I had read on numerous blogs that you could give wood an aged wood look by using vinegar and steel wool, so when I bought a new stool for my newly renovated bathroom I had to give it a try. I’m still so surprised at how well it came out. It really does look like aged wood! Who would have known?! Here is the stool that I started out with. Hello, bright, brand-new wood.
All I used was some vinegar, a piece of steel wool, a paint brush and a bowl to mix it in. Use a junk bowl, because it will get stained, and ruined. I read to use white vinegar, but I didn’t have any so I used some apple cider vinegar instead.
All I did was just place my steel wool in the bowl and poured vinegar on top of it. I poured enough so that the the steel wool was submerged. I let it set for at least 3-4 hours. I guess longer would be better, but if you are the impatient type of person like me 3-4 hours is all it took to get the color I reached. Most people do let it set overnight and I am curious if the shade would have been darker if I would have let it soak overnight. Next time I will try and be more patient to see.
Once the steel wool soaked for the 3-4 hours, I got my paintbrush wet with the vinegar and steel wool mixture and brushed it onto the stool. I let the stool dry. Then I washed off the stool because it had a little bit of a cloudy film on it. Plus it smelled like vinegar. You may not mind the smell, but it was too strong for me. I let the stool dry once more and that was it. Easy-Peasy!
Apparently the color that the wood changes to depends on the type of wood being used. I think it is pretty cool that this works and is much funner to do then use stains. 
Have any of you used this technique before?
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THANK YOU! I’m planning on buying the GORM Shelving unit from Ikea for my storage room and this will be the perfect finish for it! 🙂
What a GREAT tip!! I can’t wait to try this on something! Thanks for sharing…great pictures BTW!
Blessings
Gmama Jane
Oops, I forgot to fill out my info on the above comment! I don’t want to be anonymous, I want you to come over and visit me!!
Gmama Jane
I personally haven’t, but my husband does historical battles and beyond (as in hillbillies and aliens) lol in miniature scale and has recently used this method to “age” buildings and other props and pieces of his games and stuff. I think I read somewhere recently that pennies will give you a slightly blue gray hue. But it depends on the year (copper content has fallen significantly). I’ve also read if you put pennies under your Hydrangeas they will be more saturated in color… the copper again. It’s fascinating. I have a kitchen cart from IKEA that could use some “life”… 🙂
Just put steel wool and white vinegar in an old glass jar, put the lid on, and forget about it. Next time you want to experiment with this technique, you’ll be ready!! That’s my method. Gives it an old barn wood look.
It looks great, and I would of never thought of that. It would be better than stain also I think.
Never knew this, thanks!
I love faux finishes on wood, and have not heard of this technique before. But I love it. I guess it is like creating your own washy kind of timber stain. And by the sounds of it, you can control the depth of colour. Thanks so much for posting. I am going to give it a try on my next timber item. 🙂