How to Refinish Interior Trim

Refinishing interior trim usually means stripping off the old finish (often paint), then applying wood stain, topped with varnish. One way to strip off the old paint is with a chemical stripper. This is often more effective than trying to sand it off, and doesn't produce any dust, though it does produce fumes so you might want to wait until children and pets aren't around before you undertake this project.

Newspaper
Masking tape
Rubber gloves and goggles
Paint stripper
Paintbrushes
Plastic putty knife
Nylon scrub pad
Paint thinner
Medium sandpaper
Wood stain
Paper towels
Varnish

Instructions

- 1
  Tape newspapers all around the trim, protecting the surrounding walls and other areas, so only the trim is exposed.
- 2
  Put on rubber gloves and goggles. Brush paint stripper onto the surface of the trim, coating it completely. Let it sit on the wood for five to ten minutes, until the paint starts to wrinkle and bubble.
- 3
  Scrape the paint off with your plastic putty knife, pushing the flat edge of the knife forward through the softened paint. If it doesn't come off easily, apply more stripper and let it work for a few more minutes. Continue until all the paint is off.
- 4
  Scrub the trim vigorously with a nylon scrub pad soaked in paint thinner, to take up the last of the residue from the old finish. Let the wood dry overnight.
- 5
  Sand the wood by hand to clean up the surface and open the pores. Wipe away the dust.
- 6
  Brush wood stain on the trim, applying it thickly. Let it soak into the wood for about one minute, then wipe off the excess stain with a paper towel. Let the stain dry for a day.
- 7
  Brush a coat of varnish over the trim, making it a thin, even layer.

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