also had the side effect of sanding away delicate finishes, including paint. People would often use Comet on painted walls, assuming it would just clean, but instead, it often resulted in a patchy, stripped finish.
While Comet’s abrasive nature made it excellent for cleaning hard, non-painted surfaces, using it on painted areas could create unsightly damage. It wasn’t just about removing stains—it was removing the very layer of paint, often making things look worse before they got better. The product’s rough texture made it both a cleaning tool and an accidental paint remover.
5. Ajax Powder Cleanser
Much like Comet, Ajax Powder Cleanser was a favorite in many homes for its cleaning power, but it, too, could be harsh on painted surfaces. Its abrasive qualities were great for getting rid of grime and stains, but when used on painted walls or cabinets, Ajax would sometimes cause the paint to wear off. The grit in the powder acted like sandpaper, slowly grinding away at the paint with every swipe.
While Ajax was designed for tough jobs like cleaning sinks and bathtubs, it was best suited for non-painted surfaces. Many a homeowner found themselves accidentally stripping layers of paint while trying to scrub a kitchen countertop or a bathroom sink. It was a reminder of how cleaning products, when used improperly, could do more harm than good.
6. TSP (Trisodium Phosphate)
TSP, or Trisodium Phosphate, was a favorite among those preparing surfaces for painting. It was used to clean walls, removing grease, dirt, and grime before a fresh coat of paint. However, TSP’s intense cleaning power had an unintended side effect—it would often remove more than just dirt. The strong alkaline solution could easily strip layers of paint, especially if used on older surfaces.
While TSP was incredibly effective at preparing surfaces for repainting, its aggressive formula could sometimes go too far. People using it to clean old paint often found that it took off more than they planned, leading to exposed wood or drywall. It’s a testament to how certain products, while intended for one task, could easily end up doing something entirely different—and not always for the better.