Old t-shirts are great for this, but even paper towels work for smaller projects. But again, I can't stress enough how important it is to wipe it down with a clean dry cloth. Don't slack off on this part.
Wipe the stain off immediately if you'd like a lighter tone. But for a deeper tone, leave the stain on the wood for 5 to 10 minutes before wiping it off. Be sure to wipe off all the excess stain going in the direction of the grain of the wood.
It's better to wipe a stain with a moist rag than a wet or dry one for the following reasons: A damp rag will absorb the stain more effectively than a dry one. The moisture will help break down the pigment and lift it from the surface.
The basic rule for getting good results with any stain is to apply a wet coat and wipe off the excess before it dries.
No, the sticky stains will not dry after some time, which is why it is important to wipe off the excess wood stain. If you don't, your work will end up sticky because the stain did not dry properly. You will have to use mineral spirits, more stain, or sandpaper to fix the mess.
Most brands recommend letting the wood stain sit for 5 to 15 minutes to absorb into the wood and then wipe off all of the excesses with a clean lint-free rag. If the stain is applied too thick, the surface will be tacky and sticky to the touch and will not dry evenly.
Be sure to wipe carefully in corners and deep fluting (sometimes a brush can work to get stain into these hard-to-reach areas). If you have oil-based stains (which dries slower), brushing or spraying large areas could work, but lacquer and water-based stains simply dry too fast.
In contrast, when stain is left to sit on the wood, the solvents that make the stain a liquid will eventually evaporate. However, the pigments remain behind, creating a sticky mess on the top of the wood.
The good news is, though, that once the wood stain is fully dry, it's no longer toxic! That means if your primary concern is about wood stain toxicity after the stain has dried, you have nothing to worry about!
Wood stain becomes sticky when it is not wiped off properly. This happens when you put too much wood stain on and do not wipe off the excess.
Rags made from reclaimed white polo shirts are the ideal, most cost-effective solution for staining. Because they are white, you won't need to worry about color bleeding.
Mix 1/4 cup of dishwashing soap and 1 tbsp. of vegetable oil with a bucket of warm water. This is an excellent home-made substitute for commercial wood-cleaning products, as the soap is mild enough to not harm the wood, and the vegetable oil will polish the wood.
Apply a Coat of Wood Stain Remover and Wait
Pour what you need into a metal or aluminum pan, and brush a thick, even layer of stain stripper onto the surface. To apply stain remover to an outdoor deck or other large areas, you can use a polyester brush, roller, or a pump-up hand sprayer.
But it's much more efficient to “bury” the raised grain with another coat of finish. Then sand it smooth after it has dried. Stains lighten as they dry, then return to their damp color when a finish is applied.
You should also consider the type of wood you are staining, amount of stain you're applying, and weather conditions, like humidity, temperature, and air circulation. On average, wood stain takes about 24 to 72 hours to fully dry and cure, though you can typically add a second coat after about four hours.
We always recommend two coats of stain for any wood project, but you should only apply as much stain as the wood can absorb. Extremely dense hardwoods may only be able to absorb one coat of wood stain. The general rule of thumb is to apply only as much deck stain as the wood can absorb.
Yes, each layer will darken your project even more. You can also start with a lighter color Gel Stain and layer on darker colors.
Dried stain will feel dry to the touch, not sticky or tacky.
Let your stain dry for the recommended time on the can before touching, which can be anywhere from 2 to 24 hours. Then, just touch the wood! If it feels dry, your wood is likely ready for another coat of stain or a sealant.
Wait at least 12 hours before applying a new coat.
If a stain is not completely dry after the above-mentioned period, allow the wood to sit and wait for another 24 hours. Some wood stains will require more time to dry than others.
Applying stain
Don't brush on a coat of stain like you would paint and just wait for it to dry. You'll be frustrated and disappointed when parts of it still feel sticky after a couple days. When wood has absorbed all the stain it wants, the rest just sits on the surface and doesn't like to dry.
Once the stain has dried, apply a clear finish to protect both the stain and the wood—and to make the final results look even more beautiful.
Good news, you can stain wood without sanding the old finish off! But you'll still have to do some prep to make the new gel stain bond properly with the old stain. Start by always cleaning the old finish with a good cleaner and degreaser, like TSP. Be sure to rinse all of that cleaner off before moving on.