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There are so many stain applicators from which to choose. For most situations, I recommend using a cotton cloth to apply stain rather than brushes or sprayers. However, rags come in all different types, and it is important to use the correct rage for the situation.
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What Type of Rag to Use For Staining?
Use a rag to apply stain to wood. Water-based stains dry too quickly to consistently achieve uniform finishes with the thin layers applied by brushes and sprayers. Rags will apply stain more quickly and thickly. Rags are also cheaper and easier to dispose of.
Types of Cotton Rags that Can be Used for Staining
There are many different types of cloth that are suitable for staining. Importantly, all of my recommended rags are woven cotton. If you purchase cloth to do your staining, look for cloth that has been washed and is free of lint.
Lint is the fine strands of fabric that are shed by cloth or yarn. If lint is shed into your stain, it is very difficult to remove and creates imperfections. When light hits your stained wood at the right angle, the raised surface of the trapped lint will cast a shadow and mar the flawlessly smooth finish you are working hard to achieve.
Cheesecloth
Cheesecloth has a multitude of uses in the home. As the name implies, it is utilized in creating many types of cheeses. It can be used to remove moisture from the surface of a steak before being seared. In your workshop, cheesecloth is a premium stain applicator.
This cotton-based cloth is made of loosely woven cotton fibers. Cheesecloth comes in various grades depending on the tightness of its weave. Grade 40 has the most open weave while grade 100 is extra fine. The brands of cheesecloth stocked at most home improvement stores do not identify the grade of the grades of their cheesecloth.
If your search for cheesecloth presents you with multiple grades to choose from, I recommend grade 80 for working with stain. It is particularly suited to absorb and hold stain. The relative openness of the weave allows the stain-soaked fibers to penetrate into nooks and crannies within your wood.
Cheesecloth is an excellent option for applying stain. Make sure the cheesecloth is prewashed and labeled as lint free. It is worth noting that cheesecloth may be the priciest of my recommendations.
Cotton T-Shirts
Many of my have plenty of old t-shirts on hand. If the tags on the t-shirt are still legible, look for 100% cotton shirts to use as rags to apply stains.
T-shirts are great options for applying stain because they are often readily available requiring no trip to the store. An article of clothing that has outlived its intended purpose can provide a final service before being trashed.
Choosing the Best T-Shirt Rags
Perhaps surprisingly, there are tiers in the t-shirt world for best rags for applying stain. The gold standard is 100% white, bleached cotton shirts. These shirts run nearly zero risk of discoloring the stain. The cotton fibers will hold stain well, and if the t-shirt has been well worn and washed, the likelihood of shedding lint is minimal.
Gray colored t-shirts are the second-highest recommended in this category. It has most of the benefits outlined for white t-shirts, but depending on the shade of gray, visual saturation queues are less apparent.
T-Shirts to avoid if possible are heavily-dyed shirts. If it is a color that bleeds in the washing machines, there is a chance it will bleed during stain application. Prime offenders in this category are red, purple, navy, and orange t-shirts. Always choose bleached white or gray cotton over t-shirts with these colors.
Avoid t-shirts that are covered with graphics as this will impede stain absorption. Most synthetic fabrics used in making clothes are designed to repel water. Avoid cotton synthetic blends if possible. Heavier knit cloth, such as is used in sweatpants, sweatshirts, or polo shirts work wonderfully. Continue to mind my recommendations regarding colors and blends with these heavier materials.
Tip: If you do not have old clothing around suitable for use as stain-applying rags, it is possible to buy bulk rags online. Even cheaper, you can purchase old clothes at Goodwill or Salvation Army. Buying old, used clothing is often cheaper than buying cheesecloth.
Terry Cloth
Terry cloth is another option for applying stain. This fabric is most commonly made of 100% cotton. Terry cloth is a common material for bath and hand towels. Tightly packed loops created in the weaving process allow this type of cloth to be especially absorbent.
Those same loops, however, can break during the staining process and drop lint into your stain. The loops also have the potential to hold fine particulates that could become suspended in your stain as you apply it. For these reasons, terry cloth is lower on my recommendation list.
Using Tack Cloth while Staining
Tack cloth plays an important role in your staining project. Unlike the materials described above, tack cloth’s importance precedes applying your stain.
Tack cloth is another very loosely woven fabric with some similarities to cheesecloth. However, most tack cloth has been infused with texture-altering materials such as resin. The reason for infusing the cloth is to make it sticky or tacky, hence the name tack cloth.
Tack cloth is used to clear your wooden surfaces of all debris. Before staining, all wood should be sanded. Sanding opens wood pores to better accept stains. After sanding, all surfaces need to be wiped down to remove sawdust along with other airborne particulates that have settled on your wooden surface.
Tack cloth is the best rag to use for preparing your surfaces to receive stain.
Disposing of Your Used Stain Rags
Leftover rags from stain pose a real danger if not disposed of properly. Hundreds of homes each year are left in ruins following the spontaneous combustion caused by chemicals found in most stains and varnishes.
Petroleum chemicals within stains and varnishes can react with oxygen. These chemical reactions release heat. If you have heaped up piles of stain-filled rags, the chemical reactions paired with the insulation of layers and layers of rags can lead to a raging fire.
We have two methods for dealing with rags used for staining.
Metal Can and Water Method
A method for properly discarding stain-soaked rags:
- Find a metal container with a lid such as an empty paint can.
- Fill the metal container with water.
- Submerge the stain-soaked rags completely within the metal container.
- Seal the metal container.
- Take the metal can to a hazardous materials dropoff location.
Air Dry Method
This method prevents heat from being trapped within a pile of used stain rags.
- Securely place or hang the used rags in a well-ventilated area in a single layer on a nonflammable surface out of direct sunlight.
- Allow rags to dry for at least 48 hours.
- Dispose of the completely dry rags per your local sanitation company’s instructions.
We do not recommend washing your rags used for staining. Stain will stiffen the fabric of your rags making it unable to be reused as a staining rag. Washing old rags in a washing machine will lead to the petroleum chemicals entering into your sewer system. These chemicals can leach into soil and waterways causing long-term problems.
A prime reason I recommend old t-shirts as a method to apply and absorb stain is that old t-shirts can be discarded afterwards with minimal impact on the environment and your wallet.
Conclusion
Cotton is king when it comes to applying and wiping away stain. Cheesecloth is an excellent if more expensive option. Old white or gray t-shirts are an excellent rag choice for staining wood. Old shirts will have minimal impact on the environment and your pocketbook. Any time you take on a wood-staining project, be sure to dispose of all materials properly.
