Does turpentine remove paint?
Daniel Johnson
Published May 01, 2026
Turpentine: Derived from tree resin, this organic solvent is often used by artists to thin and remove paint. It can be used to remove oil-based paint, acrylics, varnishes, tar and tree sap. It can be used as a thinner for oil-based paint, but shouldn't be used to thin water-based paint, latex paint, lacquer or shellac.