How to Restore Crib Parts

Spread drop cloths over a table or on the floor in a well-ventilated area.

Fill a bucket with warm water and add degreasing detergent. Clean the crib parts thoroughly with a scrub brush. Rinse off with plain water and allow to air dry.

Put on rubber gloves. Wipe down the crib parts with mineral spirits using a rag. This will remove the finish and expose the bare wood. Let the mineral spirits evaporate.

Rough the surface of the crib parts with medium-grit sandpaper. Then wipe down with a tack cloth to remove all the wood dust.

Apply gel-stain to the crib parts with clean sponges. Let the gel-stain soak in for about 10 minutes, then wipe away the excess with a clean sponge.

Apply a coat of varnish with a paintbrush, brushing the varnish in the same direction of the wood grain. Let the varnish dry between three and four hours, or as long as the manufacturer suggests.

Gently sand the crib parts using 400-grit sandpaper once the varnish has dried completely.