1. First use a putty knife, a scraper, and/or a wire brush to remove loose paint.
2. Remove paint with your trusty scraper, putty knife, and brush and feather the edges smooth with sandpaper and use a dry brush to remove dust.

1. To strip metal, get a wire brush attachment for your electric drill. Don't forget to wear your safety gear. And don't use the wire brush attachment on wood siding—it's too easy to damage the wood.

2. For wrought iron, first remove rust with the wire brush attachment, then apply an anti-rust primer followed by metal enamel.

The easiest way to prep wood shutters is to have a commercial service dip them in a vat of corrosive liquid. This will spare you the fumes and the challenge of working on intricate louvered wooden blinds. However, if you are determined to strip your shutters yourself, refer to the safety requirements of the chemical stripper you are using in the product's MSDS (material safety data sheet).

1. Remove the shutters to well-ventilated area.

2. Brush on paint stripper.

3. Let stripper work for recommended time. When the paint softens, bubbles, and wrinkles, scrape off paint being careful not to damage the wood.

4. Let dry.

5. Sand.

6. Wash with TSP and water. Rinse. Dry thoroughly.

Paint wooden shutters with an airless sprayer or brush. Trim rollers may be used on the flat slats.

If you scrape, sand, or remove old paint, you may release lead dust. LEAD IS TOXIC. EXPOSURE TO LEAD DUST CAN CAUSE SERIOUS ILLNESS, SUCH AS BRAIN DAMAGE, ESPECIALLY IN CHILDREN. PREGNANT WOMEN SHOULD ALSO AVOID EXPOSURE. Wear a NIOSH-approved respirator to control lead exposure. Clean up carefully with a HEPA vacuum and a wet mop. Before you start, find out how to protect yourself and your family by contacting the National Lead Information Hotline at 1-800-424-LEAD or log onto www.epa.gov/lead.