Welcome to our guide on how to stain wood with a rag! If you’re looking for an affordable and effective way to give your wooden projects a fresh, professional looking finish, you’ve come to the right place. Staining wood with a rag is not only cost-effective (no need to buy a brush), but it’s also an efficient technique for refinishing furniture.

With just a bit of practice, anyone can master this method. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the entire process, sharing valuable tips, product recommendations, and personal experiences to help you get started on your journey to becoming an expert in staining wood with a rag. So, let’s dive in and explore staining wood with a rag together!

staining wood top of nightstand furniture using a rag with text overlay

Staining wood with a rag is an easy way to give your furniture and other wooden projects a beautiful finish. You do not need a lot of supplies to do it, but it gives you more control over how much stain you apply to the surface.

Click here for the stain removal guide and checklist

This allows for better precision when staining intricate details on your project. Plus, because you don’t need expensive tools like brushes or sprayers, staining with a rag is one of the most cost-effective methods out there!

However, please note that if the wood you are staining is rough, or has a coarse texture, using a rag to apply the stain may result in the rag getting caught easily and leaving behind a lot of lint. So, this method works the best if used on smooth surfaces.

Table of Contents

Supplies for Staining Wood with a Rag

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150 Grit Sandpaper or 220 Grit Sandpaper
Shop Vaccuum
Tack Cloth
Intex Lint Free Rags
Wood Stain (Oil Based or Water Based)
Disposable Gloves
Stir Stick
Respirator (if using oil based stain)
Topcoat (Oil Based or Water Based Polyurethane)

Preparing the Wood

First, if your is dirty, clean it off. Dust and debris can mess up the next step, so it’s best to remove them before you sand the wood to get it ready for stain. Learn more about how to clean furniture before painting here.

Once the wood is clean, use a piece of 150 grit sandpaper or 220 grit sandpaper to smooth out the surface, smooth the edges a little and open up the wood grain to better accept the stain.

sanding surface of drawer before staining

This step will also help smooth out the surface so that your rag won’t get caught on any rough patches when applying the stain. Be sure to sand with the direction of the wood grain to prevent scratches in the wood that will be magnified once you stain the wood.

Learn more about the importance of sanding before painting here.

If using a power sander, go slow and don’t push hard. This will prevent the sander from leaving swirl marks in the wood, that will also be magnified once you stain the wood. Check out the best sanders for furniture to know which one is the right one for your project.

Then, use a shop vacuum with a hose and brush attachment to suck up the dust on the wood. Use a tack cloth to remove any remaining dust. This will create a very clean surface so that nothing interferes with the staining process.

Choosing the Right Stain

Once you’ve prepared your wood, it’s time to choose the right stain for your project. There are different types of wood stains, such as gel stain, oil based wood stain, and water based wood stain.

Gel stain is typically oil based, but it is a thicker consistency that can sit on the surface of the wood. Gel stain is great for wood that already has a finish on it. Check out this blog post about the farmhouse cabinet makeover where we used gel stain.

Oil based wood stain is the most common and popular stain; it penetrates the wood more than water based stains.

Water based wood stain also penetrates the wood, but not as much as oil based stain. But water based wood stain dries very quickly, so it is best for small projects.

For more information on all of these stains, check out our blog post on the best wood stains for refinishing furniture. It will also help you decide which one is best for your project.

Applying the Stain With a Rag

Now that you’ve chosen the right stain, it’s time to start applying it with a rag. To do this, dip your rag into the stain and then wipe it onto the wood in the direction of the wood grain (follow the natural lines in the wood.)

This creates an even coat and helps to avoid streaks. If you’re using a water based stain, work quickly and in small, long sections since it dries quickly.

Once you have coated the wood with stain you can let the oil based stain sit on the wood longer to help it soak in more, which creates a deeper stained color. Then use a clean rag to remove any excess stains.

using a clean rag to remove excess stain

I don’t let the wood based stain sit long on the wood since it dries so quickly.

It’s important to note that oil based stains are flammable, so make sure your rags are completely dry before disposing of them. I lay them flat outside to dry completely.

Staining wood with a rag is not difficult, but there are some tips to keep in mind to make sure you get the best results. The most important thing is to be prepared and patient. However, if you don’t want to use a rag, check our list of best brushes for staining wood here.

Check out my step-by-step guide on how to stain wood furniture.

If you’re working with a larger piece and wondering, if can you spray wood stain with a paint sprayer, read here to find out.

Make sure you have all of your supplies ready before starting, and that you’re taking your time with each step. Here are a few other tips to help you get started:

high quality supplies for staining project

Use quality supplies – Invest in good lint-free rags and a high-quality wood stain for the best results.

Test the stain – Before applying it to your main project, test it on some of the same wood first to make sure you like the color and that it’s working correctly. Each piece of wood can take the stain differently, even if it is the same type of wood.

Wipe off excess – As mentioned, wipe off any excess stain with a clean rag after the staining process is complete. This will prevent any drips, runs, or splotchy coloring in the finish.

Finishing the project

Once you are finished staining the wood with the rag and wiping off any excess, let it dry. Oil based stains need to dry for about 24-48 hours, water based stains dry completely within a few hours. Check the back of your can for specific times.

Then, depending on what type of finish you want, you can either leave it as is or add a top coat to seal in the stain. The topcoat will help protect the wood and the stain, and it will make it easier to clean.

Here’s our list of the best topcoats for painting furniture to learn more about what is best for your project.

You can use oil based polyurethane, water based polyurethane (also known as polycrylic), or even a wax topcoat. If you aren’t sure, here is our post on wax vs polyurethane, and here is our post on polycrylic vs polyurethane.

Here is how to spray polyurethane, and here is how to apply polycrylic by hand.

That’s all there is to it! Staining wood with a rag is an easy and cost effective way to get professional-looking results.

You can also distress furniture with a rag – you can see how I did it in this Heirloom Traditions All In One Paint review.

With the right supplies, prep work, and patience, you can transform your furniture and projects in no time!

Please remember, if you are using oil based products to let them dry completely before wadding up the rags and throwing them away! Good luck!