How to get stains out of wood table

Finding a mark on your wooden furniture can seem like the end of the world but quite often it can be easily fixed and the marks can be removed with something as simple as a little elbow grease. There are a huge number of substances that can cause a mark or stain to appear on wooden surfaces and here are just a few of the ways you can get rid of them. Water: A water stain, heat mark or a patch of sloshed coffee can quite often leave a white or light coloured mark if left. There are a number of techniques that you can use to remove these kinds of stains so if one doesn’t work then just move on to the next. The first thing you need to do with any type of water mark is to determine how deeply it has penetrated. A lightly coloured or white stain indicates that it hasn’t gone any deeper than the layer of wax or polish on the surface of the wood and should therefore be pretty easy to remove. A darker stain suggests that it has penetrated the protective layer completely and therefore may have gone through to the wood itself in which case it might require a professional to remove it. Light stains:

Try rubbing the area with an oily solution like furniture polish, mayonnaise or a petroleum jelly substance such as Vaseline. The oil should help to displace the stain left by the water – because water molecules don’t like molecules of oil – and your piece of furniture should look like new. If this has done the trick the re-wax your table to make sure the finish is as strong as ever. If this trick hasn’t worked then try the next one.
Quite often toothpaste contains a mild abrasive that helps to remove stains from your teeth and should therefore help to remove the stain from your wooden surface without damaging the wood itself. Put a small amount of toothpaste onto a wet cloth and rub it into the stain, this should help lift the stain pretty quickly. If it doesn’t then try adding some baking soda – in equal parts with the toothpaste – and mix them together as this will make the solution stronger.
Once the stain has been lifted make sure you thoroughly clean the area and then apply a wax finish so that you can be sure your wood is once again protected.

Water stains – although common – are by no means the only marks that find their way onto wooden surfaces. Another popular one is ink and no matter how long it’s been there you can get it out. The way you go about removing an ink stain ultimately depends on the type of wood it is on: Ink: Untreated wood:

Add baking soda to half a cup of water, mix enough to create a paste, and then spread it over the stain and rub it in with your fingers.
Use a damp cloth to get rid of the paste and to check whether the stain has gone; if it hasn’t then continue the process until you can no longer see it.

Polished or waxed wood:

If it’s a fresh stain then something as simple as washing-up liquid and water will remove it. Use half a teaspoon of washing-up liquid and 1/3 of a cup of hot water to create a solution that can be rubbed on the stain.
Use a cloth to collect some of the soap suds – be careful not to cover the cloth in the solution, you only need the suds – and wipe the ink stain away.
Make sure you clean the solution off the area with another damp cloth.

For an old ink stain:

Use a clean cloth and dip it into a denatured alcohol solution like nail varnish remover and then wipe over the stain. This process will help to remove any dirt that has built up over the stain over time.
Next you need to sand the stained area so that the finish of the wood is removed – a small piece of sandpaper will easily do the job – then remove the shavings from the surface.
Use a clean cloth that’s been dipped in white spirits to wipe away and grease or oil from the area.
With another clean cloth, apply bleach to the stain – undiluted will have a better effect – and leave it to soak in for ten minutes. By this time the stain should have disappeared but if it is still visible then repeat the process until the stain has been removed.
Once the stain is no longer visible use clean water to wipe the surface and then dry it with a towel. You should then wait at least twenty four hours before adding a finish to the wood.

Wood stains are common but they’re not the end of the world so before going through an expensive restoration try a few of these tips to see if you can get rid of the stains at home.

Table of Contents Show

1. Remove Water Rings with Mayonnaise
2. Combine Vinegar and Olive Oil for a DIY Wood-Stain Remover
3. Use an Iron to Remove Water Stains from Wood
4. Remove Water Rings with a Hairdryer
5. Use Toothpaste to Get Rid of Water Stains
Best Commercial Cleaning Products for Removing Water Rings
How do you remove stains from a wood table?
Does vinegar remove stains from wood?

