Stripping action of an alkaline paint stripper is improved when ammonia is partially or completely replaced with ammonium bicarbonate or chemical equivalent thereof which decomposes into ammonia and carbon dioxide. A benzyl alcohol solvent system containing at least ammonium bicarbonate is preferably a water-in-oil emulsion emulsified with oleic hydroxyethyl imidazoline and thickened with hydroxypropyl cellulose or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. A mixture of ammonium carbamate and ammonium bicarbonate identified as ammonium carbonate is the preferred activator for this alkaline paint stripper. Improved stripping can also be provided by reacting ammonium bicarbonate and ammonia in situ within the water-in-oil emulsion.