We all know that bleach is very helpful when we’re cleaning.
But there are also many other great uses for it.
Bleach is a handy solution for cleaning plants and flowerpots, freshening up garbage cans, keeping fresh-cut flowers alive, cleaning children’s toys – and, as we’re about to share, modernizing old furniture.
Ready to get started? You just need your preferred brand of household bleach and some old wood furniture.
You can find some beautiful old furniture in thrift stores and garage sales, but they tend to be colored with orange tones that are no longer in fashion.
That’s where bleach will come in handy – it can change the color of the wood and breathe new life into an outdated piece.
Once you’ve set your furniture in your workshop (or your backyard!), here’s what to do:
1. Begin by preparing the piece
First, remove any removable attachments on your furniture, like screw-on handles and drawers.
Next, use a sander to remove any varnish or topcoat on all the surfaces.
If you have any smaller removable components, like desk drawers, you can use a stripper like Citristrip to remove varnish from those difficult-to-reach edges.
Cover with plastic wrap for about 30 minutes then use a scraper to remove all the leftover varnish.
2. Next, it’s time for bleach
Now for the bleaching! You can use whatever brush size suits you best for this job. In this example, a two-inch brush was used.
It’s best to work outside for this job, and wear heavy-duty gloves and a cleaning mask when you use the bleach.
Pour some bleach into a cup, then dip in your paintbrush and paint straight onto your surfaces. Make sure to keep the bleach consistent with even coverage.
Leave the furniture outside in the sun for at least one hour.
You’ll notice that it already looks much brighter and whiter. You can now repeat this process until you get the color you want.
It’s up to you how many coats you do – but in our example, three coats produced a beautiful tone of wood.
3. Then, remove the bleach and smooth it out
Next, the bleach needs to be removed from the table. This is easy – just dip a cloth in a bucket of plain water and wipe it along the surfaces.
Change the water every time it becomes saturated with bleach. Continue until the water in the bucket is no longer filling with bleach.
After removing the bleach, use super-fine sandpaper to smooth the surfaces.
4. Finally, customize the piece
You’ve technically finished now, and if you prefer, you could put the furniture back together (if you removed any removable parts) and find a place for it inside your home.
But you could also add your own touch to your piece, depending on what you’re working with. Even changing drawer handles can help upgrade an outdated design.
The bleaching completely transformed this piece, and it’s so incredible to see.
Check out the full transformation in the video below!
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