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8 ways to remove water stains from wood

Don’t panic, your coffee table can be rescued! - by Better Homes and Gardens
  • 08 Sep 2021

Picture this. Your guests have just left, you’re cleaning up and – the horror! – you discover a white ring on your beloved dining room table.

WATCH: Adam makes a burnt wood coffee table

Those pesky white rings are a reflection of the moisture that has soaked into the top layers of the wood finish – essentially, it's the moisture getting into the wax, which clouds. But the good news is, you probably already have the solution in your cupboard, so you don't need to despair just yet!

Here are eight tried and true methods to remove white water stains.

lounge-coffee-table
Image: Dave Wheeler / aremediasyndication.com.au

1. Trace the ring on the furniture with a bit of car wax. Allow it to dry and then polish with a soft cloth.

2. Grab your hairdryer and blast it on the lowest setting, being sure to move it around so one spot doesn't overheat.

3. Mix equal parts vinegar and olive oil and apply it with a soft cloth in the direction of the wood grain. Then buff with a clean, soft cloth.

4. Gently rub either mayonnaise or petroleum jelly in a circular motion on the mark with a soft cloth. If it doesn't lift completely, you can pop more product on and leave for an hour or two before trying again.

5. Make a paste from one teaspoon salt and a few drops of water. Rub the mixture onto the stain with a soft cloth. Buff with furniture polish.

6. Make a paste from one tablespoon of baking soda and on teaspoon water. Gently rub the mixture onto the stain. Be careful not to use too much water.

7. Rub a non-gel and non-whitening toothpaste into the wood in the same direction as the grain. Remove the paste and buff the table with wood polish.

8. Gently rub the stain with fine grade steel wool in the direction as the grain, just be sure not to go beyond the confines of the stain or you'll risk damaging the finish.

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