DIY Steel Wool + Vinegar Stain
3 Materials
$5
3 Days
Easy
I'd heard that you can make your own stain using just steel wool and regular vinegar. I was intrigued and had to give it a try myself.
Materials:
- glass jar
- ball of fine steel wool (affiliate link)
- white vinegar (affiliate link)
- rubber gloves
- sponge brush or rag
- wood
How to:
Put a ball of fine steel wool in a glass jar and fill with white vinegar to about 1-2 inches from the top. Replace the lid and let sit for a few days until the steel wool has dissolved or nearly dissolved, giving the jar a shake once or twice a day.
Yep, that's it.* It's just that easy. *I'd recommend leaving the jar on a paper towel and carefully opening and closing the jar before shaking it. We noticed that our jar built up quite a bit of pressure from the chemical reaction of the steel wool dissolving in vinegar and the pressure needed to be released a few times a day.
Two days later, after having been shaken up.
Once the steel wool has dissolved, put on some rubber gloves, give the jar one last shake and start staining!
The stain is very deceiving at first.. when you initially put it on it just looks like you're putting dirty water on the wood - it doesn't look significantly changed. However, as it's exposed to the air and dries it rusts and gives the wood a beautifully rustic, warm color. Once it's completely dry, take a rag to rub the loose rust off - you're done!
If you're using this process for a sign or something that won't be touched when finished I'd leave the wood raw like this. If you're thinking of using it for a table or something you will come in contact with, I'd strongly suggest sealing the wood to keep you from getting rust stains. { Follow me on Instagram @birchlandinghome }
After drying.
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
Comments
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5 comments
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How cool!
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Thanks Hannah! :)
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My raised flower bed. Unfinished, still need lots of soil. I made the stain and I was amazed. You can really see the difference. I love it! Thank you for sharing.
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Looks awesome!! Thank you so much for sharing :)
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
do you use plain steel wool or Brillo pads which have soap in them
Love it but, another project indicated not to put the lid on as the gasses may cause it to expand/explode, thoughts?
I used this stain on my butcher block counters and love it! However, it’s almost two weeks after staining and I still have stain rubbing off when wiping the counter down. Do I need to sand it down and try again or will this stain continue to leave marks unless a topcoat is used? Thanks!