A very common problem you may encounter when designing, building, or renovating a home is matching wood colors. Older houses used a lot of reddish woods, but nowadays everything is lighter and softer with a natural color. So how do you light red oak? We'll find out later.
It may not be clear to you, but getting red oak red is not so difficult. There are two basic types of staining found on most finished wood pieces. The first is the natural coloring found in all woods. The second is artificial color such as stains and varnishes, which is usually just a surface dye. The good news is that both types of wood stains can be removed using the same basic procedures, making it easy to fix.
This solution is a two-part formula made from sodium hydroxide.(caustic soda, also known as caustic soda)and hydrogen peroxide.
You can buy it at the store or make it yourself at home. It is excellent for removing artificial stains and natural stains from wood. But please note that the discoloration is only on the surface. If you cut or sand the wood, it will reveal more stains that will need to be bleached again.
Working with chemicals can present health and safety risks. Be sure to read the manufacturer's instructions and warnings beforehand. And always wear rubber gloves and eye protection. It's also a good idea to have good ventilation.
Later we will see in more detail how to lighten red oak wood.
Exposed ceiling beams bleached to match light gray hardwood floors.
homemade wood bleach do it yourself
There are ready-made mixed wood bleaches on the market, but they are all very expensive in my opinion. The solution I like to use consists of two very simple and inexpensive products that you might already have at home. Hydrogen peroxide and regular household bleach.
If you don't have the ingredients, you can buy hydrogen peroxide at any pharmacy or drug store like CVS. Lye is available at your local hardware store on Sanitary Island. It is usually used to unclog pipes.
This is a very simple process that involves soaking the wood in hydrogen peroxide and then in a bleach and water solution.
Step 1. Mix bleach and water solution
Fill a container with 1 liter of water. It is important that you use a plastic or glass container and not metal. Then slowly add 3 tablespoons of lye to the water. Stir the water slowly between each tablespoon.
Vary the amount of solution you make based on the wood you want to lighten.
Important: Always wear gloves and eye protection when handling or working with bleach. Also, do this in a well-ventilated area and read the label instructions and warnings. Never pour water into the lye and do not pour too much lye into the water at one time. This is something you want to do slowly.Do not mix bleach in your peroxide.
Step 2. Apply peroxide to your wood
When the bleach and water solution is ready, pour some hydrogen peroxide on the red oak only. You're not pouring bleach on the wood yet, just pure peroxide. Be sure to soak the wood in hydrogen peroxide. Make sure you don't miss any places.
Step 3. Brush the foam
After the wood is soaked in peroxide, apply the bleach solution all over the wood with a foam brush. Make sure you get good thick coverage.
Step 4. Drying
After wetting the wood with hydrogen peroxide and then with bleach, spread it out and let it dry in the sun.
Step 5. Rinse the wood
After the wood is completely dry, you may notice a slight yellowish tint. Don't worry, it's just residue from the bleach solution. You can try rinsing once with a simple solution of water and white vinegar. The mild acid helps remove all the lye from the wood.
Rinse the wooden surface with clean water and towel dry. Then let it dry completely again.
This process removes most of the reddish coloration found in the wood.
Whitewashed sliding barn doors to match the light natural wood floors.
Store-bought wood bleach
Store-bought solutions are a great way to lighten red oak. The brand of store-bought wood bleach that I would recommend is called Wood-Kote. It comes in two bottles, one with bleach and one with peroxide.
This solution involves mixing equal parts of the two liquids in a glass or plastic container before applying them to the wood. Never put chemicals in a metal container. This differs from the homemade solution where the two parts are applied separately.
Step 1. Mix the solution
Mix equal parts of each solution into the new container. As mentioned before, make sure the container is glass or plastic and never metal. After mixing, a chemical reaction begins.
Important: Always wear gloves and eye protection when handling or working with bleach. Also, do this in a well-ventilated area and read the label instructions and warnings. Never pour water into the lye and do not pour too much lye into the water at one time. This is something you want to do slowly.Do not mix bleach in your peroxide.
Step 2. Apply the solution to your wood
Quickly apply the mixed solution to your wood. A sponge brush makes a good applicator. Keep the surface evenly wet to minimize scratching, and wet the wood properly.
