As I mentioned in my other DIY : REMOVING FINISH (DINING TABLE) post, the Citristrip did not work on the dining table, but the CITRISTRIP did work on my nightstand! It actually worked SO well on this furniture piece!
Here’s the before photo:
TIP #1: Apply Citristrip stripping gel with a PAINT BRUSH and wear rubber gloves.
TIP #2: Apply a THICK coat. Don’t be stingy! If you apply a thin coat, it’ll dry out quicker.
TIP #3: Apply it in sections. This is especially important if you have a large furniture piece.
TIP #4: You don’t want the gel to dry out. Leave it on for 30 min or so and then scrape it off when gel is STILL WET. It was quite satisfying, gliding the scraper onto the furniture and seeing the stripping gel remove the finish!
TIP #5: After scraping off stripping gel, use MINERAL SPIRITS to clean it up using a rag. If needed, apply stripping gel again.
I wasn’t loving the color of the wood though. It had an orange look which I did not want. What do I do now?! Searched on Google of course! I came across this article called THE DO’S AND DON’TS OF BLEACHING WOOD. You all don’t even understand how excited I was to see this!
I didn’t have wood bleach so I used bleach that I already had at home. I applied an even layer of bleach onto the furniture using a paint brush.
Bob Villa suggested to neutralize it between each bleach application. I soaked a clean rag in a 50-50 white vinegar and water solution and wiped the furniture. After I did that, I wiped it again with plain water using a clean rag. I let it dry overnight and applied the bleach again. I finally got the wood tone I like after applying bleach for the 3rd time. WOOHOO!!
After applying the last coat of bleach, I waited about 3 hours, and then I neutralized the furniture one last time using a 50-50 white vinegar and water solution. I wiped it dry with a clean cloth. Once dry, I wiped it down with clean water. Then wiped it dry again with a clean cloth.
While I was waiting, I spray painted the nightstand pull handle with BLACK SPRAY PAINT. I love using spray paint because it’s a cheap and easy update to a material!
Once it was completely dry, I sanded the nightstand with a 220 grit. I then rubbed PASTE FINISHING WAX onto the nightstand using a clean rag to protect the wood. Check out the final look below!!
Now go and work on that furniture piece you’ve been wanting to update!! Please share with me your projects by tagging me on INSTAGRAM ! Can’t wait to see what you do!
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