Removing Stains from Wood Furniture

When wooden furniture is not properly sealed, it cannot prevent moisture from penetrating it. When moisture gets inside the wax on a wooden surface, the bond between the wax and the wood is broken. The result is the appearance of circular watermarks on your furniture, destroying its beauty. It is disheartening to see furniture in this condition, so we offer a brief guide on how to remove the stains from the furniture.

Whatever method you choose to apply to remove stains from your wooden furniture, the trick lies in being patient and persuasive. If you want to remove stains without damaging your belongings, you have to be prepared to spend a good amount of your precious time retrieving its lost glory. Always wear safety glasses and rubber gloves before handling bleaches and other chemicals.

Water Stains

Chlorine bleach is an effective solution for tackling a variety of stains appearing on wood surfaces. It is particularly good at removing the white water marks that result from moisture tucked inside the wax finish. Bleach can also remove the black stains that appear when water stains have developed mildew.

For best results, apply the bleach under direct sunlight. Otherwise you can also use a heat lamp to preheat the furniture. Let the furniture remain in contact with the chemical for fifteen minutes. If the stains are not gone, apply another round of bleach. You can repeat the process for three consecutive applications, but not more than that.

If the stain is gone, wait for the bleach to dry, and then rinse the bleach with a solution of water and white vinegar. The new finish will not set in properly if the bleach has not been rinsed off.

Oil Stains

Removing grease stains from wooden furniture, particularly old ones, is quite difficult, and the procedures you use will affect the finish to some extent. Refinishing your furniture is just as important as the stain removal process.

There are many ways to deal with oil stains. To remove comparatively new and less severe marks, place a blotting paper on the stained area and heat it with a hot iron. Repeat the process until the spot disappears.

For more stubborn stains, make a mixture of fuller's earth and liquid dry-cleaning spot remover. Apply this thick paste on the stain and leave it to dry. You can repeat the application several times.

Ink Stains

Ink removal requires immediate action. Blot the spot immediately after the spill and clean the surface with cream wax or a damp cloth. If the stain still remains, use rottenstone and oil to clean the stain.

For more persistent stains, apply a solution of oxalic acid and warm water with a dropper. Leave the oxalic acid solution on the stain until the stain disappears.

Paint Stains

If your furniture gets stained by any water-based paint, first wipe off the paint with damp cloth. Then, absorb the remaining moisture immediately from the surface with a dry cloth to stop the moisture from penetrating the wood.

To remove an oil-based paint, rub a piece of cloth soaked with liquid solvent-base wax on the affected area.

If you have noticed the stain after it has dried, apply a considerable amount of boiled linseed oil on the spot. After the stain softens, wipe it out with a cloth soaked in boiled linseed oil.

Heat Marks

You can remove heat marks by applying a mixture of cigarette ashes and citric acid over the affected area.