How to Clean & Refinish an Oak Baby Crib

Apply nontoxic furniture cleaner to a soft brush and work the cleaner thoroughly into all areas of the crib. Allow the cleaner to stand on the wood for 20 minutes and repeat the treatment, applying a second coat of cleaner to the crib with the brush.

Wipe all traces of the cleaner from the wood with a damp cloth. Allow the wood to dry to the touch.

Sand the crib with an oscillating sander with a triangular sanding head; do not use a rotary sander as the circular motion will damage the wood grain. Sand the wood with 220-grit sandpaper, attached to the sander, until all traces of the old finish is removed down to the bare wood. Go over the crib a second time with the sander and 320-grit sandpaper.

Apply two coats of wood stain to the crib with a small paintbrush. Brush on the first coat of stain against the grain, followed immediately by a second coat of stain going with the grain.

Wipe the wood grain with a clean, dry cloth, removing all traces of stain that hasn’t penetrated into the wood. Buff the crib vigorously with a clean, lint-free cloth.

Place the crib in a well-ventilated area, out of direct sunlight, and allow the stain to cure for 48 hours.

Apply a few drop of linseed oil to a fresh cloth and rub the crib with the cloth, going against the wood grain. Buff the crib vigorously in the direction of the grain with a clean, dry cloth.