There’s nothing worse than bringing home a new piece of wood furniture, only to find out it has a terrible reddish tone to it. In order to avoid this issue, here are some guidelines on how to neutralize red tones in the wood. With these tips, you can keep your furniture looking beautiful for years to come!
What is Red Tone?
Red tones in wood furniture couldn’t be appealing to the eyes. If your red furniture has too many red tones, it may be time to fix the problem. Before replacing them, there may be a few measures like bleaching process, little raw sienna, sand, or adding green color to furniture you can tone down the reddish tone in your wood.
Method To Neutralize Red Tones In Wood
There are a few methods on how to neutralize red tones in wood which are listed below
Sand and Repaint
Using sandpaper to wear down the glossy veneer on your wood furniture is a good method to neutralize red tones in woods. After sanding repaint the piece. When choosing a new paint color, be sure to pick a light shade that will help mask any residual red tones.
Instructions
- Start with medium-grit sandpaper and light sanding the entire piece of furniture.
- Wipe away any dust with a damp cloth.
- Apply a new coat of paint with a foam brush.
- Pick a light color to help neutralize any residual red tones.
Neutralize Using Green
Using green stain to tone down the red in your wood furniture is a common method that many experts use. This pure green color will help to cancel out any unwanted red tones in the wood.
Instructions:
- Start by painting the entire piece of furniture with green paint.
- Once the green color has dried, apply a second coat of paint in the desired color.
- Be sure to pick a lighter color to help neutralize any residual redwood tone.
- Add a Clear Coat of Polyurethane.
Adding a clear coat of polyurethane can be used to neutralize red tones in the wood. This will help to seal in the new paint color and protect the furniture from wear and tear. If we want to neutralize a specific color tone, use the color in the opposite direction on the color wheel. If we follow the basic color wheel, the green color is placed opposite the red color, similarly to remove the yellow tint we will add blue to the stain colors.
Using Raw Umber with Sienna
Raw umber and sienna are two colors that can be used to tone down the red in your stained wood furniture. We will apply two coats, one of raw umber and other of sienna. These colors will help to cancel out any unwanted red tones in the wood.
Instructions:
- Start by painting the entire piece of furniture raw umber.
- Once the raw umber paint has dried, apply a second coat of paint in sienna.
- Allow the sienna paint to dry completely.
- Apply a third coat of paint in the desired color.
- Be sure to pick a light color to help neutralize any residual.
Bleaching the Wood
If you’re looking for a more drastic measure, you can try bleaching the wood furniture which is the most effective way to neutralize any red tones.
Instructions:
- Start by mixing a solution of one part bleach with ten parts water.
- Apply the solution to the furniture with a sponge or brush.
- Be sure to evenly distribute the solution.
- Allow the furniture to sit for at least an hour.
- Rinse the furniture off with clean water.
- Dry the furniture completely before applying a new coat of paint or stain.
With these guidelines, you can easily neutralize red tones in the wood and keep your furniture looking at its best!
Homemade Wood Bleach Method
The bleaching method is the most commonly used and cost-effective method. The homemade bleaching method is one of the convenient bleaching methods used for removing red tones from wood. The method has the following steps
Mixing The Lye And Water Solution
To mix the lye and water solution, you will need
- 1 cup of lye
- 2 gallons of water
Instructions:
- In a plastic container or bucket, mix the lye and water together until the lye has completely dissolved.
- Be sure to wear gloves and eye protection gear while handling the lye, as it can cause skin and eye irritation.
- Pour the mixture into a spray bottle or another container that can be used to apply the solution to the furniture.
Applying Peroxide Solution To Your Wood
The peroxide will help to lighten the wood and neutralize any unwanted red tones.
To mix the hydrogen peroxide solution, you will need:
- 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide
- 1 gallon of water
Instructions:
- In a plastic container or bucket pour water and the hydrogen peroxide.
- Pour the mixture into a spray bottle or another container that can be used to apply the solution to the furniture.
- Apply hydrogen peroxide to the furniture, being sure to evenly distribute it.
Spread The Lye Solution Evenly
After applying peroxide solution to wood now we will apply the lye solution. Be sure to evenly distribute the lye solution when applying it to the furniture. This will ensure that all of the red tones are neutralized. Use a foam or brush to spread it evenly on the wood perfectly.
Drying The Wood
Once you have applied the desired solution to the wood, be sure to allow it to dry completely. This will ensure that the wood is properly protected and that any residual solvent is removed. After the wood has dried, you can move to the next step.
Clean Water Rinse
It is important to rinse the wood furniture with clean water after applying the desired solution. This will remove any residual solution and ensure that the wood is properly protected. Once you have rinsed the wood furniture off, be sure to dry it completely. This will remove any residual solution and protect the wood from further damage.
You can add the desired amount of lye and peroxide to make your own wood bleach for the red tones in the wood.
Using Market Manufactured Bleach
We can also neutralize red tones in wood by using market-made wood bleach by following the mentioned steps
Mixing The Solutions
To mix the solutions, you will need:
- 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide
- 1 cup of water
- 1/4 cup of bleach
Instructions:
In a plastic container, mix equal amounts of hydrogen peroxide, and water, and then add bleach. Be sure to wear gloves and goggles while handling the bleach, as it can cause skin and eye irritation.
Apply The Mix Solution
Pour the mixture into a spray bottle or another container that can be used to apply the solution to the furniture. Apply the solution to the furniture, being sure to evenly distribute it so that no spot is left.
Dry The Wood
Once you have applied the desired solution to the wood, be sure to allow it to dry completely. This will ensure that the wood is properly protected and that any residual solvent is removed. Keeping the wood in an open environment will help as heat and fresh air will completely dry out the wood quicker.
Rinse The Dry Wood
After the wood is completely dried it is important to rinse the wood furniture off with clean water. Rinsing will help remove any residual solution and ensure that the wood is properly protected. Once you have rinsed the wood furniture off, be sure to dry it completely. This will remove any residual solution and protect the wood from further damage.
Try Professional Experts
It is possible to remove red tones from wood by following the correct steps. It is important to be patient and use the right products in order to achieve the desired results. By using bleach, it is possible to lighten or completely remove any red tone from wood especially those with green undertones. Hiring a professional can be a good option as it takes so much time, and effort and you have to take precautions. Artistic Cabinet Finishes can help to do a better job in removing the red tone from your wood.
