Driftwood is a floating piece of wood that has washed up on shore by water. You can find driftwood naturally by beaches, lakes, or rivers, but you can also purchase them in hobby and crafts store.
At home, natural driftwood makes a gorgeous decorative accent piece and brings the outdoors indoors.
Driftwood is a popular natural material to use in many crafts and decorations. If you plan to display driftwood at home or outdoors, I highly recommend preserving it with a sealant so it can look fresh for decades.
This post lists several methods on how to preserve driftwood without using bleach. Under each technique, I’ve also recommended some of the best sealants for driftwood. Here’s how to seal, preserve, and finish driftwood at home!
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How To Preserve Driftwood
It is surprisingly easy to preserve and seal driftwood at home. This post lists several effective ways to preserve driftwood and keep it from rotting.
How Do You Keep Driftwood From Rotting?
It’s important to keep in mind that driftwood is soft and fragile, and should not be handled roughly or stored in humid areas. If driftwood is not treated properly, it will start to deteriorate after a few years. Dry driftwood will last forever, but exposure to moisture will cause it to decay after a few years.
If you want to enjoy your driftwood for decades, I highly recommend following the instructions below. This post will teach you how to properly clean and prepare driftwood for sealing, and how to select the best sealant for your project.
How To Prepare Driftwood For Sealing
You should always clean the driftwood before preserving it! If you found the driftwood by a body of water, it’s normal to find sand, dirt, insects, and debris inside small nooks. Cleaning the driftwood before sealing will help prevent your finished piece from looking grainy and rough.
Here’s how to quickly clean your driftwood before sealing:
- Shake the driftwood remove any loose dirt and bugs.
- Gently scrub the outside of your driftwood with cleaning brush to get rid of any exterior debris.
- Use a toothpick to pick out any visible particles stuck in cracks and crevices.
- If your driftwood’s surface is too rough, you can smooth it out with sandpaper (like with this 220 grit one).
Now that we’ve cleaned and prepared our driftwood, we’re ready to preserve it with sealant. Below, I’ve listed five best sealants for driftwood and methods to preserve driftwood without using bleach.
1. How To Preserve Driftwood With A Clear Matte Acrylic Sealer
One of the easiest ways to seal driftwood is to coat it with a clear acrylic sealer. Just make sure to select a matte formula and you’ll get a beautiful, invisible finish!
For preserving driftwood for indoor use, I highly recommend using this Clear Acrylic Matte Sealer from Mod Podge. This super easy-to-use sealant comes in a spray bottle form, so you can achieve quick, even coats. The quick application makes it a great product to use on large pieces of driftwood and makes the DIY process so much easier.
Sealing driftwood with an acrylic sealer can keep your driftwood from rotting and preserve it for years to come. If you have a soft piece of driftwood, this product can help harden its exterior. Although the Mod Podge sealer will provide excellent durable protection to any project, I don’t recommend using this product for outdoor driftwood use.
How To Use Mod Podge Acrylic Sealer On Driftwood
- Before starting, move outdoors. Place newspapers under the driftwood to prevent spraying the sealant on the floor.
- In quick bursts, spray the acrylic sealer evenly over the driftwood.
- Allow the acrylic sealer to dry and flip the driftwood over to get the backside.
- Note: it’s important to allow your driftwood to dry completely before adding a fresh coat. For best results, I recommend applying two or more coats on both sides.
2. How To Seal Driftwood With A Wood Polish
Wood polish is a great product to seal and preserve driftwood. It’s easy to use and gives wood a beautiful natural glow. If you want to transform your dull, dried out driftwood into a gorgeous, vibrant piece of home decor, I highly selecting wood polish as your sealant.
This natural Beeswax Furniture Polish and Conditioner from Touch Of Orange is a great chemical-free product to finish driftwood. It restores, protects, and preserves wood, and prevents your beautiful piece of driftwood from drying and cracking. This is a great polish to use for both indoor and outdoor driftwood projects.
How To Use Beeswax Furniture Polish On Driftwood
- Before starting, place newspaper under the driftwood to protect your surfaces.
- Using a soft cloth, rub and spread the furniture polish over the entire driftwood.
- Allow the polish to set overnight.
- Wipe off the excess polish with a clean cloth. You’re done!