Step 3. Drying
When the wood is evenly covered and completely soaked, let it sit and dry. I like to put my firewood in the sun. A little heat and cold air will help the wood dry a little faster, but leaving it in the garage will also dry it out.
Step 4. Rinse the wood
After the wood is completely dry, you may notice a slight yellowish tint. Don't worry, it's just residue from the bleach solution. You can try rinsing once with a simple solution of water and white vinegar. The mild acid helps remove all the lye from the wood.
Rinse the wooden surface with clean water and towel dry. Then let it dry completely again.
This process removes most of the reddish coloration found in the wood.
repeat if necessary
After the wood dries, evaluate the color. You can bleach the wood several times with any solution to get the desired color. Various bleaches will always remove more of the color and shouldn't harm the wood.
Note that both solutions only affect the top layer of wood. If you later mill, cut or deep sand the wood, the interior color will show, which means you will have to whitewash again. Therefore, take care to bleach the wood only after it has been cut, shaped or deeply sanded. Light sanding is fine.
Let the wood dry completely. Sand lightly with 320- or 400-grit sandpaper. Sand just enough to remove fuzzy surface grain, but do not penetrate the wood.
When should you bleach wood?
Whenever you want your wood to have a lighter tone, you can bleach it. Both methods are simply a way to remove the stain from the wood, giving it a more nude color. Fully bleached wood has a very gray color, which is exactly what some are looking for.
The current trend in home design is towards wood decking floors, but older homes used a lot of wood stain. especially red. If you want to repaint the floor, simply sanding it isn't enough. You may also need to remove some of the color to make it look more modern.
- If you want to make dark wood lighter. In this case, removing some of the paint may make it more appropriate or allow you to stain the wood the desired shade.
- If you have several pieces of the same wood, but they differ in color. In that case, you can lighten one or more tables to match the others. Or you can bleach all the boards and dye them a uniform color.
- If you want to color one wood to look like another. Taking the natural color out of the wood makes color matching easier. If you bleach both woods, you can dye them the same color.
- If you want to customize the color. For example, building a shelf or installing exposed wood beams and customizing floors can be a challenge. Whitewashing part or all of the wood so you can match the color is a great solution.
There are many reasons why you should consider bleaching your wood. And they all have to do with getting the color you want.
How to neutralize red tones on wood without bleach
If you don't want to bleach your red oak but still want it to look a little lighter, there is a way. It's a very subtle and visual trick, but it works and doesn't require bleach or chemicals. I think this is a way to neutralize the red oak instead of stripping it of color and replacing it with something else.
Let's take a look at basic color theory. If you look at the color wheel, you'll see that green is the opposite of red. This means that adding a little green to a stain will help neutralize or hide the red in your red oak. Also, every time you mix a primary color with its opposite on the color wheel, you get brown. And that's just the color we want to achieve.
This alternative method of lightening red oak works best when you are staining the wood for the first time. The small amount of green in your stain works with the wood's natural red, resulting in a lighter, more brownish hue.
This method isn't as good as bleaching and dyeing to lighten redwood, but it does a good job and doesn't require any chemicals.
Can red oak furniture be lightened?
Yes, no matter what the red oak wood is used for, bleaching it with a solution of hydrogen peroxide and bleach will remove the color. It doesn't matter if the wood is used for furniture, beams, shelving or flooring. If it is red oak, it can be washed with bleach.
Whitewashed furniture is a little more difficult because it is three-dimensional. Being able to take furniture apart and wash it in pieces will make your life a lot easier. This is not always possible, as wooden furniture often sticks, but if possible, try to take it apart.
Be very careful with anything that isn't wood. Fiber and leather can also discolor, so try applying your solution to wood only.
Be sure to sand the top coats before whitewashing the wood. If your furniture has a glossy coating, you should remove it before it starts to discolor.
It can be difficult to apply the bleach solution evenly to a round surface, but do your best. Even coverage is important if you don't want stretch marks. Because of this, multiple applications are often required.
How to Light Red Oak Gallery
Here is a small gallery with pictures of bleached and stained wood. Hope this gives you some ideas of what to do with your dark wood.
Decorative boards that have been bleached and stained in a shade of gray to match the floors and pale stone.
Bleach being used on a wooden plank kitchen table.
Chimney surround in bleached real wood.
Exposed ceiling beams with colored stripes with matching light gray flooring.
