Wood polish that is too dark can affect the appearance of the furniture or the room as a whole. Fortunately, there are several ways to lighten the color of the polish to your liking. The most effective way to lighten the color of the polish is to bleach the wood using chemicals. Steel coir and mineral turpentine can lighten the polish a bit if you don't need to change it too much. Or if the color of the polish in the can looks too dark, dilute it to lighten it before daubing.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Whitening Wood
Step 1. Apply a finish peeler (finish coat) on the wood you want to lighten and let it sit for 20 minutes
Work in a well-ventilated area so you don't breathe in harmful fumes and wear protective eyewear and gloves to protect yourself. Dip a 5 cm brush with natural bristles in the finish peeler and apply it to the wood you want to lighten. Make sure you apply it evenly over the entire area so that the wood peels off completely. Leave the peeler on the wood surface for 20 minutes to give it time to soak in.
If you want to whiten a hardwood floor, apply a chemical peeler or use an abrasive machine
Step 2. Scrape the finish on the wood with a plastic scraper
Hold the scraper at a 45° angle toward the wood and press firmly to scrape the long finish. Work in the direction of the wood grain so that the surface doesn't scratch and leave a noticeable mark. Continue to scrape the wood surface until all of the old finish has peeled off.
- Spread a rag under the workbench so you can easily collect all the old finishes and throw them away.
- Scraping the finish can also scrape some of the polish from the wood.
Tip:
Moisten the wood and check if the color changes evenly. If there are parts that are lighter or darker than the rest, there may still be some finish on the surface.
Step 3. Mix the wood bleach solution
To bleach wood, you can use oxalic acid for a mild bleach or a 2 part wood bleach solution for a stronger effect. Wear protective eyewear and gloves when mixing bleach to avoid irritation. If you are using oxalic acid, mix the crystals in water following the directions on the package. If you're using 2 parts bleach, pour an equal amount of both parts bleach into a small bowl and stir.
- Oxalic acid will slightly lighten the color of the polish and is best suited for wood that is naturally light in color.
- A 2-part bleach solution will remove most of the color while also lightening the natural color of dark wood.
- Both types of bleach can be used on both oil and water based polishes.
- You can buy wood bleach and oxalic acid from a hardware or materials store.
Step 4. Apply the bleach solution to the wood
Use a 5 cm paint brush to apply a light coat of bleach to the wood. Make sure that the bleach is applied lightly over the entire surface to lighten the color evenly. After that, let stand about 30 minutes so that it can change the color of the wood and polish.
If you are applying bleach to a wooden floor, use a floor mop to spread the solution all over the surface
Step 5. Neutralize the bleach with a white vinegar solution after 30 minutes
Combine equal parts white vinegar and warm water in a large bowl or bucket and stir. Dip a washcloth in the solution and wring it out to remove any remaining liquid. Wipe the wood surface with a vinegar solution to stop the reaction and prevent the polish from getting lighter.
You can neutralize the bleach at any time when you are satisfied with the color result
Step 6. Wipe clean the wood with a damp cloth
Wet another rag in as warm water as possible. Squeeze out the remaining liquid, then wipe the wood clean. Clean all parts to remove any remaining bleach or vinegar on the surface.
If you're working on a hardwood floor, use a mop with clean water to rinse the floor
Step 7. Let the wood dry overnight before seeing results
Place the wood in a cool, dry place so the water evaporates and you can see the final color of the polish. Check the wood the next day to see if you're happy with the color. If not, reapply the bleach solution in the same way and check the next day to see if the color has lightened.
Use the bleach solution only 2-3 times because the color of the wood will start to dull or gray
Step 8. Sand the wood with 180 grit paper
After bleaching the wood, some of the wood fibers will also be eroded. So, sanding will help level the surface. Press the 180 grit sandpaper firmly in the direction of the wood grain to avoid scratching the surface. Sand it until the wood feels smooth to the touch.
Step 9. Apply a fresh finish to the wood to preserve it
Look for a polyurethane finish for the wood and mix well to mix it in. Use a 5 cm brush with natural bristles to apply a thin layer of polyurethane in the direction of the wood grain. After you've spread the polyurethane, run the brush back over the area in long strokes to remove any air bubbles or uneven brushing.
