When we decided to make our own planters for the backyard I had grand ideas of painting them red or orange or green! But since I change my mind just that quickly, I decided neutral was best.
We wanted a way to keep the natural texture of the wood and make it look a little modern. Raw cedar will age over time, but how long will it take? And will it be consistent? And I want it to look good now!
We learned that you could give cedar an aged appearance with steel wool and vinegar. Not only did this seem like a great solution for making the planters look good, but it was incredibly simple.
Directions:
In a large pot combine one gallon of white vinegar with 6 pads of #0000 steel wool. Let sit at least 24 hours. Using a brush, large sponge, or a rag, liberally apply the vinegar concoction to the wood. Let dry and add another coat if needed. Seal with a clear coat of deck stain.
A fabulous way to turn raw wood into something a little more modern and a lot more polished.