Work in a well-ventilated area. Stain fumes can make you dizzy, and nobody wants a headache from their coffee table. Also, wear rubber gloves unless you want your hands to look like a raccoon’s for a week. Trust me on this one.
Lastly, dispose of your rags safely. Soiled rags can spontaneously combust (yes, really). Lay them flat to dry or put them in a metal can with water. You want your project to be a memory, not a fire investigation.
So next weekend, grab a rag, a can of stain, and that piece of wood you’ve been ignoring. Turn on a podcast, pour a cup of coffee, and just rub. It’s slow. It’s messy. It’s perfect. And when you stand back, you’ll see you didn’t just apply stain—you gave something old a little bit of your attention. That’s a finish you can’t buy in a store.
