Can Water Stains Be Removed From Wooden Furniture And Surfaces?

Nothing ruins the beauty and luster of wood furniture, quite like a watermark on the surface. Water stains and watermarks are commonly caused by spills, cold glasses, or hot dishes placed directly on the wood. If you have watermarks on your furniture in Warsaw or Columbia City, Indiana, you might be wondering if they can be removed.

Thankfully, most watermarks are not permanent, and it’s almost always possible to get rid of the stains from your wood surface, depending on the intensity of the stain and condition of the wood. In this guide, we will offer some tips on how to remove water stains on your wooden furniture. All you need is a little patience and care.

1) Light or Dark Stains?

What is the color of your water stain? –Most watermarks would be white, dark brown or some shade of black. Identifying the type of stain will guide you on which methods to use when removing it.

White stains in the shape of rings are typically caused by the bottoms of hot plates or cold glasses and mugs resting directly in the wood surface. Condensed water or steam pushes into the wood’s finish causing the clear layer to become whitish. This can typically be reversed by a quick fix.

Dark stains, on the other hand, could be either black or dark brown and indicate that water has finally reached the wood below the finish, and you might not be able to reverse them using a quick fix.

2) For Light Stain, Use An Iron Box

This is a pretty simple DIY trick that exposes the watermarks to gentle heat and pressure using an electric iron and a plain cloth. Set the iron to the lowest heat level, turn off the steam mode, and lay the cloth across the stained area. Run the warm iron gently over the fabric while lifting the rug periodically to check the progress.

3) For Dark Stains, Use A Toothbrush

If the water has stayed long enough to sip past the protective finish, the iron trick might not work. While dark water stains are harder to remove, toothpaste often will do the trick. Gently bush the entire watermark using a small dab of plain white toothpaste. Don’t brush too hard or too long. Otherwise, you will damage the protective finish.

4) Try Mineral Oil

Rub the area with oily furniture polish, mayonnaise, or petroleum jelly to displace the watermark. Let the oil sit overnight and rub it off the following morning to see if there is an improvement. If the stain disappears, that’s great. If not, repeat as may be necessary.

5) No success? Call an Expert

Water stains can be quite stubborn, especially the dark-colored ones that indicate the water has sipped beyond the top finish into the wood itself. This is often caused by things like leaky planters placed on furniture where water stays on the wood surface for long without being noticed. If the stain is too deep and extensive, the three tricks above might not work. In such a case, it’s important to call in a professional to salvage the situation.

A professional wood refinisher or painting contractor such as Matthews’ Painting Company will use specially designed tools and/or chemicals to remove the outer finish and expose the water-stained wood. They will then offer numerous options for removing the stains or refinishing the entire surface.

If your furniture, kitchen cabinets, or any other wooden surface has extensive water damage and stains, or it simply could use a new paint/stain job, we can help.

We have years of experience in cabinet and woodwork refinishing, currently serving the areas of Warsaw, Syracuse, Lake Tippecanoe area, Winona Lake area, Columbia City, Indiana, and surrounding Indiana cities. Give us a call (574) 834-3575 today to book our services or ask any questions.