How to Fix a Milky Finish on Wood

Thin the old finish with denatured alcohol. Pour some of the alcohol onto a clean cloth and wipe down the wood with the cloth. Allow the alcohol to soak into the finish for about 10 minutes. If you notice any spots drying up, apply more alcohol.

Strip the old finish from the wood with a paint scraper. For intricate areas or finish that won't come off with the scraper, use a scrub brush or 0000-grade steel wool. If necessary, apply more finish and allow it to soak for five to 10 minutes.

Wipe the wood clean with a damp cloth to remove the alcohol and any loose bits of finish. Inspect the wood to make sure you haven't missed any trouble spots, particularly corners, edges and engravings.

Re-paint or re-stain the wood with paint or stain of your choice. Both can be applied with paintbrushes, rollers or sprayers. You may also use a cloth to apply stain. When applying stain, no matter which tool you use, let it soak into the wood for about five minutes, then wipe the wood with a clean cloth to soak up the excess stain. Always apply paint and stain with the grain.

Allow the paint or stain to dry completely. Apply additional coats if desired. Let each coat of paint or stain dry before applying the next one.

Apply a protective top coat of your choice. You can go with whatever the original finish was, or try others, such as polyurethane or varnish. Protective top coat application varies by product and manufacturer, so see the product label for specific instructions.