Untreated wood is soft and porous, and one of the hallmarks of mahogany wood is its open grain. Unfortunately, this means that when paint color soaks into the wood, it can be difficult to remove completely. You ought to be able to remove the majority of the paint from mahogany wood, although this might require sanding or stiff brushing to get it out of the wood grain.
After you’ve removed the paint color, chances are you’ll have a lighter area on the mahogany. With a little creative stain matching, you can blend the light spot with the surrounding surface.
Things Needed
- Drop cloth
- Rubbing alcohol
- Toothbrush
- Rags
- Paint remover
- Stain
- Mineral spirits
Step 1
Protect the floor beneath where you’ll be working with a drop cloth or old sheet.
Step 2
Pour a generous amount of rubbing alcohol over the paint stain and let it soak into the wood fibers for about five minutes.
Step 3
Scrub the stain with a soft toothbrush, rubbing only in the direction of the grain. Pour on more rubbing alcohol whenever it appears to be drying out. Periodically wipe the area down with a clean, damp rag. Continue with this if the paint color appears to be coming out — it can take some persistence.
Step 4
Clean the stain with a damp rag and apply some paint remover if the stain is particularly stubborn. The City of Beaverton, Oregon, recommends citrus-based paint remover because it is relatively non-toxic and effective.
Step 5
Allow the paint remover to work as directed on the label. This is typically from 30 to 60 minutes. Remove it with a wet brush, such as a toothbrush or soft scrub brush. It may take two or more applications to get rid of the paint color.
Step 6
Match the color of the mahogany wood with some oil-based stain — stain is available in a wide range of wood tones, including mahogany. Mix it with little mineral spirits and rub over the lightened area you’ve been working on to blend it in.