Real wood cornice bleached to match the light wood floors.
Bleach is a great way to mix woods indoors. This home features a matching beamed ceiling, interior barn doors and hardwood floors throughout.
Bleached clay bench to match the natural wood floors.
Summary: Light up the red oak
A very common problem you may encounter when designing, building, or renovating a home is matching wood colors. Older houses used a lot of reddish woods, but nowadays everything is lighter and softer with a natural color. So how do you light red oak? We'll find out later.
It may not be clear to you, but getting red oak red is not so difficult. There are two basic types of staining found on most finished wood pieces. The first is the natural coloring found in all woods. The second is artificial color such as stains and varnishes, which is usually just a surface dye. The good news is that both types of wood stains can be removed using the same basic procedures, making it easy to fix.
This solution is a two-part formula made from sodium hydroxide.(caustic soda, also known as caustic soda)and hydrogen peroxide.
You can buy it at the store or make it yourself at home. It is excellent for removing artificial stains and natural stains from wood. But please note that the discoloration is only on the surface. If you cut or sand the wood, it will reveal more stains that will need to be bleached again.
Working with chemicals can present health and safety risks. Be sure to read the manufacturer's instructions and warnings beforehand. And always wear rubber gloves and eye protection. It's also a good idea to have good ventilation.
If you have any questions or commentsE-mailus anytime. We'd love to hear from you.
FAQs
How do you get the red tint out of red oak? ›
Notice how green is opposite of red on the color wheel. This means that adding some green to a stain will help neutralize or hide the red in red oak. Plus anytime you mix a primary color with its opposite on the color wheel, you get brown.
Can red wood be bleached? ›If you find yourself with red wood after sanding, you can actually create your own two-part bleach. For this process, it is suggested to mix equal parts of lye with hydrogen peroxide and apply it to the wood.
Can you stain red oak a light color? ›You can stain red oak floors to get a beautiful light and beige color that's all the rage right now (white oak is the new popular kid on the block)… but not without going through some headache! Red oak just doesn't take as well to lighter colors as white oak does.
What happens when you bleach oak? ›Common laundry bleach or chlorine will effectively remove stain or dye color from wood, but will not affect the wood's natural color.
Can you bleach the red out of red oak? ›Yes. No matter what your red oak wood is used to build, bleaching it with a hydrogen peroxide and lye solution will strip the color. It doesn't matter if the wood is used for furniture, beams, shelves or floors. If it's made from red oak then it can be lightened with a bleach solution.
How do you modernize red oak? ›The NordicSeal is a great product for red oak – it safely “bleaches” the wood and removes the harsh red tones. The more coats you apply, the lighter it becomes. For the finish, use a water-based product, not an oil-based product which can yellow from sun exposure over time.
Can I use household bleach to lighten wood? ›While you can wipe down the surface with household bleach or glide it on with a paintbrush, a faster, easier application method is using a spray bottle. Simply mix your splashless household bleach at a 1:1 ratio with water in a spray bottle, shake it up and begin spraying the solution on the wood furniture.
How do you lighten red stained wood? ›The only effective way to lighten the color of wood after it has been stripped of all surface coatings is to use a wood bleach. Sanding does help to lighten wood in many cases, but this only applies to surface soil or grime, and even then only if the discoloration has not penetrated very deeply.
How do you neutralize red wood tones? ›You can neutralize the red wood tone by bleaching the bare wood. You can use raw umber on red tones to tone down the red instead of bleaching. Finally, you can add pure green stains, paints, and polyurethane to the red-stained or painted surface to knock out the red in the wood.
What stain looks best on red oak? ›- Early American by Varathane.
- Dark Walnut by Minwax.
- Briarsmoke by Varathane.
- Puritan Pine by Minwax.
- Classic Gray by Minwax.
- White Wash by Varathane.
- Walrus Oil cutting board oil.
- Weathered Oak by Minwax.
Does red oak look red? ›
Red Oak has pinkish and red tones throughout. Despite their initial difference in color, as you apply stain to them that difference is diminished. In fact, with any stain darker than medium brown the difference is almost indistinguishable.
