Wipe the piece free of dust and dirt with a soft cloth. For porous wood pieces use a pre-stain wood conditioner before staining.
Place 1 tsp. of wood conditioner on a damp sponge and wipe over the wood piece. Place additional wood conditioner on the cloth if needed to cover the surface completely. Allow the conditioner to soak into the wood for 10 minutes before staining.
Apply Minwax stain to a 2 to 3 inch bristle or foam brush. Glide the stain over the surface of the piece. Re-wet the brush with the stain and make another path right beside the first application of stain. Use gentle pressure when applying the stain and use the same pressure throughout to achieve even staining.
Wet a rag with water and remove stain that is not to your liking. Reapply stain to the area. Continue adding the stain covering the entire piece. Allow the piece to dry for 24 hours.