How To Remove Paint and Stain

by Carole Vansickle

Overview

You often can get a deal on valuable antiques that were painted at one time or another. If you remove the paint and stain the item, you can quickly turn an ordinary piece of furniture into a truly individual and elegant heirloom item. Removing paint and staining is an easy way to completely revolutionize the look of nearly any piece of wood furniture.

Step 1

Wipe down the entire piece of furniture. The process will go much more smoothly if you are working with a clean surface. Use a damp rag and a drop of mild liquid detergent to clean off any dust and grime on the furniture.
Step 2

Dry the furniture. Once you have cleaned the furniture, wipe it down with a dry rag to get any soap residue and remaining dirt off.
Step 3

Strip the paint. You may wish to wear rubber gloves for this part to protect your hands from the chemicals in the paint stripper. Saturate a rag with the stripper, and start rubbing the rag in slow, small circles over the painted areas of the piece of furniture. Use firm pressure. You will see the paint start to dissolve, and in some cases it may come off on your rag. Re-treat the rag often with the paint stripper, and continue until you have removed all paint from the piece of furniture.
Step 4

Let the furniture dry. This may take up to 24 hours.
Step 5

Clean the piece of furniture again. This will remove any stripper residue, and make your furniture more receptive to the stain.
Step 6

Stain the furniture. Apply stain with a rag or a paintbrush in a smooth, even coat. Once the first coat dries, you can apply a second. Some people apply as many as four coats to get the look they want, but after the second coat it is up to you. Allow the stain to dry before you use the furniture.

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Old rags Mild detergent Rubber gloves Liquid paint stripper Wood stain Paint brush
Old rags
Mild detergent
Rubber gloves
Liquid paint stripper
Wood stain
Paint brush
Work in a well-ventilated area.
Work in a well-ventilated area.