- 1). Remove the door from the doorjamb if it's already hung in place. Place the point of a nail on the bottom of one of the hinge pins, in the pin’s center. Strike the head of the nail to force the pin from the hinge. Remove the other pin or pins in the same manner, then lower the door from the doorway.
- 2). Place the door on a pair of padded sawhorses in an area that allows you to maneuver completely around the perimeter of the removed door. Remove all fixtures, such as hinges, doorknobs, and door knockers, from your door with a screwdriver until you are left with nothing but wood.
- 3). Wash the surface of the door using a pH-neutral cleaner. Wash the door down with a damp sponge, slightly saturating the door in order to bring out any grain in the wood. This will create a slightly roughened texture. Rinse the cleanser from the door using clean water. Allow the door to dry completely before continuing.
- 4). Sand the surface of the door smooth with a power sander containing 80-grit sandpaper, and remove the raised wood grain. By bringing out and removing the grain, you prevent moisture from doing so after the door is hung. Change the sandpaper after going over the surface of the wood to progressively finer grits until you have the smooth surface you want. Wipe the sanding residue from the door using a tack cloth when completed.
- 5). Apply a layer of wood stain to the door using a lint-free cloth, wiping the stain over the door’s surface following the grain of the wood. Keep the layer of stain evenly applied over the entire surface of the door to maintain a consistent stained appearance. Remove excess stain from the door immediately, removing any puddles or running stains. Allow the stain to dry completely for the amount of time suggested by the stain manufacturer. Apply multiple layers of stain for a darker color.
- 6). Seal the surface of the door to protect the stain color and to prevent light scratches from marring the door’s appearance, using a polyurethane sealant. Brush the sealant over the surface of the door, working with the grain of the wood, and allow the sealant to dry according to manufacturer instructions. Apply a second layer of sealer over the first, allowing it to dry as well.
- 7). Reattach the door hardware, and hang the door in place.
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