How to Get Minwax Polyshades Off Your Woodwork?

Minwax® is one of the most popular manufacturers of wood finishing products in the US.

Their product Minwax® PolyShades® is specially designed to enhance the wood grains by combining beautiful rich stain color and long-lasting polyurethane protection in one easy step. It’s available in a regular 1 quartz tin can and also as aerosol sprays for spraying.

The best thing I love about Minwax PolyShades is it can also be used over finishes like polyurethane and others to recolor old pieces of furniture, doors, windowsills, or other woodwork accessories.

Removing the PolyShades is not very tricky as all you need is standard paint or varnish removers like mineral spirits, paint thinner, or a gel-based paint stripper.

Removing Minwax PolyShades

If you need to change the color (to a lighter or a darker shade) that Polyshades has already imparted to your furniture piece, you can strip the old coating off and apply a newer one.

Here is a step-by-step process on how this can be accomplished…

Step 1- Prepare

Spread a drop cloth or tarp over the floor in the work area.

If you are stripping the Polyshades from a piece of furniture, such as a cabinet or windowsill, place the furniture item directly on top of the drop cloth or tarp. This will protect the floor from any drips, spills, or residue from the paint stripper.

Also, consider applying painter’s tape to any adjoining trims, moldings, or surfaces that you don’t want the paint stripper to come into contact with. This extra layer of protection can help prevent unintended damage during the stripping process.

Step 2- Protect yourself

The process of removing Polyshades from wood can release harsh chemical fumes that can be harmful if inhaled.

To stay safe, be sure to put on the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) such as safety glasses to protect your eyes from any splashes or debris, rubber gloves to keep your hands safe from the harsh chemical stripper, and a face mask/respirator to avoid breathing in the fumes given off by the stripper.

If possible, it’s also a good idea to work in a well-ventilated area, such as outdoors or with windows open, to help dissipate the fumes.

Step 3- Apply paint stripper on the surface

Take a can of gel-based paint stripper and apply it on a wooden surface with a paintbrush. Look for a paint/varnish stripper specifically formulated to remove oil-based Polyshades, not water-based strippers.

Alternatively, you can use a paint thinner or mineral spirits with a piece of clean rag. Dip a rag into the solvent and apply it evenly on the entire surface from which you need to strip the Polyshades off.

Regardless of what paint remover you use, make sure you apply a very thin coat over the surface and let it sit there for about 20 to 30 minutes. It’s good to read the instructions on the specific gel-based paint stripper container to get an idea of the time you need to allow the product to sit on the surface.

Step 4- Scrape off the gel and Polyshades finish

Once the paint stripper has had sufficient time to work and has dissolved the Polyshades finish, it’s time to start scraping off the resulting gel-like substance that has formed.

Use a plastic putty knife to carefully scrape without accidentally gouging or damaging the underlying wood. As you scrape, work to remove as much of the dissolved Polyshades gel as possible.

Be gentle and patient during the scraping process as your goal is to thoroughly remove the Polyshades finish in one pass, leaving behind a clean, bare wood surface.

Step 5- Scrub lightly with steel wool or sandpaper

With the bulk of the Polyshades finish removed, you can now move on to the sanding process to prepare the surface for a new finish.

With a fine-grade steel wool pad or fine grit sandpaper, sand the surfaces as well as the crevices of the woodwork to remove the remaining traces of the finish. Again, take your time to avoid damaging the wood.

Then collect all the residues of scraped-off gel and finish on the drop cloth or tarp you set up earlier to contain the mess and dispose of it properly, as it may contain harsh chemicals from the stripper.

Step 6- Wipe clean the woodwork surface

After using the paint stripper to remove the Polyshades finish, the next step is to thoroughly clean the surface in preparation for refinishing.

Start by cleaning the surface with a soapy warm water solution and a sponge or soft cloth. Be sure to pay close attention to any nooks, crannies, or detailed areas to get the surface as clean as possible. You want to remove any last traces of the dissolved Polyshades finish.

Once you’ve given the surface a thorough cleaning with the soapy water, go over it again with a clean, dry towel to fully dry the wood making sure there is no lingering dampness.

Step 7- Spray the Minwax PolyShades or apply it with a brush

Now that you have removed the old finish of the wood, it’s time to add new color and a long-lasting protective finish to your freshly stripped piece.

For applying a fresh coat of Minwax PolyShades choose the color of your liking. Some of the most popular color options you can pick are Antique Walnut, Bombay Mahogany, Classic Black, Classic Oak, Mission Oak, and Pecan.

Apply the selected Polyshades with a natural bristle brush evenly on the surface. Or if you want, you can use an aerosol spray can, to achieve the rich wood color along with long-lasting protection and enhanced wood grains.

Tips and Warnings During Minwax Polyshades Removal

By blending the stain and polyurethane into one product, Minwax PolyShades eliminates the need to apply these components separately. Each coat you apply delivers a vibrant color that enhances the natural wood grain, while also providing a long-lasting, protective polyurethane finish.

However, when it’s time to remove PolyShades® from the old surface for refinishing, keep these things in mind…

• Minwax Polyshades is not a recommended product for use on floors
• It’s great for DIY projects but you will need to add 3-4 coats to get the desired rich look
• For any finished woodwork or surfaces where you do not want to recolor or strip the existing Polyshades finish, do not use the paint stripper.
• Instead, focus on just cleaning the surface without removing the Polyshades coating.

While removing Polyshades is easy, you might be left behind with a dull faded surface that needs to be refinished with either paint, stain, varnish, or polyshades. So, you should only try this method on your old woodwork that needs to get a fresh new color or a refinishing touch-up.