Minwax One Step Stain and Topcoat is a water-based stain and protective finish that brushes on like paint, needs no wipe-off, and dries in two hours.
Minwax has introduced Minwax One Step Stain and Topcoat, a water-based product that stains and protects wood in a single application. It is designed for bare or previously finished wood and targets both first-time DIYers and experienced users.
One Step brushes on like paint and does not require wiping away excess stain. The company says the formula flows and levels smoothly and dries in two hours, finishing projects up to three times faster than using Minwax Wood Finish Water-Based Stain followed by Polycrylic Protective Finish. Cleanup requires only soap and water.
“Wood finishing has traditionally required time, precision and multiple steps to achieve the best results,” said Brooke Carpenter, Brand Marketing Director at Minwax. “It’s about removing barriers and empowering a new generation of DIYers to take on projects with confidence.”
The product comes in satin and semi-gloss sheens, with more than 240 tintable colors and five prepackaged colors: Pickled Oak, Special Walnut, Dark Walnut, Charcoal Gray, and True Black. Quart and half-pint sizes are sold at Lowe’s stores nationwide and on Lowes.com.
Key features:
- Stain and protection in one step
- Dries in two hours
- No wiping required
- Soap-and-water cleanup
- Satin and semi-gloss sheens
- More than 240 tintable colors plus five prepackaged colors





