How to Remove Wood Stain from Wooden Stairs

To change the look of your wooden stairs, you may need to remove old wood stain. Here's how to do it.

Step 1 – Patch Test

Check whether the color of your wooden stairs have been changed by wood stain or tinted varnish at an inconspicuous part of the staircase. Apply a little varnish removing solution and rub it with a piece of steelwool to see if this changes the color.

Step 2 – Varnish Removal

If the wooden stairs have been varnished, the removal solution can be used on the full stair. Use rubber or latex gloves to protect your skin from the toxic substance.

Step 3 – Stain Removal

In view of the fact that stain will sink into the wooden stairs, it will be necessary to resurface the wood to remove it. The sanding process will be a significant one and will be easier to do with the use of a sanding machine, however sheets of sandpaper will still be required for awkward corners. This may not remove the stain completely and applying whitewash to the wood at this stage can lighten the color further.