Polishing and trying different paints is a great way to rejuvenate dull furniture. However, sometimes, wood stains can botch the aesthetics of your favorite furniture. So, how do you remove wood stains from wood?
The best way to remove wood stain from wood is to apply a wood stripper. Let the stripper sit, and apply a wood stain remover. You can then remove the stains when the wood dries. A wood stripper will help you remove wood stains from wood without sanding.
Let’s explore the easiest way to remove wood stain from wood and alternative solutions to consider if you have deep wood stains.
How to Remove Wood Stain from Wood
If your wood furniture stains by mistake, there’s no need to worry. In most cases, you can remove the stain without calling a professional if it’s not a significant stain. Instead, apply a wood stain remover on the stained area, wait a few minutes to let it settle in the wood, rub it, and wash it after the stains disappear.
However, sometimes it becomes hard to take the wood stains off the wood, depending on how badly the surface is stained, the type of stain, and whether the stain has settled or not.
Wood stains have dye, oil pigments, and certain chemicals, which give them color, fragrance, and strength to hold onto the wood. Wood stains are commonly either water-based or oil-based, and it’s essential to know the type of stain you’re dealing with when choosing a wood stain remover.
Fortunately, removing wood stains off the wood is easy if you follow the correct process. This includes selecting the proper stain remover, choosing a stripping method, and following safety guidelines.
After trying DIY removal tips, you’ll have to visit a professional carpenter if the stains are too hard to remove.
Let’s explore the best method to remove wood stain from wood furniture in detail:
Materials Needed
The materials needed to remove wood stains depend on the size, the type of wood, the type of stain, and how settled the stain is. Here are some materials you’ll need to remove wood stain from a wood surface:
A Wood Stain Remover
Wood stain removers will help remove both oil and water-based wood stains. First, check that the wood stain remover is compatible with the type of wood stain you’re trying to remove.
You can choose between a natural wood stain removal chemical or a special wood stain remover mixture. Here are some wood stain removal solutions to consider:
- Mineral Spirits: When the stains come from an oil-based source, it’s best to use mineral spirits to remove them from the wood. Mineral spirits are easy to use and can remove tough stains within a few minutes.
- Acetone: Using acetone is the best option if the stains come from a water-based source. Acetone is also readily available in most hardware stores.
- DEFY Exterior Wood Stain Remover (on Amazon): This is water-based, easy to use, and will safely remove wood stains without damaging the wood surface. You can also use it to remove semi-transparent stains.
- Sunnyside 63532 2-Minute Remover Advanced Paint and Varnish Remover Liquid (on Amazon): This is relatively easy to use and removes paint, varnish, wood stain, and other solutions from wood surfaces. It also works on oil-based wood stains.
Always read the instructions on these products carefully before using them since some are only designated for certain types of wood surfaces.
Stripping Gel
Stripping gel (on Amazon) will help you dislocate the wood stains on the wood. You’ll need it if the stains have dried up or when dealing with tough wood stains. Stripping gel also works well with wood stain remover.
A Paint Brush
You’ll need a paintbrush to apply the wood stain remover and stripping gel. Choose a quality paintbrush, like this Basics Flat Edge Paint Brush (on Amazon), since you’ll only need to apply the wood stain remover to specific areas on the wood.
Gloves
Always wear gloves while working with wood stain remover and other chemicals. These ThxToms Heavy Duty Latex Gloves (on Amazon) are ideal for all woodworking and most DIY home-related tasks.
Setup and Safety
If the wood stains contain chemicals, removing them can cause skin irritation and other issues if you don’t take the proper precautions. Always check the production description of the stain removers to see if they contain any dangerous chemicals.
You’ll probably want to use mineral spirits and other natural oil wood stain removers, which are safer.
It’s also necessary to keep your work area safe when removing stains. Here are the required safety tips to follow:
- Put clothes or rags on the floor and walls near the wood to prevent damage to the surrounding area.
- Remove all the movable objects, like chairs, from around your work area.
- Ventilate the room properly when you use chemicals.
- Wear safe clothes to protect your body, as well as safety gloves and boots
- Keep kids and pets away from the area, especially when using chemicals.
Process
Removing wood stains can be difficult if you don’t follow the correct process. Before you can even start, you’ll have to choose the proper wood stain remover and ensure your work area is adequately set up.
