paint prepped: cleaning up a yucky dresser top

Luckily this piece has beautiful curves and is full of potential else this dresser top would have scared me away! Sharing how I tackle. 

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to sand or to strip 

If the surface is flat, then I sand. If the surface is curvy or not easy to sand, I use a stripper like Citri-Stripper. This decision is step one. 

1. After sanding or using a stripper, then I use mineral spirits on a clean rag to wipe away any left over chemicals. 
2. I think use fine steel wool to wipe away any extra stripper or left over debris. 
3. I then use a damp cheesecloth to remove any dust or particles left over. 
4. If I've used stripper, I will recheck to make sure that the surfaces are smooth and do not require a quick sanding with an orbital sander or hand sander. Repeat 1-3 steps again. This will make sure your surface is prime for moving forward to painting. 

Happy Preparing!