# Greyed or stained wood: how to restore its natural colour without sanding

> The quick solution for garden furniture, terraces and outdoor surfaces worn by time

URL: https://legno.covemavernici.com/en/bottega/legno-ingrigito-o-macchiato-come-restituirgli-colore-naturale-senza-carteggiare

#### The quick solution for garden furniture, terraces and outdoor surfaces worn by time

- [preparation](https://legno.covemavernici.com/en/bottega?tag=preparation)
- [maintenance and renewal](https://legno.covemavernici.com/en/bottega?tag=maintenance%20and%20renewal)
- [trattamento sbiancante](https://legno.covemavernici.com/en/bottega?tag=trattamento%20sbiancante)

Category: Application Tips

Reading time: 4 min

The garden table you bought three summers ago is not what it used to be. The warm colour of the wood has turned into a uniform, dull grey, perhaps with a few rust stains left by a pot or a dark ring where a glass sat for weeks. The question you have probably asked yourself is: should I throw it away, or is there a way to save it without spending a weekend sanding? **There is, and the answer is called Trattamento Sbiancante.**

#### Why wood turns grey

Greying is not dirt in the traditional sense: it is the result of UV rays breaking down the outermost fibres of the wood, combined with rain washing away its natural pigments. **It is a surface phenomenon, not a structural one — and that is precisely why it can almost always be solved without working the wood mechanically.**

#### What Trattamento Sbiancante does

Trattamento Sbiancante (64.641) is a water-based, colourless, ready-to-use and odourless product. It works by chemical contact, not abrasion: you apply it with a brush, leave it to act for about 10 minutes, and wash it off with water. In most cases this is enough to restore the natural colour of the wood. **If an area is particularly stubborn, the treatment can be repeated a second time.**

Besides greying from ageing, it is also useful for cleaning wood and removing common marks: rust, coffee, traces of glasses and drinks, stains left by garden pots. **It is therefore a multi-purpose maintenance product, not just for occasional restoration.**

#### The procedure, step by step

- Clean the surface of dust and coarse dirt, so the product acts on the real cause of the greying and not on surface dirt.
- Apply Trattamento Sbiancante with a brush, evenly, allowing for a coverage of 5-6 m²/L.
- Leave to act for about 10 minutes.
- Rinse with plenty of water, using a not-too-stiff brush if needed.
- Leave to dry — about one hour touch-dry — and assess the result, repeating locally if necessary.

#### What to do after bleaching

#### When you need Fondotinta Uniformante instead

#### In summary

Greyed or stained wood rarely needs replacing, and even more rarely needs sanding down completely. **Trattamento Sbiancante (64.641) solves most cases in a few minutes of actual work; for darker or uneven colours, Fondotinta Uniformante (64.642) completes the cycle.**

#### Recommended products

[BACK TO THE WORKSHOP](https://legno.covemavernici.com/en/bottega)

#### Related articles

- [trattamento sbiancante Exterior wood paint without sanding: a guide to quick renewal cycles Application Tips 4 min How to restore colour and protection to outdoor furniture, railings and window frames without hours of sanding READ](https://legno.covemavernici.com/en/bottega/vernice-per-legno-esterno-senza-carteggiare-la-guida-ai-cicli-di-rinnovo-rapido)
- [trattamento sbiancante 5 DIY wood projects to make this weekend (and how to protect them) Ideas with Wood – Furniture (DIY) 4 min Five simple ideas for anyone who wants to work wood on their own, with the right treatment for each project READ](https://legno.covemavernici.com/en/bottega/5-progetti-fai-da-te-in-legno-da-realizzare-questo-weekend-e-come-proteggerli)
- [preparation How to prepare wood before painting: the primer that speeds up work on site Application Tips 4 min A guide for professional applicators on how to cut preparation time without compromising the result READ](https://legno.covemavernici.com/en/bottega/come-preparare-il-legno-prima-di-verniciare-il-fondo-che-accelera-i-tempi-in-cantiere)
- [maintenance and renewal Annual maintenance of wooden window and door frames: the step that extends the life of doors and windows Application Tips 3 min A small recurring task that prevents much bigger and more costly work READ](https://legno.covemavernici.com/en/bottega/manutenzione-annuale-degli-infissi-in-legno-il-gesto-che-allunga-la-vita-di-porte-e-finestre)