# How to Stain Stairs
Things You'll Need
- Vacuum cleaner
- Medium-grit sandpaper
- Fine-grit sandpaper
- Painter's tape
- Wood stain
- Tack cloths or absorbent rags with mineral spirits
- Paintbrushes
- Polyurethane finish
- Clean rags for wiping off stain
- Protective gloves
Instructions
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1
Vacuum the stair treads well to remove all traces of dust and dirt.
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2
Apply painter's tape to side stringers and any other areas where the stain should not be applied.
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3
Sand the stairs with medium-grit sandpaper. Sanding the wood opens the grain and helps the stain to better penetrate the wood.
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4
Vacuum up all sawdust. Then, wipe down each tread with a tack cloth or a rag dampened with mineral spirits to remove any small particles.
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5
Apply stain with a paintbrush in long, smooth, even strokes following the grain of the wood, and then immediately wipe the stain off with a clean rag.
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6
Allow the stain to thoroughly dry according to the time specified by the manufacturer.
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7
Sand the tread lightly with fine-grit sandpaper. Wipe off the tread with a rag dampened with mineral spirits or a clean tack cloth to remove all sawdust.
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8
Apply a second and third coat of stain if desired, sanding lightly between each coat.
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9
Brush on the first coat of polyurethane finish and allow it to dry.
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10
Lightly sand the tread again with fine-grit sandpaper and apply a second coat of finish.
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