Safe No Chemical Wood Finish
I have posted a few painting techniques in the past, take a look at my most recent one which I used for some fall pumpkins. The thing is, I really don't like using chemicals. It's pretty hot here in Arizona, and I hate using chemicals in my home, so if I can use a no chemical solution to get the same results, then I'm all in! Today I was cleaning out my under the sink flip out drawer. It was looking really rusty and dirty and then I had a light bulb moment! If by leaving my Brillo pads in that drawer creates a rusty finish, then who says I couldn't do the same for wood? Using tea bags (which can stain pretty nicely as well) I created this new finish for my wooden wall ladder.
The dirty drawer shelf that inspired me to get this look on my wood.
For this project you'll need:
- Brillo pads
- vinegar
- tea
- hot water
- paintbrush
I took my Brillo pad and soaked in vinegar over night. It was a bit pink, which is not what I was going for, but onward we go!
I used this open tea bag and added some hot hot tap water (next time I’d leave the tea in the bag so the gains don’t strain out).
I began by painting the ladder with the tea first. Once again I was worried because the tea was raspberry and it was very red. But I made it work!
Then I used the vinegar that I had soaked my Brillo in overnight. I painted it over the tea stain.
I removed the Brillo...
As it started to dry I got really excited! It began to look like a grey and weathered look- love!
I continued and painted with the tea and then the Brillo solution over the whole ladder.
And it turned out great! No paint, no chemicals, and it looks so good.
PS- I cleaned my drawer, but it remained a but stained. Looks like this technique would also work on plastic! I think I'll try this technique along with my cinnamon rust technique which I posted a few weeks ago.
Resources for this project:
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Comments
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🤣Lol about staining plastic.but I’m going to purposely try to stain some plastic because you have inspired me. I have thought that the coffee creamers containers have a shape that I think could make into outside Christmas bells by cutting off the bottom, drilling some holes for light and putting solar lights into the top. But exterior spray paint just not budget friendly or actually creative. But if I can just soak the contains in your mixture and they get red…’m all in. Thank you
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Post when you do!
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What an awesome idea. It’s cheap and environmentally friendly too !!
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Thank you happy crafting
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Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
You can also used plain steel wool pads with vinegar. Put a couple in a quart jar. Cover with white vinegar. Let set overnight or 24 hours. Then just strain. Brush over wood. Leaves a very nice stain. Zoos use it a lot in their monkey enclosures.
Brillo pads are toxic. Why not use steel wool? it's cheapo and it rusts faster.
BRILLO with SOAP in it vs. steel wool??