You’ve seen those white rings of water stains on the coffee tables, kitchen counters, and other wooden surfaces. Water stains are easy to clean off other surfaces, but cleaning them off wood requires care. So, how do you remove water stains from wood?
You can remove water stains from wood furniture using everyday products like mayonnaise, petroleum jelly, lemon, vinegar, toothpaste, an iron, or even your hairdryer. Avoid using water and apply these cleaning solutions carefully to avoid damaging the wood.
Do you want to learn more? Let’s look at how to use these materials to safely remove water stains without damaging the wood and what to do if the stains won’t come off.
How Do You Get Water Stains Out of Wood?
Water stains can form on wood when you accidentally spill water or place a glass or cup directly on the wood’s surface. These tiny white stains can be irritating since you can’t just wipe them off with a wet cloth. So how do you remove water stains from wood?
You can remove water stains from wood with a cleaning solution and a clean, dry cloth.
If you spot the watermarks before they turn dark or brown, you can easily remove them. However, if you fail to do so and the water has reached the surface of the wood, crossing the wax and polish layer, it will be harder to remove.
Here are six easy ways to remove water stains from wood:
Mayonnaise
If you have mayonnaise in your fridge, you can use it to clean the wood. Dab a soft cloth with some mayonnaise and rub the stain gently or put mayonnaise directly onto the table, trace the stain, and wipe with a clean cloth. This method also works with petroleum jelly.
If trying this once or twice does not work, leave the mayonnaise on the stain overnight and cover it with the cloth. Then, try to remove the stain the next day.
Vinegar or Lemon
If you’re out of mayonnaise, you might have vinegar or lemon juice. Dap a soft cloth in vinegar or lemon extract and gently wipe the stain. You can also add some olive oil for a polishing touch.
You can apply synthetic polish (on Amazon) afterward to bring back the shine.
Toothpaste
Toothpaste is also an effective cleaning solution; you can use it to clean wood. First, take a non-whitening and cream-based toothpaste and apply it to the stain. Then, take a piece of cloth and rub the stain away.
Alternatively, put a generous amount of toothpaste onto the cloth and wipe the stain. If the wood surface appears dull afterward, use a wood polish.
If the stain is too stubborn and has turned dark, you can increase the amount of toothpaste and use a toothbrush to rub it off. Be gentle with the toothbrush, and preferably use a soft-bristle one. You might need to polish the entire furniture to balance off the coarse part left because of the stain.
Use Steel Wool to Rub Off the Stains
Use the finest and softest steel wool you can get your hands on for this method. Pour some lemon oil over the stain and gently rub it. You can add olive or linseed oil to the lemon oil.
However, avoid using steel wood if the stains quickly go off with other cleaning solutions and reserve it as a last option.
Iron the Stains
Yes, you read that correctly! You can iron the water stains to loosen them if they’re too stubborn. Take a white cotton cloth or one with no prints and spread the fabric over the stain. Then, put your iron to the lowest heat level and turn it on.
Do not add water to the iron, as it can do more damage. Now slowly run the heated iron over the cloth. The gentle, constant heat and pressure should do the trick. Check the stain periodically to avoid damaging the furniture.
Use a Hair Dryer
Instead of an iron, you can use a hair dryer to remove water stains. The hair dryer method uses heat to soften the stain. Set the dryer to its lowest heat level and direct it towards the water stain. Use a soft cloth with olive oil for a finishing touch.
Make sure to move it along the direction of the stain to not overheat the unstained surface.
Are Water Stains Permanent on Wood?
Water stains aren’t permanent and can be removed easily when cleaned on time. However, if you leave them for longer, they will become harder to clean. If the above-mentioned DIY methods do not work for you, get a synthetic stain remover or scratch cover (on Amazon).
Read the instructions carefully and check that the product is suitable for the type of wood your furniture is made from.
In severe cases, you might have to remove the polish and finishing of the entire surface of the furniture to reach the stain beneath it. You will then have to re-polish the whole surface.
If you don’t want to go through the trouble of doing this, you can just paint your furniture.