Easiest way to strip paint?

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

We are going to be decorating soonish and need to strip off paint from woodwork and a radiator. My usual approach is just to paint over it, but I fear that this wont do this time.

Dh has what I think is a bonkers idea of sanding it all (off a door and skirting boards?????) I think chemicals are the way to go, but what about a heat gun. House is 1950s or 60s (can't remember which!), so there might be lead underneath.

Thanks!

Gardening gloves!!
Mind you it's fine wire wool, so it might not be up to the job.....

you won't strip the paint off a radiator, all you can do is rub the surface smooth and take off the gloss for repainting.

Cool.

I've discovered that there are patches where the paint has decided to already lift from the skirting board right back to bare wood!!! So I can just sit there and idly pull off chunks. The original paint seems to be pale green and nothing like modern paint.