How to Make Homemade Natural Wood Stain

Looking for a natural and affordable way to stain your wood? Look no further than vinegar and steel wool! This simple and homemade natural wood stain can give your wood a beautiful, rustic look that will last for years to come.

What you need:

• 1 part steel wool
• 2 parts vinegar
• A container to mix the solution in
• A brush
• Gloves
• Safety glasses

Instructions to make homemade natural wood stain:

1. Take a full piece of steel wool and place it in a container like a mason jar.
2. Pour the vinegar over the steel wool until it is completely submerged.
3. Let the mixture sit for at least 48 hours, or up to a week.
4. Once the mixture is ready, put on your gloves and safety glasses.
5. Use a brush to apply the stain to the wood.
6. Let the stain dry completely.

Safety first!

The combination of vinegar and steel wool can be corrosive, so it is important to avoid contact with your skin and eyes. Take precautions and wear gloves and safety googles when using. If you do get vinegar or steel wool in your eyes, flush them immediately with water for 15 minutes. And if you get vinegar or steel wool on your skin, wash it immediately with soap and water.

Try Different Ingredients

The really fun part of this whole process....experimenting to make different homemade wood stains!! You can use a variety of vinegars, such as white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or red wine vinegar. The type of vinegar you use will affect the color of the stain and create different results. You can also experiment with different amounts of steel wool and vinegar to find the perfect shade of stain for your project.

The longer the steel wool and vinegar mixture sits, the darker the stain will be. If you want a lighter stain, you can dilute the vinegar and steel wool mixture with water. You can also add other ingredients to the vinegar and steel wool mixture to create different effects, such as tea leaves, coffee grounds, or spices.

Using vinegar and steel wool to make homemade natural wood stain is a great way to get a beautiful finish on your projects. It is also a very affordable and easy method to use. So next time you are looking to stain your wood, give vinegar and steel wool a try!

Faux barn wood Wall Created with vinegar/steel wool stain! This wall is done by Christine and her family.