Get Water Stains Off Wood

Water stains on wood consist of 2 types: white stains and dark stains. White stains are the result of moisture penetrating into the finish, but not into the wood itself. Leaving a glass with condensation on its exterior on wood can cause a white stain that looks like a ring. Dark stains occur when the water penetrates the finish and goes into the wood, such as a stain on a wood floor where moisture has leached from a planter. In this article, you’ll learn techniques to get water stains off wood, whether the stains appear white or dark.

Steps

Removing White Stains

  1. Put mineral oil on a soft rag and rub it into the stain. Let it sit overnight and repeat if the stain seems to have diminished.
  2. Rub the stain with mineral spirits on a soft cloth if the mineral oil doesn’t work. Mineral spirits is a mild solvent that can remove a stain that has penetrated into the wax, but not the finish.
    • Wear gloves and apply it in a well-ventilated area. Give it a few minutes to work.
    • If the stain is gone but the spot looks dull, rub mineral spirits over the entire surface.
    • Put on a new coat of furniture polish.
  3. Use a mixture of baking soda and toothpaste if mineral spirits don’t work. The proportions aren’t important, but don’t use toothpaste gel.
    • Put the mixture onto a damp cloth and rub with the grain until the stain is gone.
    • Clean the area by washing with oil soap.
    • If the stain doesn’t disappear the first time, try another application.
    • Coat the wood with a quality furniture wax.

Removing Dark Stains With Sandpaper

  1. Remove the finish over the stain gently with sandpaper, moving with the grain of the wood.
    • Use #100-grit sandpaper, and then feather the edges with #150-grit sandpaper.
    • Make sure not to rub the sandpaper too hardly against the table. It can sometimes make the skin of the table come away.
  2. Sand the stain with #150-grit sandpaper, now that you have removed the finish. Feather the edges around the stained area with #0000 steel wool.
  3. Use tack cloth (lint-free cloth) to remove sanding dust.
  4. Put on several light coats of varnish to match the original finish.
    • Make sure that the varnish doesn't stand out. It has to look natural.
  5. Feather the edges of the new varnish with #0000 steel wool to remove the slight bump between the old and new varnish.
  6. Wax the wood with a quality polish.

Removing Dark Stains With Bleach

  1. Bleach the wood with chlorine bleach if the stain turns out to be too deep to remove without excessive sanding.
  2. Don your rubber gloves and apply the bleach with a brush.
  3. Let it sit for a few hours. The stain should fade to nearly the wood’s original color, but it’s a slow process.
  4. Use a clean sponge and water to remove the bleach completely and prevent further fading of the wood color.
  5. Apply vinegar to neutralize the wood. This will prevent the wood from lightening the stain or varnish when you brush it on.
  6. Let the wood dry thoroughly.
  7. Apply wood stain, if needed, and let it dry again.
  8. Brush on several light coats of varnish to match the original finish.
  9. Feather the edges of the new varnish with #0000 steel wool to remove the slight bump between the old and new varnish. Remove dust with a tack cloth.
  10. Wax the wood with a quality polish.

Tips

  • You can bleach wood use Oxalic acid, available in most hardware stores, known as wood bleach. Follow the package instructions.

Warnings

  • If the stain is on an antique, consult with an antiques expert before trying to get water stains off wood. Refinishing an antique can lower its value.

Things You'll Need

  • Soft rags
  • Mineral oil
  • Mineral spirits
  • Furniture polish
  • Baking soda
  • Toothpaste
  • Oil soap
  • Sandpaper, #100 grade
  • Sandpaper, #150 grade
  • Tack cloth
  • Varnish
  • Steel wool, #0000 grade
  • Chlorine bleach
  • Brush
  • Rubber gloves
  • Sponge
  • Vinegar
  • Wood stain

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Sources and Citations

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