Water stains on your furniture are bound to happen. They can appear as easy as when a glass is set down on the wood. When you take it off some time later, you’ll see a ring shaped water stain left in its spot. You might have tried some simple methods to remove the staid with little success. This can leave you wondering if removing these stubborn stains are even possible.
If this sounds like you, then you’re in luck! We know just the method to get rid of water stains without damaging your furniture. In this blog, we will explain how this is possible and the steps you’ll need to follow.
How do water stains appear?
Most water stains are white or light-coloured rings or cloudy areas. They are formed when moisture is trapped within the wood finish on your furniture. Our cleaning methods below should do the trick and remove the stain. However, if the water stain is a darker colour, then you will need to use a different method like refinishing your furniture.
Removing water rings with heat
If you caught your water stain when it just appeared or it’s very small, then you can evaporate the trapped moisture using heat. All you need to do is lay a cotton cloth over the stain and use a household iron to apply heat. Make sure the iron is set to its lowest temperature and not steam. If you don’t have an iron, then opt for a hair dryer on its highest setting. Aim the heat directly at the stain until it disappears. Optional: Apply a furniture polish to the area one the stain is gone to bring back its shine.
Removing water rings with oil
If you have a larger but still recent stain, one of these methods below should remove it:
- Mayonnaise and vinegar – as weird as it sounds, this is one of the most effective methods. Mix 2 parts mayonnaise to 1 part vinegar. Dab the mixture on the stain using a paper towel. Let it sit, covered by a paper towel, for at least a few hours but preferable overnight. Clean the mixture with a clean cloth and finish by polishing your furniture piece with vinegar.
- Vinegar and olive oil – make a mixture using equal parts vinegar and olive oil in a bowl. Using a cotton cloth, wipe the mixture in the direction of the wood grain until the stain has disappeared.
- Mineral oil – use a soft cloth to apply mineral oil to the water stain. Do so in the direction of the wood grain. Let a light coating of the oil sit on the furniture overnight. Buff it out the next day with a clean cloth.
Removing water rings with a milf abrasive
Mild abrasive is a good way to remove moisture from a water stain that is a few days old but still white and cloudy. Make a paste using white, non-gel toothpaste and baking soda. Apply the paste in a circular motion until the stain is gone. Make sure you are gentle when rubbing it in, you can remove or scratch your furniture’s finish if you use too much pressure.
Call the cleaning experts
Water stains can diminish the beauty of wood furniture. By using our different methods above, you should be able to remove all white, cloudy water stains but sometimes further attention is needed. If you are afraid to use one of these techniques or the stain is dark, then leave it to the professionals. Call Guelph Carpet Cleaners today to help you remove these tough stains and get your furniture looking great again.