Best Ways To Remove Water Stains From Wood: 5 Quick And Simple Methods

by John Griffith
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Even when you try to be super careful, water stains still seem to somehow appear all over your beautiful wooden furniture. This disaster is most often cause by a cold glass of water and a lack of coasters. But there is no point crying over spilled milk. The stain is now a fact. However, before you start browsing for a new replacement for your favorite coffee table, we are here to tell you that you can actually remove water stains from wood at home all by yourself. Check out the best, easy and quick methods for getting rid of these pesky stains.

Water stains still seem to somehow appear

water stain on wooden table

How To Remove Water Stains From Wood

Stains are a pain to deal with, no matter how they arose. Water stains happen and while it can be frustrating, don’t let them ruin your mood. There are plenty of easy ways to remove water stains with simple household items. Of course, you can also always opt for commercial cleaning products, as well. But if you don’t feel like popping to the store, here is what you can do. Keep in mind that these methods work best for white water stains, which still have moisture trapped into the wood’s finish. If your stain is dark, that likely means the liquid has reached the wood, and you may need to refinish the surface. It’s also important to know that some tougher stains may be best treated with a couple of these cleaning techniques.

There are plenty of easy ways to remove water stains

a lot of water stains white

#Petroleum Jelly

Yep, that’s right – petroleum jelly, or Vaseline, can help get the job done! Petroleum jelly has a ton of uses you may not even consider and one of them happens to be helping get rid of water stains. All you need to do to make a water stain disappear is to apply some petroleum jelly on it with a soft cloth and rub it into the stain with a circular motion. Let it sit for an hour or two or overnight. Then in the morning, just wipe the jelly away. You can repeat this process if needed.

Petroleum jelly has a ton of uses

remove water stains from wood hands and finger in vaseline

#Baking Soda

What can’t baking soda help clean? While it’s best to keep baking soda away from some things, water stains is not one of them. Whether your stains are caused by sweating glasses or hot cups, you can easily get them off with a baking soda and water paste. All you need to do is mix one tablespoon soda with one teaspoon water. Then gently rub the paste into the water spot in a circular motion until it disappears. Some words of warning, however, wood in general is one of the things that baking soda is best to stay away from. This is because it can scratch and dull out the finish and if you use too much water you can also make the stain worse. So, use this method rarely and gently.

All you need to do is mix one tablespoon soda with one teaspoon water

baking soda in glass jar tipped over

#Toothpaste

Toothpaste isn’t only for achieving white and healthy teeth. You can use this common household item to rid yourself from the pesky water stains. Just make sure it’s a non-gel toothpaste, and it’s also non-whitening. Just gently rub some toothpaste in the same direction as the grain with a soft cloth onto the stain. Then, with a damp cloth, wipe it off and let it dry before applying some furniture polish.

Just make sure it’s a non-gel toothpaste, and it’s also non-whitening

tooth paste being squirted on toothbrush

#Mayonnaise

Yes, you read that right – mayonnaise! This surprising fix is already sitting in your fridge. The science behind this method is that the oil in the mayonnaise actually works to displace the moisture in the water stain. It will also remedy any cloudy residue in the finish of your favorite wooden furniture. With a paper towel, just dab some mayonnaise onto the stain and let it sit for a few hours or even overnight. Then just wipe it away with a clean cloth and finish by polishing.

The oil in the mayonnaise actually works to displace the moisture in the water stain

mayonnaise in a little white bowl

#Heat

It’s common sense that heat can help remove water. You can use both an iron or a hairdryer to get rid of that terrible stain. If you are using an iron, all you need to do is lat a clean, plain, preferably cotton, cloth over the water stain. Make sure no water is in the iron and set it to a low temperature. Once it’s nice and warm, briefly set the iron onto the cloth. Then after a few seconds, lift it up to see if the stain is gone. Repeat and until there is no more stain. If you are using a hair dryer, turn it unto a high setting and aim it towards the stain until it disappears. Then polish the wood.

It’s common sense that heat can help remove water

remove water stains from wood gray haor dryer on pink background

These were the best and quickest methods to remove water stains from wood. We hope you found this article useful. Now you can easily enjoy stain free wooden furniture. Who knew it could be so easy?

These were the best and quickest methods to remove water stains from wood

glass on wooden table with coaster

Sources:

John Griffith

John Griffith is a young, passionate journalist. Writing has been John’s hobby ever since he was a boy. He has worked in some of the UK’s most successful news portals over the course of his professional career but found his forever home at Archzine.