How to Remove the Effects of Sunlight From Interior Wood Walls

Prepare the Surface

• Clean the wood wall surface with a hot wash. Utah State University recommends adding 2 tablespoons of gum turpentine and 4 tablespoons of boiled linseed oil to each gallon of hot water. The water doesn't need to be hot enough to wear rubber gloves. Dip a soft cloth in the solution and wring out the excess liquid. Wipe the wood surface with the cloth and reapply the mixture as needed. Hot water and turpentine wash away dirt and superficial polishes. Linseed oil replaces natural wood oils and nourishes sun damaged areas. Wipe the walls dry and buff with a clean cloth, applying furniture oil and surface wax if desired. House Smart recommends using tinted paste wax to bring out the natural luster of the wood. Paste wax is available in a variety of colors, so you may choose one that closely matches your wood tones.

Overcoat the Wood

• Overcoat wood walls if cleaning the surface doesn't remove the effects of sunlight. Overcoating is the process of reapplying new finish over old finish. Select a small, hidden area of the wall to practice this technique before applying it to the entire surface. Utah State University suggests preparing the wall with a weak solution of ammonia and water to remove existing polishes and waxes. Apply a fresh coat of oil-based wood stain that closely matches your woodwork. Buff the wall with steel wool and wipe down the area with a clean cloth. Allow sufficient dry time as stated on the can of stain. Apply a thin coat of a clear finish to add shine to the wood surface.

Apply the Padding Technique

• Use the padding technique to repair sun damaged wood walls that have a lacquer finish. Padding is the process of using a tightly rolled cotton cloth to reapply lacquer over a wood surface. Roll a soft clean piece of cotton fabric tightly in your hand and dip the cloth in a bowl of padding lacquer, available at hardware stores and wood finishing stores. Squeeze the rolled pad to remove excess liquid. Wear rubber gloves to avoid getting the liquid on your bare hands. Use an up-and-down continuous vertical motion to apply the padding lacquer to the walls. Keep the cloth moving because solvents in the padding lacquer dry quickly, and you may leave fabric impressions on the wall surface, reports Utah State University. Increase pressure to induce heat and friction that will both repair the sun damaged areas and dry the lacquer.

Strip and Restain

• Strip and restain the walls if cleaning, overcoating and padding don't reduce or eliminate the signs of sun damage. This Old House recommends applying a coat of commercial stripper to the wall surface, allowing it to penetrate the walls for 10 to 15 minutes. Open exterior windows to ensure that the area stays ventilated. Use a dull scraper to remove softened finish from the wood wall surface. Rub the stripped wood with steel wool and denatured alcohol to remove residue. Use a rolled cotton rag, wrapped in cheesecloth, to apply the a thin coat of dewaxed shellac. Brush on a thin coat of water-based glaze or stain, in a color that matches your existing woodwork. Reapply to get the desired color.