Here are some steps to follow when removing wood stain from wood:
Choose the Right Wood Stain Remover
You’ll need to choose the proper wood stain remover based on the size, the type of wood, and the type of stains. If the stains are too dark, you’ll probably need to apply the citrus gel.
Mineral spirits work best if the stains are oil-based. This is because they settle well in the oil spirits in wood stains and disperse their particles, eventually taking the stains off the wood. However, mineral spirits may not work for tougher stains that have dried up.
Acetone is the most recommended wood stain remover when the stains are water-based. However, it doesn’t work for oil-based stains.
Many commercial products like DEFY Exterior Wood Stain Remover can also help you. If you aren’t sure whether the stain is water or oil-based, you can use a wood stain remover designed for all types of wood stains.
However, make sure it’s made for wooden surfaces before applying.
Protect Your Work Area
Protecting your work area when taking wood stains off wood surfaces is necessary. It’ll not only prevent you from injury but will also protect the clean floor and walls.
Here is how to set up your workplace before removing wood stains:
- First, take the stained wood outdoors if it’s on a movable object (like a chair or coffee table).
- Remove the hinges to separate the stained piece if the object isn’t movable.
- Cover the surrounding floor and the walls with a cloth or rags, especially if you have wooden flooring.
- Use cardboard under the wood to prevent stripper and wood stain remover from hitting the floor.
- Ensure the area is well-ventilated when working with chemicals, and follow other safety procedures.
Apply Wood Stripper
The first step to remove the wood stain is to apply a wood stripper. Applying a wood stripper is a crucial step of the process and will help break down the wood stain so the stain remover can get rid of it.
You don’t need a lot of wood stripper but only apply it on the stained area as it may damage other parts of the wood surface.
Here’s how to apply the wood stripper properly:
- Open the stripper bottle and read the product’s tag for additional precautions.
- Take the stripper out on a plate.
- Use a paintbrush to apply the stripper on the wood.
- Apply it in layers to make it thick.
- Use it in parts if you have a large stained area.
- When you get raw wood in one area, move to the next part.
You’ll have to wait sometime to let the wood stripper set in while the wood stain gradually breaks down.
Let the Stripper Settle
Wait about 8-12 hours to let the stripper properly sit into the stain. The wait time may vary based on the chemicals and the life of the wood stains. After that, you’ll probably need to cover it with cloth or plastic.
The cover will prevent the stripper from drying out and may help speed up the stain-removal process. If you don’t cover it, the stain cleaner will dry quickly, and it may not reach the raw wood.
You’re ready to take the stains off if the cover forms bubbles. But first, give it at least a few hours to properly break down the wood stain.
Apply the Stain Remover
You’ll need to quickly apply the stain remover before the wood stripper dries up. It’ll help you soften the stains, which the stripper didn’t.
Follow these steps to apply wood stain remover properly.
- Pour the cleaner into a bowl.
- Dip a clean cloth in the cleaner solution.
- Put the cloth on the stained part of the wood and gently rub the stain.
- Check whether the stain is breaking down. You can also leave a few drops of wood stain remover on the stained area to remove tough stains.
Lightly Sand the Wood
Let the wood dry for 20-30 minutes before sanding the surface. When the surface is dry, use fine sandpaper to remove any remaining stain residue. You don’t have to sand the wood surface if it’s already painted or the wood stain is completely gone.
Use fine sandpaper and only sand the stained area when the wood is completely dry. If most of the wood is stained, you may have to sand the whole surface and repaint or varnish it.
You can now apply a finishing solution like paint or varnish to cover the stained area. Avoid painting over stained wood as the wood stain may cause the pain to break down after a while.
Can You Remove Wood Stain Without Sanding?
You can remove wood stains without sanding if the stain isn’t too deep and you treat it soon enough. Then, you’ll need to apply wood stripping to remove the stains without sanding. Sanding is fast and the most common method to get wood stains off the wood.
However, sanding small stained areas is impossible, especially if the wood is already painted or polished. Sanding is also risky, and you may cause an imbalance in the wood’s smooth surface.
The best alternative to sanding is applying a wood stripper. Wood stripper is available in many forms, such as liquid, gel, and chemical. Choose one designed for the type of wood surface you have, and use wood stain remover if the stripper isn’t enough.