How to Refurbish a Desk

Remove the drawers by pulling them outward, lifting them slightly and tipping them out of their slots. Set them aside.

Wash the desk using a damp cloth. Remove all dust and debris, such as food crumbs and marker residue.

Coat the desk with stripper, using a paintbrush if it is finished, which means it has a glossy coating. Stripper is a strong chemical substance that softens or dissolves the finish, making it easy to remove. Allow the stripper to remain for the duration specified on its bottle, then scrape the finish off using a scraping tool.

Sand the desk to remove old paint, rough edges, ink and marker residue and other issues if it wasn't finished. An electric sander will speed up the process, but could also damage the desk's joints if it is very old.

Wipe off the dust from sanding using a damp cloth.

Spoon wood filler into dents, dings and gouges in the desk's wood. Scrape the excess filler off using a flat tool, such as the back of a knife blade or scraper tool. Allow the filler to dry for the amount of time listed on its package.

Sand the dried wood filler gently to remove the excess residue. Wipe with a damp cloth.

Seal, stain or paint the desk, depending on your preference. Sealant will simply seal the wood from external moisture, such as spilled coffee, while allowing the desk to retain its natural appearance. Stain will darken the desk's wood, while paint will cover it. Brush the chosen substance onto the desk using a paintbrush. Allow it to dry, then apply a second coat.

Repeat the above steps on each drawer that was removed from the desk. Place the drawers into the desk once they're dry.

Tighten the desk's hardware, such as joints and bracers, using a screwdriver.