How long do you leave bleach on wood to lighten it? ›On soft wood, you'll see results very quickly; on hard woods the bleaching takes longer. Let the acid work for about 20 minutes, then wipe it off with a damp cloth. If the surface isn't fully or evenly bleached, reapply the acid as necessary. On hard woods, complete bleaching may take up to an hour.
Does hydrogen peroxide lighten wood? ›Mix equal parts of the lye solution and hydrogen peroxide in a plastic or glass container and apply to the wood to be bleached with either a cheap brush or dipping. Allow to dry. The solution will likely bubble. For these items, I applied the mixed solution four times.
What color bleach cancels red? ›Green is definitely the best color to cancel out red hair.
Because it's the opposite of red, green neutralizes it. Green is also a cooling shade, so applying it on top of red tones will either tone down or completely get rid of their warmth.
Green and green-based ash cancel out red, magenta and orange. Blue and blue based colors and toners cancel out orange and yellow orange. Violet, purple and purple based toners cancel out yellow and pale yellow.
How do you make oak look less orange? ›But if you simply want to make the orange toned wood look weathered follow these three simple steps: Dry brush orange toned wood with white paint. Dry brush once more with chalk paint.
Can red oak be whitewashed? ›Red Oak wood flooring can also be White in color. Most frequently, with Red Oak, to go light or white with the color, bleaching is a necessary prerequisite. Bleaching should remove most of the Red tones, which tends look much better with a really light stain color like White.
Is Red Oak out of style? ›That is, until it started to lose popularity to “newer” design options – particularly the rise of maple, cherry and engineered wood alternatives. But, oak's story isn't over. Unique finishing techniques and trending style approaches are helping oak – particularly red oak – make a comeback.
Can you paint red oak white? ›The good news is that oak can be painted and it can be beautiful when done professionally. The problem with painting oak is that oak is a very open grainy type of wood. It can be very hard to fill the open grain with paint to give the surface a nice, smooth look and feel.
What undertone does red oak have? ›Red Oak does have a pinkish undertone. Often in the unfinished form, you're able to clearly see the pink graining. Depending on which stain you choose, the red/pink tones will be less noticeable. Don't forget that the darker the stain, the more that red undertone will drown out.
What are the disadvantages of red oak? ›
Cons of Red Oak
Red oak is a medium Janka hardwood, which means that while it won't scratch easily, it can dent more easily than harder varieties. If you're looking for a durable wood that can stand up to heavy use, you should consider a harder option, like white oak or hickory.
Red Oak undergoes a medium degree of color change over time, with a slight ambering of the pink/tan brown color you get when freshly milled.
How can I lighten wood without stripping it? ›White washing is simply mixing white paint and water to lighten wood. The more paint you add to your mixture, the less opaque the finished look will be. So, if you're looking to just lighten your wood without covering the wood grain, then use mostly water with a few drops of paint.
What's the difference between wood bleach and regular bleach? ›Other wood bleaches are chlorine bleach and oxalic acid. Chlorine bleach, which is like ordinary laundry bleach, will remove dye color from wood, but not the wood's natural color. Oxalic acid is commonly employed to bleach out water or rust stains. Teak stain remover sold by boat dealers is often based on oxalic acid.
Does diluted bleach ruin wood? ›Here's What To Do Next. Bleach is a powerful cleaning agent used for removing stains from laundry and hard surfaces. It's active ingredient, sodium hypochlorite, is a caustic agent that can break down the chemical structure of wood.
How do you make red less vibrant? ›Apply a coat of maroon, burgundy or crimson to a lighter shade to deepen the hue. If your red is too bright, you can deepen the hue by adding a deeper color. Choose a red that is a few shades darker than your current red and apply it on top of your first coat to create a stronger color.
How do you lighten a red pigment? ›Add White, Yellow or Orange
To make tints of red, or any color of paint, lighter, all you have to do is mix in some white paint. Another method of how to make red paint lighter is to incorporate yellows or oranges. This will result in lighter and brighter hues.
Green: Cancels RED | This is what you want to use to cancel out redness from pimples, Rosacea, Eczema, Sunburns, etc. L'Oreal Studio Secrets Color Correcter can be applied under your everyday makeup.
Do you have to sand red oak before staining? ›Sand the wood with 120-grit sandpaper.
Work along the grain, lightly sanding to remove debris and prepare the oak for staining. Always move in the direction of the grain when sanding wood to ensure a smooth, uniform finish. The grain is the dark lines in the wood, and in red oak these lines are very easy to see.
