Let’s Refinish the Trash Can!

Our kitchen trash can is made of wood. I bought it online many years ago before I had the skills and tools to make one. Over the years, I have painted it several times. I have pictures of three of the paint jobs but I’m pretty sure it was four. Staining the wood didn’t even enter my mind when I first got the trash can. The last time it was painted was a couple of years ago and I haven’t loved it, so I decided it was time to strip and stain it!

Painted trash can

Here are the pictures I can find of the different paint colors over the years. I don’t know what I was thinking with the first one – ugh! I’m not even sure that was the very first time I painted it but it’s the first picture I have. I liked it when it was the olive color but after I repainted the cabinets teal, it just didn’t look right.

Step 1: Strip all the layers

The first step is to strip off all the layers of paint. Since it’s still winter and we live where there’s snow, I will be working on this project inside the house. I have recently started using a natural, non-toxic stripper made by Stripwell. It is called QCS – Quick, Clean, Safe. My former non-toxic stripper go-to was CitriStrip but I find it messy to use. This is the 3rd time I’ll be using QCS. The 1st time was to remove a single layer of paint, the 2nd time was to remove a coat of sealer. Both of the previous times, it took only one application to remove the finish. This time it took several coats of stripper. Because there were at least 3 coats of paint as well as a couple of coats of wax, it took 4 rounds of stripper to remove most of the paint.

Step 2: Scrub

After the 4th round of stripper, I felt like the product had worked as much as it was going to. The wood looked like it had been stained with the paint, but I thought I could get a little more off/out before starting to sand the wood. I used a terry washcloth soaked in hot water and scrubbed all of the surfaces. I was surprised at how well that worked! Once I had scrubbed the entire trash can and let it dry, it was time to sand.

Step 3: Sand

As I mentioned, it’s winter but sanding with a power sander can’t be done in the house. So, I fired up my two oil heaters, bundled up in my sorels, sweats, knitted hat and took the project out to the garage. I used both my Makita orbital sander and Dewalt hand-held sander. I started with 120 grit sandpaper then used 150 grit. I was amazed at how well the rest of the paint sanded off! When the sanding was done, I brought the pieces back into the house because, at 34 degrees, it was too cold in the garage to use stain.

Step 4: Stain

The stain I used is a water-based one made by Minwax. The color is Provencial. I have used this color on our baseboards, trim around the doorways, and around the kitchen cabinet doors & drawers. Using a soft cloth, I applied two coats of stain on the outside and one coat on the inside of the trash can. Look at how pretty that grain is!

Step 5: Seal

Water-based stain dries fast so it wasn’t long before I was able to apply the sealer. I used Varathane water-based polyurethane and applied two coats with a paintbrush to all surfaces and one coat on the interior of the trash can.

Step 6: Add trim, buttons, copper

Over the years, the wood on the lid of the trash can has become damaged from hitting the kitchen countertop when we opened it. It is certain that the lid will continue to strike the countertop if we are not careful when opening it, so I wanted to both cover the damage and protect the top. I found a narrow piece of trim in my wood scraps that fit perfectly over the damage. I stained it then glued it to the top using Elmers Wood Glue. I sat weights on the trim to hold it in place while the glue dried. To cover the screw holes, I used flat headed wooded buttons. I also painted the hinges with copper craft paint and added a copper knob that I found at Habitat.

Before, During, After

Even though the stripping process took several days, it was SO worth the time invested! I don’t know why I ever painted the trash can! I love the way the stain looks against the cabinets and it goes so well with the floor color!

You Tube

Supplies

• Stripwell QCS stripper
• Minwax Provincial water-based stain
• Varathane water-based polyurethane
• Wooden buttons
• Wood trim
• Work gloves
• Cloth for staining
• Terrycloth washcloth for scrubbing
• Screwdriver
• Sandpaper
• Orbital sander
• Palm sander
• Putty knife
• Artist Paintbrush
• Copper craft paint
• Copper knob

Instructions

• Spray stripper, allow 15 mintues to work
• Using putty knife, scrap off paint
• Repeat if needed
• Using wet washcloth, scrub excess paint if needed
• Sand all surfaces
• Apply two coats of water-based stain using a cloth or paintbrush, allowing dry time between coats
• Apply two coats of water-based polyurethane using paintbrush
• Cover screw heads with wooden buttons
• Cover damage on lid with trim
• Using a small artist brush, paint hinges
  • If weather is nice, they can be spray painted
• Install knob

For your convenience

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