How to Remove Stain from Wood
If you plan to stain wood that already has wood stain on it, you may need to remove the old stain first. Here's a look at two methods of refinishing wood that was previously stained.
Remove Wood Stain with Sandpaper
If there’s not much stain on the wood (or if it’s bare), you can prepare it for a fresh coat of stain with sandpaper. Light sanding is also all that’s needed if you plan to coat the existing surface with Varathane Premium Gel Stain or Varathane One Step Stain and Polyurethane. Be sure to sand in the direction of the wood grain.
Remove Wood Stain with Liquid Stripper
If you want to remove existing wood stain or varnish more easily than you can with sandpaper, liquid stripper may be a good option. Watco Furniture Refinisher is a liquid stripper that can be wiped on and off wood to dissolve the old varnish.
Once you’ve removed old wood stain, you’re ready to select a new wood stain color and apply it to your project.