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You know the scenario: A guest forgets to use a coaster under their chilled glass and soon a faint white stain appears on your favorite wood furniture. This stain is often referred to as a water ring, and while it's certainly frustrating, it doesn't have to ruin your party. Learn how to remove water stains from wood with our easy cleaning hacks that use everyday products you already own, including toothpaste, distilled white vinegar, and even mayonnaise.

Before you begin removing water stains from wood surfaces, examine the color of the water ring. White water stains appear when moisture is trapped in the wood's finish. Our cleaning methods work best for these types of stains. If the water rings are dark, the liquid has likely reached the wood itself, and you may need to refinish the surface entirely. It's also important to note that some tough water stains may be best treated with a combination of cleaning techniques; experiment with each method as needed. Below, we'll show you how to remove water stains from wood so the party can continue.

BHG / Sarah Crowley

1. Remove Water Rings with Mayonnaise

BHG / Sarah Crowley

One surprising fix for water stains is probably already in your fridge. The oil in mayonnaise works to displace the moisture in a water ring and remedy any cloudy residue in the finish of wood furniture. Using a paper towel, dab mayonnaise onto the stain. Let it sit for a few hours or overnight with the paper towel on top. Wipe away the mayo with a clean cloth and finish by polishing. Voila! We found this to be one of the most effective cleaning methods for removing water stains.

2. Combine Vinegar and Olive Oil for a DIY Wood-Stain Remover

In a small bowl, mix equal parts vinegar and olive oil. Apply the mixture to the water stain using a cloth. Wipe in the direction of the wood grain until the stain is gone. The vinegar will help remove the stain while the olive oil acts as a furniture polish. Finish by wiping with a clean, dry cloth.

3. Use an Iron to Remove Water Stains from Wood

BHG / Sarah Crowley

To remove water rings with an iron, start by laying a clean cloth over the mark. We recommend using a cotton cloth without any prints or decals to avoid any transfer to your surface. Make sure there is no water within the iron, then set it to a low temperature. Once warm, briefly set the iron on the cloth over the water stain. After a few seconds, lift the iron and cloth to check the stain. If it's still there, repeat steps until the stain is removed. This water stain removal method works best for stains that are still damp, rather than set-in water stains, as it effectively evaporates moisture in the surface finish.

4. Remove Water Rings with a Hairdryer

BHG / Sarah Crowley

This method works best for fresh water stains. As soon as a water ring appears, head to your bathroom and grab a hairdryer. Plug in the device and turn it to its highest setting. Aim the hairdryer towards the stain and hold until the stain disappears. Unplug the hairdryer. Finish by polishing the table with furniture oil ($9, Ace Hardware). If you don't have furniture oil on hand, olive oil works too.

5. Use Toothpaste to Get Rid of Water Stains

For this water stain fix, you'll need white toothpaste (skip the gel and whitening varieties) and a cloth or paper towel. Dab a generous amount of the toothpaste onto a clean cloth. Buff the toothpaste onto the stain. Continue to gently rub the stain until the stain is completely removed. Wipe away any residue with a cloth or paper towel.

Best Commercial Cleaning Products for Removing Water Rings

In addition to homemade cleaning recipes, there are many store-bought products available formulated to remove water stains on wood. Both Homax ($9, The Home Depot) and Guardsman ($8, Walmart) offer a pre-treated reusable cloth that removes white rings from wood. Before using, check the manufacturer's instructions to make sure it's suitable for your wood furniture's finish, such as shellac, lacquer, or varnish. Test on an inconspicuous spot if you're unsure of your furniture's finish.

How do you remove stains from a wood table?

Create a paste using non-gel toothpaste and baking soda. Rub the mixture into the wood with a cloth until it feels warm. Wipe clean with a second damp cloth and dry immediately. You may need to repeat this process multiple times.

Does vinegar remove stains from wood?

White vinegar is a natural way to remove stains from wood. Soak a cloth in white vinegar and wring it out to damp it. Then, use the cloth to rub the stained area until the stain has been removed. If necessary, repeat this process until the stain has been removed.