Preparing the Cedar Wood

• 1). Clean the cedar with wood cleaner. Wood cleaner is usually sold in a concentrated form. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and mix a solution appropriate for cleaning wood.
  
  
• 2). Wet the cedar and apply the mixed wood cleaner to the wet wood. Allow it to sit for 15 minutes.
  
  
• 3). Scrub the wood with a nylon scrub brush.
  
  
• 4). Rinse the wood thoroughly with water.
  
  
• 5). If the wood turns dark, apply a solution of wood brightener to the wet wood. Cedar wood tends to have high levels of tannic acid. This natural preservative can cause the wood to darken during the cleaning process. Oxalic acid in wood brightener will neutralize the tannic acid and restore the cedar's natural color and luster.
  
  
• 6). Allow the brightener to sit on the wood surface for 45 minutes. Then rinse thoroughly with water.
  
  
• 7). Let the wood dry for at least 24 hours before applying paraffin oil.
  
  

Applying Paraffin Oil to Cedar

• 1). Use a paint brush, roller, or rags to apply a single coat of paraffin oil to the wood. Start on one side and work your way along in the direction of the grain.
  
  
• 2). Feed the cedar as much oil as it will absorb, but be careful not to over apply. Paraffin oil will not dry hard.
  
  
• 3). After you have applied a coat of paraffin oil, wait 15 minutes. Then go back over the surface with a dry paint brush or rags and remove any excess oil that has not completely penetrated into the surface of the wood.