$30 Dresser Flip With Wood Bleach & Paint

You know that awesome feeling when you find a hidden gem at the thrift store? Well, I had that moment a few weeks ago when I snagged a solid wood dresser for under $30! It had good bones, a classic look, and I immediately pictured it as a beautiful, light, airy piece. My plan was clear: paint the main part and show off the pretty natural wood on the drawer fronts.

Uh Oh... Gray Stains?!

I got it home, all excited. The body was good to go for paint, but when I looked closer at those drawer fronts, I found a real problem: ugly, splotchy gray stains stuck deep in the wood, after sanding! Ugh! 😩

I tried all my usual tricks – a good cleaning, then some sanding to see if it would come off – but nothing worked. My dream of light, natural wood was quickly fading, and I started to think I'd have to paint the whole dresser, which wasn't what I wanted at all.

Here Comes the Hero: Dixie Belle Wood Bleach!

Just when I was about to give up, I got an email from Dixie Belle talking about their brand new Wood Bleach Kit. Could this be the answer to my gray-stain nightmare? I grabbed a kit right away, really hoping for a miracle. And guess what? It totally worked! ✨

This two-part kit is a total game-changer for raw wood. It's made to get rid of weird colors and make wood look even, which was exactly what I needed.

How I Used It (And How You Can Too!):

If you have similar tough stains on bare wood, or wood you've cleaned up and realize has spots, here’s a quick guide on how I used the Dixie Belle Wood Bleach:

First, super important tip: This bleach is only for raw, bare wood. Make sure there's no old paint, varnish, or wax on the spots you want to bleach. If there is, you'll need to remove it first! And always, always work in a place with good airflow, wearing gloves and eye protection – safety first!

1. Get Ready: I set up my work area outside for plenty of fresh air, and put down a tarp. I put on my gloves and safety glasses – gotta be safe!

2. Put on Part A: Using a clean sponge, I soaked the stained parts of the drawer fronts with Part A. I let it sit for about 10 minutes since it was a harder wood.

3. Right Away, Add Part B: Without rinsing Part A, I grabbed a fresh, separate sponge and put Part B directly over the wet Part A. You could almost see it starting to work its magic!

4. Let it Dry: I let the drawers sit overnight to dry completely. This is when the bleach really does its job.

5. Light Sanding: The next morning, the gray was GONE! There was a little bit of leftover stuff on the wood, so I lightly sanded the drawer fronts with fine sandpaper. That also made the wood even brighter.

The change was amazing! The gray stains disappeared, leaving beautiful, evenly light wood. I was seriously impressed by how well it worked.

Ta-Da! The Finished Look!

With the drawer fronts salvaged, I moved on to painting the main part of the dresser. I picked Dixie Belle's Blue Grass Chalk Mineral Paint – a gorgeous, soft blue that looks perfect with the light wood. Two coats, a little bit of distressing for an old-timey feel, and a protective topcoat, and my thrift store find was officially a showstopper! I added half wood rounds to the top for a added touch. Need a YouTube video of the process? Click here!

Check it out! What do you think of how it turned out? I also bleached the front feet!

This project really shows how much the right product can help. The new Dixie Belle Wood Bleach totally saved this dresser from having to be painted all over, letting me get that perfect mix of natural wood and painted style.

Have you tried the new Dixie Belle Wood Bleach yet? Or do you have a favorite product for stubborn wood stains?

Melissa

The Top Drawer RVA

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