Instructions for Refinishing Furniture

Spread old newspaper or a large tarp over the floor. If inside, open all the windows to ventilate. Place the furniture onto the newspaper or tarp. If the furniture is too heavy, spread newspaper all around it to protect the floor from spills. Wear a chemical fumes mask and protective disposable gloves.

Apply a chemical stripping agent to wood furniture using a paint brush. Wait five minutes and, before the stripping agent dries, scrape away the old paint or gloss coating with a scraping tool. Sand the wood surface using an electric sander. Remove wood dust with a clean paint brush. Sand delicate wood furniture by hand using 150 to 220 grit sandpaper instead of an electric sander. Remove the dust.

Paint the wood furniture. First prime the wood, allow the primer to dry and apply latex enamel paint to the wood. Apply waterproof paint that also is insect-repellent to outside furniture. Apply a coat of clear varnish to seal the paint and preserve the finish. Use an insect and waterproof-repellent varnish if the furniture is made of wood and kept outside.

Repair chipped veneer on wood furniture. Check the furniture for any loose or raised veneer. Glue the veneer back into place with wood glue. Apply a 10-pound flat weight on top of the veneer if it is a flat table surface, so the glue sets into the wood. Wait six hours to dry. Use a glue sealant on hairline cracks or splits within veneer. Wipe off excess glue with a warm damp rag once the glue has absorbed into the wood veneer, and let dry. Wipe any excess dampness off the surface with a dry rag.

Clean plastic furniture with orange oil. Place orange oil on a clean cloth and rub the plastic furniture vigorously to remove grime and stains. Never use cleanser or steel wool pads on plastic furniture to avoid damage to the normally shiny surface. Remove excess oil with a second clean cloth, and check the plastic furniture for cracks.

Seal any the cracks with epoxy glue, scraping away any excess with a putty knife. Repair large sections of plastic furniture with holes or large splits using replacement plastic. Cover all the corners of pre-fitted replacement plastic with glue and hold it into place on the missing sections of furniture for a few minutes. Allow to dry. After the plastic furniture is cleaned and dry, use spray paint or a bonding paint in the color of your choice.