If you have wood furniture in your home, chances are you will get a water stain or two over time. Whether it’s a small stain you didn’t notice until you were dusting or a large stain that came from a glass, water stains can be tough to remove. 

But while they can be tough, they are not impossible to remove. You just need the right tools and a little bit of elbow grease to get your furniture back to new.  

How Do Water Stains Occur?

When moisture gets trapped in wood, it often appears in a light-colored ring or cloud form. This usually happens when someone uses a glass without a coaster or a spill occurs on the surface of the wood. 

The lighter the color, the easier the stain will be to remove. If you notice the stain appears darker, this means that the water has penetrated the wood past the surface, and it may not be able to be removed without restoration.

How to Remove a Water Stain From Your Wood Furniture

There are three main ways to remove a light water stain from your wood furniture. Below we take a look at each one in depth. 

Heat

If you notice a water stain on your wood furniture that’s new, small, and light, you may be able to remove it with heat. With this method, you’ll lay a cotton cloth over the stain and use an iron to evaporate the stain.

Make sure the iron is set to the lowest temperature (not steam) to prevent damaging the furniture, and hover it above the stain until it’s gone. Once the stain is gone, finish the job using a nice furniture polish.

Oil

Let’s say the water stain is more significant than the one in the first scenario. In this case, you’ll want to try oil to remove it. You can try using mineral oil and letting it sit overnight before buffing the stain out the next day. Or you try using equal parts of vinegar and oil and using a cotton cloth to wipe the stain away, always wiping in the direction of the grain.

Baking Soda 

The third option for removing a water stain on your wood furniture is using a mild abrasive. This is typically a mixture of baking soda and non-gel toothpaste. Create a paste using the two and apply to the stain using a soft microfiber cloth. 

Once you’ve applied the paste, begin to gently run the solution in a circular motion until the stain disappears. It’s important to do this gently to prevent the abrasive from scratching or damaging your furniture. 

Call In the Professionals

Wood furniture is beautiful and often priceless, so maintaining its beauty is significant. The methods above should help you preserve your furniture and help you remove any water stains on the surface. If you’re still struggling to get the stain out, consider calling a wood restoration specialist to help. 

And if you’re in the market for help around the rest of the house, Green Frog is here to help with that too. We’re available for free quotes 7 days a week. Fill out the form on our website and one of our professionals will get back to you as soon as possible.