How to remove water marks on wood furniture
Solid wood tables are fashionable. They are very nice, but also susceptible to stubborn stains. However there are some home tricks to help you remove those white spots of water or other liquids that spoil the beauty of your solid wood furniture.
There are several forms of wood stains and water marks:
White spots appear when water penetrates the finish (eg varnish). Dark spots however indicate that the water has penetrated the finish and entered the wood itself. While superficial stains are relatively easy to treat deep stains require more work.
Before starting any treatment, make sure you know both, type of wood and finish. If you do not have this information, try the treatment on a small, inconspicuous area. If the wood has been varnished or waxed it might be necessary to remove these substances prior to the treatment of the stain (use a wood cleaner or product and follow the instructions on the packaging).
Removing superficial stains
Dry heat: Dry heat causes evaporation of water and the disappearance of the spot. This method is effective for surface stains. Use a hair dryer on low heat and direct it to the area of the stain in a circular motion to prevent damage from excessive heat.
Oily Treatment: Dampen a soft cloth with some oily substance – for example Vaseline or mayonnaise – and rub the stain. If the stain is old, it may be necessary to leave the substance for some time to penetrate the wood. Water stain removal is based on the oily component penetrating the varnish and the wood and replacing the water thus reducing the mark.
Abrasive treatment: Rubbing the stain with toothpaste (not gel) has a mild abrasive effect which helps remove water spots.
Removing deep stains
Deep water stains are dark. To remove them you will have to first remove the finish (barnish, enamel, etc.) and then treat directly the wood. One of the most recommended treatments, since it does not affect the color of the wood, is oxalic acid (you may need to apply it several times). When the mark is gone, rinse the area with a mixture of water with bicarbonate of soda to neutralize the acid and then reapply the finish.
And finally, nothing better than treating your table or cabinet with our Wood Cleaner Soap that nourishes and enriches the wood.
