My Vintage Porch

Interior Design, DIY, and Refurbishing

Stripping Furniture With Oven Cleaner

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My sweet hubs, Trav, got this mirror for me last Christmas. He even went out shopping by himself at a consignment store. What a guy! He knows me and exactly what I like!

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I had been wanting to strip the stain off, to lighten it up a little. I decided to try oven cleaner again. I had tried oven cleaner several times on previous projects that were larger, and it worked but was costing too much because I had to use so much. I never ended up finishing a project that I had started with oven cleaner because of that reason. I always ended up switching to furniture stripper. For smaller projects, like this, it’s great and goes super fast!

Update: I have (since this project) used it on a lot of larger furniture and it’s worked amazingly well on so many pieces, but I do still have times when it doesn’t work as well. It’s tough to tell sometimes whether or not it’s going to work great or not. For myself, if I’m planning on stripping it anyways, I would rather try oven cleaner before trying furniture strip because it’s less goopy and goes faster.

See how dark that stain is? It’s amazing to me how much lighter it got, just by stripping with two coats of the oven cleaner! I have seen people do this with paint as well. I haven’t had the best of luck with using it with paint. I think it depends on the type of paint and how thick the paint is as to whether or not it will work good or not.

It’s a super simple process and goes fairly quickly. I sprayed it on and let it sit for 20 minutes (or can sit longer)… even the “fume free” is stinky, so work outside if you can, with a mask, goggles, and gloves.

I taped off my mirror because I didn’t want to take off the back and remove the mirror before I sprayed it down. I ended up taking the plastic off halfway into the process because it was falling off and the oven cleaner wasn’t ruining the mirror anyways. I just wiped the mirror clean when I was finished and it cleaned up great!

I applied a nice heavy coat of the oven cleaner, and then, like I mentioned, let it sit for 20 minutes. I then scrubbed it with my pot scrubber and a couple drops of Dawn dishwashing soap mixed in with warm water.

I rinsed it off, wiped it off with a lint free cloth, and then let it dry completely before applying another coat of the oven cleaner…and then again went through the same process. I just wanted to make sure that I had all of the old stain off. I love how it looks with the old wood character left behind!

Sanding can take away a lot of the old character color. I love how using furniture stripper leaves a lot of the old wood character behind, but it’s so annoying to strip things! This process with the oven cleaner was nicer to use than furniture stripper on this smaller piece, in my opinion, and it went super quick!

I didn’t want to spray it off with the hose because the mirror was still attached with a backing. If it was just the wood frame, I would’ve sprayed it down with the hose water. I wiped it down with paper towel or a lint free cloth to dry it after.

Update: Since doing this mirror project, I have also done several other mirrors with the oven cleaner and used the hose after to spray it off after. If I feel like I got water in between the mirror and the backing, I remove the mirror and let it dry and wipe off the excess in between the mirror and the backing. Just make sure not to get the oven cleaner on the back side of the mirror because it could possibly take off the mirror part. I also thought that I would never spray anything with a hose that has wood veneer, but I have done it now and it’s been fine. I have noticed that if the wood veneer is cracked or bubbling before I do it that it can get worse, fyi. I have never noticed an issue with spraying down wood with my hose, it can expand when wet, but mine has always gone back to normal when it’s completely dried out. Never let wood sit in water, but I haven’t had an issue with it getting wet and letting it dry…but there is always a possibility of something such as wood expansion, etc when the wood gets wet. I have done many large furniture pieces now without a problem though.

I am so in love with how it turned out! I will be using the oven cleaner on many projects in the future!

I find that when removing stain from older pieces of furniture, the wood grain shows so much better! I love seeing all of that character shine!

Wouldn’t it be cool if this mirror was 6 feet tall?!

I have another mirror that is solid wood sitting in my closet that I will using this technique on.

I love all of the ornate detail! It’s so gorgeous!

I would love to hear in the comments below if this is something that you think you might try! It’s such a fun process to see the before and after!

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Comments

  1. Love it!! Oven cleaner is handy for quite a few things. I use it to clean the fiberglass floor in my shower. Amazing results I can’t even get with Beekeepers Friend.

      • The mirror Trav got you looks completely awesome. He’s not only the nicest guy, he has good taste too!

        • Yes! The previous owners of my house did not keep a clean shower. I tried everything to get the fiberglass pan clean. Found a hack to use easy off oven cleaner. Took two tries but finally got it clean!

          I am excited to try this on wood now. This mirror looks amazing!

    • Oh wow!!! It looks amazing!! I recently started following you recommended by Telloandrose and caught you midcarpet episode, I was so impressed with how determined you are!!Love your content very much!!
      I hope I can summkn half your determination and not get scared working on my first project, a Singer sewing machine I just bought and convert it into a table. You just inspired me to do the same treatment! Do you think I should take off the brass handles on the drawers while using the oven cleaner? Tks so much for sharing all your stories and it’s so nice to meet you!????

    • Curious doesn’t using water raise the woodgrain? I’ve always been told to use denatured alcohol by professional furniture and cabinet makers??

  2. The mirror looks amazing. I love it so much. Just wondering what kind of scrub brush did you use. And how long do you think you scrubbed it? Wondering if this is an hour project or much longer?

  4. I love all your projects!!! This one in particular. You’ve given me the courage to try it!
    Thank you!!!
    Christel

  5. I wouldn’t have thought of using oven cleaner for furniture stripping. The result is utterly amazing. I certainly will give it a go. Very impressed with Travis taste as well lol.????

