How to Remove Stains From Gel Coat Finishes
Gel coat finishes are usually done on wood surfaces to act as polish and bring out a gloss. It is extensively used over household furniture and gives it a beautiful color, without hindering the show of wood grains. It also protects the wood surface from stains and scratches. However, get coat itself is vulnerable to stains because of daily use of the furniture. You have to clean any stain on them as you notice it to prevent it from damaging the finish. The more stains on a finish, the older and dirties your furniture looks and loses its luster. The stains on the gel coat finish can easily be removed using commercial cleaning agents. However, the work needs the right technique and knowledge to prevent any damage to your finish and the furniture.
Things Required:
– Lint free cloth– Mineral spirits
– Furniture wax
– Denatured alcohol
Instructions
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1
The cloth that you use to clean the stains should be lint free. The lint and hard grains on a cloth can damage the finish and cause minor scratches which will build over time. Firstly you have to clear off the stains and then re-wax the finish so that the shine, gloss and protection is restored since most of the old wax will be removed during the cleaning.
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2
Pour some mineral spirit on the lint free cloth. Rub it over a small patch of stain to clean it. Now watch the effect of the mineral spirit. If it causes any damage to the wood, you should not proceed further. Most mineral spirits are able to get off the stains without damaging the finish itself but you need to do a patch test to confirm.
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3
Once assured, use the spirit to clean all other stains on the finish. Do not work aggressively. Work slowly to clear off all the stains completely. Now you need to restore the lost wax. Get furniture wax and apply it over the stain areas you cleared with the spirit.
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4
Apart from mineral spirits, you can also use denatured alcohol for the same purpose. Do a patch test for the alcohol treatment as well. After being assured, dip the cloth in a bottle of alcohol and use it to clear off the stains on the finish. Alcohol takes longer time than the spirit to be effective and clear the marks.
