How to Stain a Panel Door With a Water Based Stain

Ensure that the door surface is clean before staining. If the door has already been painted or stained, you must remove the paint or stain first. You can remove fingerprints and other marks by wiping it with denatured alcohol. Additionally, you can sand the wood in the direction of the grain to ensure that you don’t leave any scratches.

Apply a prestain conditioner. The conditioner will even out the absorbency of the wood so you’ll get a more uniform color.

Place the panel door on a sawhorse. Open the can of the stain and stir it thoroughly using a stick. This will evenly mix the stain pigment.

Dip a foam brush in the stain -- just enough to make it wet. Apply stain to the door's edge first.

Stain the panels of the door from top to bottom, following the grain of the wood. Return to the top to paint the upper mullion (vertical center) and rail, still following the wood's grain. Continue staining downward, working on the mullions first and then the rails.

Stain the two stiles (the outer left and right vertical sections) last, in the direction of the wood grain. Use a dry cloth to wipe off any excess stain in the direction of the grain.

Check the panel for any marks or streaks. If you find any, rub them off using a dry, lint-free cloth in the same direction as the grain. Allow the stain to dry according to the manufacturer’s instructions. For water-based stains, one hour is usually enough for the stain to dry.

Flip over the door and repeat the process to stain this side. Apply stain to the top, bottom and side edges of the door as well, checking regularly for streaks. Allow the stain to dry thoroughly.

Check the underside and the edges of the door to see if the stain has run down these areas or if there are any streaks. Apply stain or wipe with a dry cloth as needed. Wait for the stain to dry thoroughly before applying a top sealant.