Reconditioning or refinishing wood staircase

Question

We removed carpet from these stairs and will be installing a runner. The runner will cover most of the area where the old rug was, however, I would like to clean up the stairs before putting a new runner on them. What would be the best (easiest) way to do this?

Edward Cogan · Answer

V - I am in the process of doing this, except that I will be re-staining the treads, will paint the risers and stringers white, and will not put a runner down. Your steps look to be in good condition, but you may still need to do some light sanding and re-staining of the portion of the treads and risers that will show. Good luck!

Lori Jackson · Answer

I agree--paint the risers and refinish the treads. Even if you go with the runner, they will be beautiful.

Dianne Methner · Answer

We removed glued on carpet. We scraped off the glue hand sanded the floor and put polyurethane on the backs and steps. Lightly sand between each coat. We didn't put a runner on but your stairs will be beautiful if you put in the time and effort they need. Another option is lightly sand and paint with a floor paint. Good luck and have fun!

Susan Cryor · Answer

Don't paint.  Wood is beautiful.  Match the color of wood with stain, lightly sand the stairs, lightly, hand is good, mix stain color with watch Danish oil and apply according to directions on can.  Totally restored, beautiful shine, NOT SLIPPERY like Polly, easy clean up,

Ellen Hilliard · Answer

Susan, great tip!

Martha · Answer

My only bit of advice is: If you use wood filler for tack holes, go a bit darker than your wood rather than lighter. I made a mistake with light wood filler one time. The next time I used dark, and it blends in really well with the grain of the wood.

Susan Cryor · Answer

Sorry all. It is WATCO DANISH OIL.  not watch...
It can be reapplied fir nicks and dings....NO sanding needed.  Absorbs into wood, nourishes the wood and is wonderful

Bev @ The Make Your Own Zone · Answer

I've used a homemade mixture to revive old wood made of mayo, olive oil, and lemon juice. I've used it on our wooden bathroom vanity that was dried out and did a post here on Hometalk on a little wooden table that I revived with it too. Here's the link. It might be worth a try! http://www.hometalk.com/diy/clean/furniture/wood-water-spots-removing-mayonnaise-4714019

Nancy Jenkins · Answer

I hope after I take old lino of stairs to basement they will looks close to your photo. Winter project. Might need a hand sander, I will see.

Susan Gullham · Answer

I just did this to my stairs and they turned out great (first time I had stained anything since a craft project when I was a kid)! My treds are oak and risers pine. The treds were in pretty good shape so I sanded all, spot stained, and a new coat of poly. The lower risers were a mess so I completely stripped them and used a gel stain plus pre-stain conditioner and spar urethane. The higher risers I sanded, spot stained, and spar urethane. Nice thing about the gel stain is you can treat it like a paint, a glaze, or a stain (wipe off).

Myrna Engle · Answer

I'd take a bucket of hot sudsy water and SCRUB them thoroughly. Then use a paint brush to apply wax that's used for hardwood floors. It lasts for years and it covers a multitude of imperfections. Should they need more some time in the future you can put on another coat.

Enrique Barrera · Answer

Use a good chemical paint remover, clean the wood really really good, then sand it, then apply wood filler slightly darker than the wood, stain it and finally apply varnish. It will revive 100%.

Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com · Answer

A good sanding and refinishing will make them look great again. Here is a few photos of one we did not to long ago that looked exactly like yours before we started. The photos were taken before we painted the final coat on the risers and stringers on the side. This job was done because the owner had just moved in and the movers damaged the bottom post so we had to replace it and secure the railing. While we had it apart we figured might as well do the entire project.

Janie Luke-Smith Burks · Answer

Mix 1/2 cup of olive oil & 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar.  Dip cloth & clean wood, no need to rinse or dry.  The wood is cleaned & amazingly the scratches seem to disappear.

Bea F · Answer

I did the same thing that Janie Luke-Smith Burks did on my floors, and it worked perfectly. I had just removed the carpet to.

Jodi · Answer

Does this work on hard wood floors? I have scratches in mine and my really don't want to sand them. Lazy!

Susan Cryor · Answer

I did the olive oil cider on basement door VERY STICKY might be the varnish they used back in 1975?

Neloh · Answer

Ladies, I have wood stairs to clean as well. Just removed the runner and that area is bare wood. House is 100 yr old so was thinking Murphy's Oil Soap. Your thots?

Nancy Jenkins · Answer

I removed vinyl but may have compromised myself cause not checking to see if it is asbestos base. It is gone so now I need to clean off steps. I heard the glue could be of asbestos base too so all of you ripping up floors, walls and stairs have the job checked before you do for your health's sake.

Vivian Puca · Answer

I am tored of the rug on my stairs

I am going to show this to my husbaand do it will inspire him. We can do it together.

Deb K · Answer

Hello, hope this helps you out. You can also paint them once you are ready or stain, many ideas to search.

https://www.thisoldhouse.com/stairs/21122989/how-to-refinish-worn-out-stair-treads

https://www.idealhome.co.uk/diy-and-decorating/how-to-paint-a-staircase-245623

Annie · Answer

Here's a video that might help! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urii1ChonZQ

Annie · Answer

This article may also help: https://1dayrefinishing.com/blog/how-to-refinish-wood-stairs/

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