No matter how many coasters you set out, it seems that someone always manages to set a cup down on your wooden furniture. Depending on how deeply moisture has penetrated, you may be able to remove those water stains yourself.
Cork coaster
Quick Fixes for Removing Water Stains from Wood Furniture
If the stain is fresh and hasn’t had time to penetrate into the wood, pour a few drops of cooking oil over the stain and gently rub it in. The oil should push the water out of the wood, allowing you to wipe it up.
If that doesn’t work, use a very mild abrasive to scrub out the stain. A paste made of baking soda and water is ideal.
If nothing else works, try a solvent, such as paint thinner. This will remove the finish from the wood, along with the stain.
Wood Furniture Refinishing at Home
Once you’ve removed the water stain from your wood furniture, you may have to refinish it. If you’ve had to resort to using a solvent to remove the stain, use the same solvent to remove the finish from the entire piece of furniture.
Sand the wood if needed, then repaint or re-stain the wood. Finish with a protective seal of paste wax.
When You Should Call a Professional
If your wood furniture is particularly valuable or antique, hire a professional wood furniture repair service. They are specifically trained in wood furniture repair and refinishing and use professional-grade solvents and techniques designed to protect antique and one-of-a-kind pieces.
Wood furniture refinishing services aren’t only for antiques. If you or someone in your home has asthma, you may want to avoid using solvents unless you have a garage or outdoor space to work in. You may simply not have time or space to do the refinishing yourself. A wood furniture repair professional will take the piece to their workshop, and return it to your home after the stain is removed and it has been restored to its original condition.
