How to Remove Water Stains from Wood Furniture
Water rings and stains are a common nuisance to the look and beauty of our furniture. However, with the right tools, it can be possible to get water rings out of wood.
What Causes Water Stains on Wood?
Basically, it’s moisture. Whether you have water rings or heat marks, those white stains are the result of moisture penetrating a wood’s protective finish. This happens with both cold and hot items, but the process of dealing with them are the same.
White vs. Dark Water Stain
It’s important to know the difference between white and dark water stains on wood because they will reveal how much work is needed to fix them
If you have a white water stain, that means the moisture is trapped in the finish layer of your furniture.
A dark water stain means that the moisture is already affecting the wood itself.
Removing white water stains from wood is possible with a few home remedies and DIY solutions. Dark water stains require much more work and are often best handled by a professional.
How to Remove Water Stains and Rings on Wood Furniture
Since white water stains are basically just trapped moisture, these home remedies attempt to get rid of the moisture, leaving you with a stain free wood surface. Before you buy a commercial product to get water rings out of wood, try these methods first.
- Using Dry Heat (Iron/Hair Dryer)
Try to evaporate the trapped moisture with a completely dry iron (no water/steam function on) or a hair dryer. When using an iron, put a towel or cloth over the stain and iron lightly (on the lowest setting) and check your progress every 10 seconds. With a hair dryer, set it to low and go back and forth over the stain for about 10 minutes.
- Using Oil (Mayonnaise/Petroleum Jelly)
This method attempts to penetrate the wood finish and replace the trapped moisture with oil. Whether you’re using mayo (full fat) or petroleum jelly, the idea is to apply a small portion to a cleaning cloth and buff out the water stain. If it doesn’t work after the buffing, you can try applying the mayo or petroleum jelly to the stain and let it sit overnight.
- Using Mild Abrasives (Toothpaste/Baking Soda/Salt)
Buff out water stains on wood with a mild abrasive. Using a non-gel (plain white) toothpaste, baking soda paste or salt paste (adding a few drops of water to form the pastes), gently rub the mixture into the stain. Be sure to go along the grain of the wood.
How to Keep Wood Surfaces Looking Great
After removing water stains from wood, be sure to keep your wood furniture looking its best with Bona PowerPlus® Wood Surface Deep Cleaner Available in Unscented and Orange Blossom, the residue-free formula uses the power of hydrogen peroxide to clean grease and grime easily and is free of phthalates and parabens. Find our wood surface cleaner at a retailer near you.