3. How To Protect Driftwood With Tung Oil
Tung oil is the ultimate natural finish and sealant for wood. If you don’t want to use bleach, this is great alternative to preserve driftwood. Note that tung oil has a longer application process and will require multiple coats to be effective. However, the beautiful vibrant finish makes this product well worth the effort!
To preserve driftwood, I highly recommend using Hope’s 100% Pure Tung Oil. This oil penetrates deep into driftwood and provides a long lasting resistance to moisture, alcohol, oil, and everyday wear. I recommend only using this product for indoor driftwood products, but you can use it for outdoor use if you reapply the oil at least once a year.
How To Use Hope’s Tung Oil On Driftwood
- Before starting, move to a well ventilated area and place newspaper under the driftwood to catch any spills.
- Using a soft cloth, apply a thin even layer of tung oil over your entire driftwood. Allow it to rest for one hour before wiping off any excess oil with a clean cloth.
- Allow the driftwood to dry for at least 12 hours between each coat. For best results, I recommend using at least four coats.
4. How To Finish Driftwood With Wood Wax
Wood wax is the ultimate natural finish to enhance and seal wooden surfaces. It is super easy to use and only requires one coat to be effective! This is a great sealant to use on large driftwood and makes the DIY process quick and simple.
When you apply it on driftwood, it creates a protective barrier to keep moisture out and brings out a vivid color and glow. It also is an effective way to keep driftwood from rotting and cracking.
For sealing driftwood, I highly recommend using Wood Wax For Cutting Boards by Walrus Oil. Although branded for cutting boards, this product works great for most wooden surfaces and uses natural ingredients like coconut oil and beeswax.
Compared to oil products (which sink into driftwood), wood wax creates a tough outer layer. This is a perfect sealant for people who want to harden soft driftwood. If you are sealing driftwood for outdoor use, wood wax is an excellent option.
How To Use Walrus Oil’s Wood Wax On Driftwood
- Before applying, place newspaper under your driftwood to protect your surfaces.
- Using a soft cloth, rub a thin layer of wood wax over the entire driftwood.
- After 15 minutes, wipe off the excess wax with a clean cloth. You’re done!
5. How To Stain And Preserve Driftwood With Teak Oil
Teak oil is a blend of oils (generally tung oil and linseed with extra additives). This type of oil is formulated specifically to protect wood from sun damage, weathering, and fading. Teak oil is often used on boats and wooden furniture, but it also makes a great sealant for driftwood.
Each brand varies in their ingredients and effectiveness. To seal and preserve driftwood, I highly recommend using this Premium Golden Teak Oil from Star Brite. This ultra-refined formula is an all-in-one product to preserve, stain, seal, and protect wood.
This is hands down the best sealant for driftwood. Its UV absorbers makes it an ideal product to use on driftwood for outdoor use. Best of all, you only need to use one coat to get the job done! This is a great oil to quickly and easily finish any piece of driftwood no matter how large the project is!
How To Use Star Brite Teak Oil On Driftwood
- Before using, move to a well ventilated area and place newspapers under the driftwood to catch any spills.
- Using a soft cloth, apply a thin layer of teak oil evenly over the entire driftwood. Wait for five minutes and wipe off the excess with a clean cloth. You’re done!
- One coat should be enough, but if your driftwood is extremely dried out, you can apply a second or third coat after the oil completely dries. If you plan to place your driftwood outdoors, I recommend reapplying the teak oil every six months.
Product List: Best Sealants To Preserve Driftwood
This post introduces several sealant methods to preserve driftwood without bleach. Here are the all time best sealants for driftwood in one convenient list:
Overall Best Sealant For Driftwood
Other Excellent Driftwood Sealant Options
Conclusion
Driftwood is a natural treasure that can be found in oceans and rivers. You can collect them to create one-of-a-kind wooden carvings, picture frames, furniture, ornaments, and other fun crafts. Sealing and preserving driftwood is an important step to keep it from rotting and smelling.
- RELATED: How To Preserve Flowers In A Jar
If you plan to place your driftwood outside, I highly recommend waterproofing it with a sealant. This will help preserve it for decades to come. For outdoor use, teak oil is a great option to stain and preserve your driftwood, and protect it against sun damage, weathering, and fading.
I hope this post gave you some helpful tips on how to preserve driftwood at home. Good luck!