Lately I have been drawn to furniture that really needs some love. We’re talking full strip and re-finish kind of love. But the other day, I was scrolling through some listings and found the most gorgeous mid-century modern dresser by Johnson Carper listed for $40 so I had to have it. It was in pretty good condition but it had definitely seen better days. The dresser had been sitting in storage for some number of years and had some water damage to the finish that had never been taken care of.

Since it wasn’t in bad enough shape to totally overhaul, I pull out my secret weapon instead:

Restor-A-Finish

Before

After

This stuff works actual miracles and I highly recommend it to anyone who is simply trying to freshen up any of the wood furniture they have in their home. I follow the directions exactly, including a round of Feed-N-Wax after the Restor-A-Finish.

What you’ll need:

Restor-A-Finish in your desired color (multiple options available)

Feed-N-Wax

Clean, soft rags (I love these, they’re a little pricey but I’ve always felt they’re worth it when it comes to a smooth and even finish)

How to do it:

1. Wipe down the entire piece with a damp cloth to remove any dirt, dust or other grime currently on the finish.

2. Soak a clean cloth with Restor-A-Finish.

   (If the damage is especially bad, you can apply with super fine steel wool instead of a rag but double check the result in an inconspicuous spot before using steel wool over the entire piece.)

3. Wipe on, with the grain, covering a small area at a time.

4. Immediately wipe area dry with a new clean soft cloth.

5. Wait 30 minutes.

6. Apply a coat of Feed-N-Wax with another clean cloth.

7. Let stand for 20 minutes, then wipe off any excess.

8. Buff surface with clean cloth.

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