Appearance. Usually just called “red oak,” this domestic hardwood tends to be warm and on the lighter side. Like its name, it often has pink or red undertones. As it ages, it darkens to golden brown or even amber in color.
How do you lighten oak? ›
You literally just take a rag, pour bleach on it and wipe onto the wood evenly; apply it just like you would when wiping down a counter - not heavy, not too light. Let the bleach sit on the wood until it feels dry to touch.... REPEAT as many times as you want. Each time the wood will look lighter.
What is special about red oak? ›Features alternating leaves that are 4–8" long and have 7–11 waxy, spine-tipped lobes. Produces pale yellow-green catkins that appear at about the same time new foliage is expanding, typically April–May. Yields acorns that are round and ¾–1" long with a flat, thick, saucer-like cap.
Why is white oak better than red oak? ›Red oak and white oak are similar in appearance, but there are differences that give one an advantage over the other for individual projects. For instance, white oak is slightly harder and is denser, so it works better for projects that require watertight wood, like building a boat.
How do you remove red tint from wood? ›Adding a pure greenish tone stain or finish neutralize red tones in wood. A slight amount of green works with red tones in wood to produce a brownish lighter color. Plus, using raw greenish umber, bleaching the wood, and adding transparent aerosol toner Green help to neutralize red tones in wood.
How do you remove red tint? ›- Try A Hair Color Remover.
- Grab A Hair Bleach Kit.
- Go Darker.
- Reach For Green Shampoo.
- Let The Color Naturally Fade.
You can neutralize the red wood tone by bleaching the bare wood. You can use raw umber on red tones to tone down the red instead of bleaching. Finally, you can add pure green stains, paints, and polyurethane to the red-stained or painted surface to knock out the red in the wood.
How do you get rid of red tint? ›Green shampoo is one of the easiest ways to cancel out red at home. You can find a green toning shampoo at your local drugstore or add two or three drops of green food coloring (or green dye) to your shampoo. The green tones within the shampoo help to counteract the red dye on your strands.
What color cancels out red? ›Green cancels out red.
How do you modernize red oak floors? ›The NordicSeal is a great product for red oak – it safely “bleaches” the wood and removes the harsh red tones. The more coats you apply, the lighter it becomes. For the finish, use a water-based product, not an oil-based product which can yellow from sun exposure over time.
How do you remove red without color remover? ›Wash your hair repeatedly with dish soap if that's all you have on hand. Dish soap can help strip out color, but one use might not be enough. Use the dish soap as you would shampoo and wash your hair with it once per day until the color is gone. The high levels of sulfates help remove the red color from your locks.
Does WD 40 remove tint? ›
WD 40 is something handy and can work to remove tints. But it will leave your surface very oily and if it is not cleaned off properly, it will collect dust on the surface.
Does vinegar remove red? ›Washable Fabrics
If stain persists, soak in a solution of 1 quart warm water and 1 tablespoon white vinegar for 1 hour. Use white vinegar with care on cotton and linen. Rinse well with water and allow to dry.
How does vinegar darken wood? Vinegar causes steel wool to oxidize, or basically rust. That rust “dyes” the vinegar. Then, that vinegar reacts with the color of the wood that you apply it to, giving it a new, deeper color.
What is the hardest color stain to remove? ›- Hot Cocoa. ...
- Poop. ...
- Blood. ...
- Permanent Marker. ...
- Tomato Sauce. ...
- Grass Stains. ...
- Red Wine. ...
- Chocolate.
The best color to cover up red tones include darker colors such as blue, black, brown, and purple. Although you may not want to go darker, you can also try color correcting with a dye that is the opposite color on the color wheel.
Will purple shampoo get rid of red tones? ›If you find yourself asking, will purple shampoo fade red hair? Don't worry, it's perfectly safe. This hair care product will only help to tone your hair color, not fade it. In fact, it can actually help to neutralize unwanted yellow and orange tones as your red hair color starts to fade.
How long does it take for red color to fade? ›Even with the most talented colorists in the best salons, red hair dye will noticeably fade in around four weeks. It can even take a few attempts to get the red pigment to stick to your hair. And even then, red hair is prone to fading and looking orange or brassy.