When dry, follow the Finishing process. Finishing Make sure the wood is clean and dry, then brush on a top coat of polyurethane, lacquers, shellac or water-based sealers. Finish the entire wood surface, not just visible areas, and allow it to dry overnight. Apply a second coat of finish in the same manner. Repeat sanding of the woodwork, applying multiple coats until the wood achieves the desired luster.
Some commercial hardwood bleaching mixes differ from the two-step process described above.
Always follow the manufacturer' s instructions. White Oak White oak is not recommended for bleaching applications because it has a tendency to discolor. Sanding When doing multiple sanding and finishing cycles, do not re-sand the wood until it is completely dry. Use a 220 grit sandpaper instead of steel wool when sanding water-based finishes because undetected steel fibers can cause rust marks. One effect of bleaching hardwoods is that normal expansion and contraction may expose darker, untreated shades of wood in the cracks between joints.