Restoring Painted Door Knobs to former Glory

In old villas especially, original knob knobs can be hiding under multiple layers of paint applied over decades. Here are some tips to help restore them.

This post was originally published in 2020, but I’ve now updated it as I’ve tried a new trick that involves boiling the paint off (thanks to Jeff who left a comment)! It’s just like magic and takes hours off the restoration process. Instead of baking soda as he recommends (which I am sure will also work like a dream) I have used a water and vinegar solution.

Often, with a combination of oil and lead-based paint, it can prove quite a mission to remove paint layers to restore knobs to their former glory. It is worth it with a few hours to spare and with a bit of patience!

In my experience it is easier to remove the paint once the door furniture is REMOVED from position. Then you can really get into all the nooks and crannies and remove the paint with more care and precision.

How to Restore Painted Door Knobs

#1. Apply paint remover to the areas on and around each screw if it’s deemed necessary to remove it. Be patient, the screws may be hidden under several layers of paint thick. Use a small screw driver to get into the corners.  If you get any on the door itself, don’t panic. You can sand and repaint any wooden surface that has unintentionally been applied with paint remover.

#2. Carefully remove the screws and disassemble door furniture. Keep ‘bits and pieces’ in a named container so you don’t lose important screws when it comes to reassembly!

#3. In an old saucepan, mix 60ml of vinegar to 1 litre of water and bring to the boil (double the recipe if you need more liquid). Carefully place the door knob and plate into the water and boil for approx 15 minutes. Be sure to put the extractor fan on as there is likely to be strong lead paint smells!

#4. Remove the knob and plate with tongs onto an old towel or newspaper (take care, they’ll be hot to touch). Most of the paint will peel away before your very eyes.

#5. Use a paper towel to wipe away the bulk of the excess paint and the gunge beneath. Note: as the items cool down the paint will begin to dry again so you may need repeat the process several times. As you get down to the finer flecks, gently use a paint scraper or small screw driver (great for small corners). You may wish to use gloves to avoid the chemicals on your skin and wash them frequently in water.

#5. When all the paint is removed, used a fine wire wool to remove any caked on marks, and Brasso to restore it’s original colour.