  9. Love the detail and character of this mirror so much!! I’ve never heard of using oven cleaner to strip furniture before so I’m definitely going to try it! I have a really old mirror (currently living under my bed) that was my great grandmother’s that would be good to try this technique on . Love all your pieces and look forward to seeing them in your future home! ????

  12. I can’t wait to try this on my antique makeup vanity! You have inspired me ????

  13. I am currently stripped a end table
    Using Citrus Strip and Saran Wrap
    Technique. I think I will try the oven cleaner! I love all of your projects!

  14. Is the mirror solid wood or a veneer? We just bought an old bed headboard and footboard today that has this color of stain, so you got me thinking!?!?!

    • This is gorgeous! I have an antique desk the same dark color and now I really want to try this instead of painting it. I’ll keep you posted! Thanks for all of your inspiration!

  15. I can’t get over how it came out! It is so cool! Love all of the details! Thanks for sharing all of your processes with us.
    I can’t wait to try this!
    Lori Harmon

  16. This mirror is beautiful and if I ever need to strip anything I will try oven-cleaner over sanding! Yay you!

    PS.. Have you tried this method on painted items?

    • What is your go to stripper for larger projects? I have a bar cart so the oven cleaner might be to expensive for all of it. Although I may use it in the spindles because I struggle with those so much.

  17. where has this East Off hack been my whole life?! i cannot wait to find a piece to try this on – it turned out amazing!!!

  19. I love what this technique does to the original wood. I have collected several projects and I can’t wait to try this or bleaching on them. This mirror is beautiful!

  20. I have never heard of using oven cleaner but the result was amazing!!!! The wood is SO GORGEOUS!!! I’m going to definitely try this!!!

  22. Yep, gonna look around my house to find a mirror to try this on! I love how great it looks. It’s amazing ❤️

  23. Poor Trav did a great job picking out the mirror it’s beautiful. The oven cleaner is a great idea I’m definitely going to try it.

  25. I’ve used your bleaching technique several times and can’t wait to try this one! It’s beautiful!

  26. Love it!! So simple and turned out gorgeous! Gonna have to change my husbands name to Poor Nick soon! I’m always hunting for new projects now! ????????????????

  27. It looks great! I had no idea oven cleaner could be used to do this! ????????

    Do you have a email signup list for your blog? ????

  33. Hi Natalie!! The mirror looks so much better than before. All of the detail stands out now. I would have never thought of Easy Off. I would have thought it would damage the mirror but now we know if won’t. You are a brave woman????. I will have to try this on my next small project. Thank you! ????

  35. Looks amazing. I want to try this on an old Singer sewing machine table I didn’t want to sand because of all the detail wood work. Fingers crossed

  37. Natalie great mirror I have a oval mirror. Over the years it turn green I am guessing it might of been gold. Can I use oven cleaner on it.
    Thank you.

  42. Love how it turned out Natalie!! The character is gorgeous! Am definitely going to try this technique, I have a few small bits of furniture to try it on.

  43. What a great idea! I have never thought of using oven cleaner have always used Citristrip. Try the Dollar Tree next time, they have oven cleaner!

  44. I have a really big kitchen island ( it’s basically large antique wooden table) that is the same color as your mirror. You said it’s too expensive to do a large piece of furniture with oven cleaner so what do you recommend? If $$ store has oven cleaners I would definitely do it you our way otherwise please let me know what I should use to achieve the look. Thanks

  46. I love the color and look of the final product! So pretty! I think I might try this on my dark Sourav dining table from World Market.

  47. Amazing! Love to use things for different things other than intended use! What do you do if you don’t have pressure washer?

  48. Definitely going to try this!!! Time to head out to the thrift stores to find a mirror with some of that gorgeous detail!!! Thank you for sharing this technique!!

  49. And nowwww I’m on the hunt for an ugly old mirror that needs a makeover like this! I LOVE the way it turned out!

  50. I have just the piece to try this on! Thank you so much for the detailed instructions. I can’t wait to get started!

    • The mirror looks great! Love how all the detail looks on it now that the dark finish is gone. I am planning to try this on the table legs of an old farm table I have! Thank you for sharing.
      Shandra

  53. Hi – the mirror and everything else I’ve seen you post on IG doing this technique has turned AMAZING. Do you happen to know if this would work on veneer?
    I have a table but just noticed the top it’s veneer. I’m asking due to the cleaning afterwards with water part?

  54. I bought a narrow farmhouse table at an antique store and I love it, except whatever finish they put on it has become sticky (after daily use – we eat at this table so I am constantly wiping it off). I’m thinking of trying oven cleaner to strip off the finish and then just seal it… Have you ever stripped a sticky table? wondering if this is a good easy-off project for me to start with?!

  56. Do you think this would work on a kitchen table? If so would you suggest restraining the table or painting and sealing after the Oven cleaner?

  57. This is amazing!! It turned out so gorgeous!! Can I use the oven cleaner on a painted wood surface?
    Thanks for sharing
    Tara

  59. Hello,
    I’m trying to remove was from my pine table and sanding just clogs up the sander extremely quickly. Would this work if the wood has a wax finish on it?
    Thank you kindly,
    Pam

  60. I may have missed this but do you recommend putting a wax or wood conditioner when completed?

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