This article was co-authored by Crystal Chadwick and by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Crystal Chadwick is a Licensed General Contractor and the Owner of Yin & Yang Construction out of Salt Lake City, Utah. With over 16 years of experience in the construction industry, she specializes in remodels, repairs, and handyman services. Crystal leads her team with vision and a detail-oriented approach, allowing them to provide quality work and design to their clients.
There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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Not a fan of the stain on your wooden floors or furniture? Not to worry—with the right products and a little bit of elbow grease, you can strip the stain from your wood and get it back to its original color. We’ve put together a handy list of everything you need to do, so you can safely and efficiently remove any wood stain in or around your home.
Things You Should Know
- Apply wood stain stripper with a bristle brush and let it sit for 15-20 minutes.
- Scrape off the stain stripper with a plastic scraper or putty knife so you don't damage the wood.
- Use 000 steel wool to remove any leftover stripper.
- Sand the wood with both medium- and fine-grit sandpaper to remove the last of the stain and smooth the wood surface.
Steps
Community Q&A
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QuestionI need to remove wood stain from an *interior* door. What product do I use? Most stain strippers I've seen/read say or imply exterior. Is there an issue using 'exterior' stripper on an interior door?wikiHow Staff EditorThis answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Staff AnswerwikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerCheck out brands like Citristrip! Citristrip makes a Varnish Stripping gel that works on all types of surfaces and isn't exclusive to exteriors.
Things You’ll Need
- Drop cloth
- Wood stain stripper
- Bristle paintbrush
- Plastic putty knife or plastic scraper
- #000 Steel wool
- Cloth
- 120-grit sandpaper
- 200-grit sandpaper
- Denatured alcohol
- Rubber gloves (optional)
- Respirator mask (optional)
- Vacuum (optional)
References
- ↑ https://www.bhg.com/kitchen/cabinets/makeovers/stain-wood-cabinets/
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-wood-furniture/
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/2498-how-to-refinish-a-wood-table/
- ↑ https://www.forbes.com/advisor/home-improvement/refinish-wood-furniture/
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-wood-furniture/
- ↑ https://www.bhg.com/kitchen/cabinets/makeovers/stain-wood-cabinets/
- ↑ William & Shannon Latil. Furniture Refinishing & Home Remodeling Specialists. Expert Interview. 29 October 2021.
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/2498-how-to-refinish-a-wood-table/
- ↑ https://fcs-hes.ca.uky.edu/sites/fcs-hes.ca.uky.edu/files/hf-lra.051.pdf
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/2498-how-to-refinish-a-wood-table/
- ↑ https://fcs-hes.ca.uky.edu/sites/fcs-hes.ca.uky.edu/files/hf-lra.051.pdf
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1i41px4X18&t=5m45s
- ↑ William & Shannon Latil. Furniture Refinishing & Home Remodeling Specialists. Expert Interview. 29 October 2021.
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/2498-how-to-refinish-a-wood-table/
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/2498-how-to-refinish-a-wood-table/
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/2498-how-to-refinish-a-wood-table/
- ↑ https://fcs-hes.ca.uky.edu/sites/fcs-hes.ca.uky.edu/files/hf-lra.051.pdf
- ↑ https://www.bhg.com/kitchen/cabinets/makeovers/stain-wood-cabinets/
- ↑ https://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/remodeling/carpentry/how-to-use-a-manual-sander/
- ↑ https://www.forbes.com/advisor/home-improvement/refinish-wood-furniture/
- ↑ Crystal Chadwick. Licensed General Contractor. Expert Interview. 16 March 2021.
- ↑ https://www.forbes.com/advisor/home-improvement/refinish-wood-furniture/
- ↑ https://fcs-hes.ca.uky.edu/sites/fcs-hes.ca.uky.edu/files/hf-lra.051.pdf
- ↑ https://fcs-hes.ca.uky.edu/sites/fcs-hes.ca.uky.edu/files/hf-lra.051.pdf
About This Article
To remove wood stain, start by using a paintbrush to apply a thick layer of stain stripper to the wood. Then, let it sit for 20 minutes, reapplying the stain stripper every few minutes to any spots that look dry. After 20 minutes, scrape it off with a plastic scraper, and wipe down the wood with a steel-wool pad dipped in the stripper. Next, wipe with a damp rag to remove any remaining stripper. Finally, let the wood dry for 24 hours before sanding off the stain with medium-grit sandpaper. To learn more, including how to sand off hard-to-remove wood stain, read on!