Do not shake the polyurethane can as this can form air bubbles on the wood and damage the finish
Method 2 of 3: Scrape the Polish with Steel Coir
Step 1. Rub the steel wool against the wood surface in the direction of the grain
Wet the 0000 steel wool under warm running water and squeeze out the remaining liquid. Press lightly against the wood you want to lighten and rub back and forth in long, parallel motions in the direction of the wood grain. Be careful not to hit the line that was rubbed with the steel wool as you could remove too much polish or other material. The steel wool will scrape off some of the polish and finish to lighten the wood color.
Use only superfine (0000) or extra fine (000) steel wool as you can remove too much material with coarser steel wool
Warning:
Do not rub against the grain of the wood, as this will result in visible scratches.
Step 2. Wipe the wood with mineral turpentine to help lift the polish
Wear safety glasses and gloves before handling the mineral turpentine as it can cause skin or eye irritation. Dampen a washcloth with mineral turpentine and wipe along the wood grain to remove some of the polish. You will notice that the color of the wood is a little lighter than the rest. Keep wiping all the parts and changing the washcloth if the first one is too dirty.
- Work in a well-ventilated area as the mineral turpentine can produce harmful fumes.
- Allow the rag to dry completely before throwing it away, as mineral turpentine can be a fire hazard.
- Steel coir and mineral turpentine work best for oil-based polishes, but may have little effect on water-based polishes.
Step 3. Alternate between steel wool and mineral turpentine until you are happy with the color of the wood
Switch back to steel wool and rub gently all over the surface. After that, wipe the wood with the mineral turpentine one more time to remove some of the polish and lighten the color. Keep working until you are happy with the color of the wood. Wipe down one last time using a clean cloth to remove any traces of turpentine minerals.
The mineral turpentine and steel wool will only slightly lighten the color of the polish. So you'll have to do it several times if you want to see significant changes
Method 3 of 3: Diluting the Polish before Use
Step 1. Prepare a “natural” wood polish that has the same basic ingredients as the polish you want to lighten
Natural polish is a transparent material that you can mix with regular polish to lighten and lighten colors. Check the polish you have to see if it's oil or water based so you know what kind of natural polish to buy. Buy the same amount of natural polish as you have so that they can be mixed in equal proportions.
If you can't find a natural polish, just use mineral turpentine for an oil-based polish, or water for a water-based polish
Step 2. Mix the original and natural polish in equal proportions
Use an empty paint can or metal container with a lid to stir it. Pour equal amounts of original and natural polish into a bowl, then mix with a paint stirrer. Keep stirring until smooth so that the polish doesn't look blotchy.
You can buy empty paint cans from a hardware store, hardware store, or online marketplace
Step 3. Test the polish mixture on a piece of leftover wood to see what color it is
Dip the tip of the brush into the freshly mixed polish and wipe the excess against the rim of the can. Apply the polish to a piece of leftover wood that is the same type as the one you want to polish later and rub it into the wood with a rag. Wipe the polish off the wood and observe how the color compares to the natural wood color to see if you are satisfied with the result.
The color when the polish is applied for the first time will be different than when the polish is completely dry. Leave it overnight so you can see what color the wood will look like once it dries
Tip:
Dab the original, undiluted polish next to the diluted polish. That way, you can compare them right away to see how bright the difference is.
Step 4. Pour in more natural polish if you want the color to be even lighter
If you want a lighter color of polish, add 120 ml (½ cup) of natural polish at a time and stir with a stick until evenly distributed. Check the color on a piece of leftover wood to see how the polish looks, and mix constantly if necessary. If not, cover the paint can so you can use the polish again later.
- Make a note of how much natural polish you add so that the color can be replicated at a later time.
- If the color of the polish is too light, add 50-100 ml (¼-½ cup) of the original polish.
Tips
You can try sanding the polish with 120 grit paper to scrape it off, then reapply the polish to the wood
Warning
- Work in a well-ventilated area when using mineral turpentine or bleach as these can produce harmful fumes.
- Wear protective eyewear and gloves when handling strong chemicals as they can cause irritation.
