How to Whitewash
Whitewashing is the process of coating wooden furniture with a wax-like solution, producing a distinctly elegant finish. Aside upping the aesthetics, the solution also acts as a protective strip, which keeps furniture resistant to wear and tear, and climate changes. The whitewash stain can be bought at most hardware and paint stores.
Pre-Whitewashing
Before applying whitewash stain on wooden furniture, you have to make its surface conducive for the solution. It will have a hard time sticking onto varnish or paint, so you have to remove the existent finish.
Materials Needed:
sandpaper
paint scraper
rag
Procedure:
Use a paint scraper to remove paint or varnish on the furniture piece. Use it with force but with caution to not damage the surface.
Rub the surface with a moist rag to remove debris and the scattered strips of paint.
Once done, smooth the surface with sandpaper. Make sure the entire piece is smooth before proceeding.
Apply a moist rug to remove the sawdust.
Once the surface has been smoothed and cleaned, the whitewash stain should have no problems sticking to the furniture piece. In addition, the surface’s smoothness will complement the stain’s partially glossy finish.
Whitewashing
To produce a fine finish, you should ideally work as a team. One of you will apply the whitewash stain while the other wipes off the excesses. By doing so, the resulting hue will be consistent, keeping the piece free from unsightly blotches. Both of you can also cover more ground faster as compared to doing the whole task by yourself.
Materials Needed:
whitewash stain
foam brush
cloth
Procedure:
Purchase whitewash stain from a hardware center or a paint store. Get one with good quality to ensure an elegant finish.
Apply the stain on the piece using a foam brush. Keep your strokes in a single direction.
Wipe off excess stain with a piece of cloth. Make sure the layer’s thickness and color remain consistent.
Let the solution settle until it is absorbed by the surface’s wooden fibers.
Once done, apply additional coats of stain until you reached your desired hue. Wipe off the excess stain while applying each layer. Ideally, you should let a layer dry for about three hours before applying the next.
After applying the final layer, let the furniture piece dry for a day.
Be sure to dispose of whitewash stain properly. It is composed of chemicals that can harm the environment. Instead of mixing it with your regular trash, segregate the stain and cover it with plastic. Label it “chemical” so the garbageman recognizes it.
Whitewashing breathes new life to your old furniture, giving them a fresh and stylish appearance. Apply it to some of your pieces, so you don’t have to be pricey brand new items.