I need your help please..........

[aurelio alarcon]

I have applied a dark stain to an exterior door that is way...too dark. What can I apply to remove it instead of sanding? Is there such a thing as stain remover? Please help me all you stain gurus....please...

[Jerry Olexa]

The only partial remedy I know is to flush with Mineral spirits and rub/wipe vigorously. This will lighten it a bit. Then sand and repeat . I know of no stain remover. Good Luck...Ideally, this should be done before the stain "dries". No easy solution.

[aurelio alarcon]

The only partial remedy I know is to flush with Mineral spirits and rub/wipe vigorously. This will lighten it a bit. Then sand and repeat . I know of no stain remover. Good Luck...Ideally, this should be done before the stain "dries". No easy solution.

Thanks Jerry. Unfortunately, I tried this, and it didn't work. Fortunately for me, when the homeowner got home he loved the dark color!

[Earl Kelly]

Next time you have a similar problem and have not put finish on, use some Laquer thinner. It should take most of the stain off, provided it's a pigmented wiping stain, which most commercial stain is.

[aurelio alarcon]

Next time you have a similar problem and have not put finish on, use some Laquer thinner. It should take most of the stain off, provided it's a pigmented wiping stain, which most commercial stain is.

I'll keep that in mind Earl. I used Minwax. I don't know if it is a pigmented stain or not. Thanks for the advice.

[Bill White]

Don't know what wood your'e using.....Most drastic measure would be wood bleach if sanding won't lighten it up.

[aurelio alarcon]

Don't know what wood your'e using.....Most drastic measure would be wood bleach if sanding won't lighten it up.

Thank goodness that the owner liked the color. Had he not liked it, I would have had to have sanded the door to bare wood. Once I noticed that the stain was too dark, it was too late to lighten it with mineral spirits ( I tried to no avail).