Abstract: The invention relates to a method for stripping paint from surfaces, comprising: a) contacting a painted surface with a paint stripping composition, and b) separating at least some of the paint contacted with the paint stripping composition from the painted surface; c) wherein the paint stripping composition comprises: i) from about 60 to about 99% by volume of one or more environmentally acceptable esters selected from the group consisting of t-butyl acetate, a carboxylic acid methyl ester having a caboxylate residue of at least three carbon atoms, an ester of lactic acid, an ester of oxalic acid having two alkoxy residues wherein each alkoxy residue has at least three carbon atoms, diethyl tartrate, triethyl citrate, tributyl citrate, and one or more sugar esters; and ii) dimethyl sulfoxide which is present in an amount from about 1 to about 40% by volume of the composition.