How to Bleach Furniture

When bleaching furniture it should be used only as a first-aid measure instead of part of the refinishing process. A piece of furniture should only be bleached if the surface has been stained, has black rings or water spots; if the wood is discolored or blotchy; if the color of wood is uneven; or if an old stain or filler is left after the finish is removed. Some people use the bleaching method to even the color of two or more woods. It can lighten the darker wood to match the lighter wood.

Before bleaching on any of your furniture, make sure the wood is suitable for bleaching. There are certain woods that do not accept bleach well. Those woods are: cherry and satinwood. Some woods such as bass, cedar, chestnut, elm, redwood, and rosewood are difficult to bleach. Light woods such as pine and popular are so light that bleaching makes them look lifeless. Bleaching birch, maple, and walnut destroys their distinctive color. Mahogany, teak, and other choice woods seldom benefit from bleaching. The easier woods to bleach and that would benefit from it are ash, beech, gum, and oak.

Once you have established the wood you would like to bleach, there are several bleaches to choose from. Not all bleaching jobs call for the same kind of bleach. Depending on the problem you are correcting; you might need very strong bleach or a relatively mild one.

One type of bleach that can be used is your common laundry bleach. This is a form of mild bleach and is used to solve most refinishing color problems. This can be used to remove stains and watermarks. It works well for blotchy surfaces and for overall lightening. It will not change the color of the wood drastically. Try using laundry bleach before any stronger bleach. This usually does the trick. Another bleach to try, and is a bit stronger, is called Oxalic Acid. It must be used on the entire wood surface. In most cases it will bleach out old stain. The last bleach that can be used is a two-part bleach. A two-part bleach is commercial bleach and it is used to lighten or remove the natural color of wood. Two-part bleach is very strong, so use it carefully.

Once you have established the type of bleach you will be using, then its time to start bleaching your furniture. This isn't difficult to do. If you decide on regular laundry bleach, then apply it to the wood full-strength. Brush it evenly over the entire surface. After two minutes you should see the stain fade. Wipe the bleach off with a damp cloth. When the stain has lightened you are going to need to neutralize the wood. To do this, you will need a solution of 1-cup borax dissolved in 1qt of hot water. Brush this on with a new brush, rinse with clean water, and let it dry thoroughly.

If you decide to use the Oxalic Acid make sure you wear rubber gloves and safety goggles, as this acid can be poisonous. Make sure the area you are working in is ventilated. Mix the acid with warm water, 1oz of powder or crystals per 1-cup of warm water. Apply the acid evenly to the wood brushing it on along the grain to cover the entire surface. For soft wood you will see results quickly. Hardwood takes the bleach longer to work. Let the acid work for about 20 minutes then wipe off with a damp cloth. If the bleach is uneven then reapply. On hard woods it may take up to one hour to see bleaching results. After it has sat, wipe with a damp cloth and clean water. Neutralize it with a solution of 1-cup of household ammonia and 2qts of water. Rinse with clean water and let it dry thoroughly.

If you choose a two-part bleach it's easy to use and works quickly. The two components of the bleach, labeled "1" and "2" or "A" and "B" are usually applied separately. Make sure to read the manufacturers instructions and follow them exactly. The first solution is applied and has to work for about 20 minutes before the second solution is applied. Wipe the bleached wood clean with a damp cloth. Neutralize it with the same solution as the laundry bleach, which is 1-cup of borax, dissolved in 1qt of hot water. Rinse the woods and let it dry thoroughly.

After treating the wood with bleach, the grain of the wood will raise. The raised grain must be resanded to the level of the wood surface after it has dried completely. Sand the grain down lightly with a grade of 5/0 or 6/0 sandpaper. Be careful as to not roughen the surface. Wear a mask because chemicals from the bleach may fill the air. Vacuum and remove any dust from the surface. Wipe the wood clean with a tack cloth.

Once you have done your bleaching and resanded the furniture then it's time to stain. There are many stains out on the market to choose from. Someone at your local hardware store should be able to tell you about the types of stains and how to apply them. In the end you will have a beautiful and new looking piece of wooden furniture.