Does it look like a big toe? 🫣

This 100-year-old chest of drawers got a stunning makeover! From veneer removal and bleaching to a gorgeous paint wash, I’m sharing all my tips along the way. Ready to tackle your own furniture project? Let’s do it together!

Clothing Bleach + heat: Common laundry bleach (chlorine based) will remove stain or dye color in wood, but will not affect the wood’s natural color. (You will notice the light appearance after using clothing bleach will return back to the original wood color when water or a protective top coat is applied.)

How to do clothing bleach -
Prepare Area:
Place your project in a well-ventilated area. I find it best to do this outside.

Make sure to prep your piece by cleaning, sanding, and wiping down with a microfiber cloth.

Mix the Solution:
1 part bleach, 2 parts water.

Apply:
Typically I like to use a foam roller on large surfaces to ensure even bleach coverage (however, you can also spray on the mixture or wipe it on). Continue to apply until the wood is covered with bleach.

Basque in the sun:
Once a full layer of bleach has been applied, let the piece dry out in the direct sun (if applying mixture when it is not sunny outside, use a heat tool to activate and dry out piece). After 15 minutes the wood whitening will occur. If you want your wood lighter, repeat coats. Just keep in mind, chlorine products can comprimse the strength of wood and may weather your wood. Due to this, I will apply only 1 or 2 rounds.

Neutralize the Wood: (between coats and finish)
It is important to neutralize the wood between treatments. Mix a solution of 1 part white vinegar and 1 part water. Soak a rag in the solution and while working quickly, wipe the entire bleached area down. Then do so again with just water. Allow the entire project to dry out before applying a stain or a sealer. Note: Neglecting to neutralize may leave lingering bleach to chemically react with whatever stain or product you apply next.

Once you’ve bleached, neutralized, and dried the wood, the grain may be raised and coarse to the touch. Lightly sand it with a 180-grit sandpaper. Then, finish it with 220-grit sandpaper for a smooth finish.


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