If your counters or tables are made of wood, yet you regularly forget to use coasters, you will end up with a bunch of water stains and ring marks that will ruin the beautiful looks of your living room/kitchen. If your wooden surface is not properly sealed, the watermark will end up deeper into the wood and will become harder to remove. However, for properly sealed wood, those marks are not such an issue. Grab one of the following household ingredients and follow the instructions you will find below.
No matter which method you decide to use, do it gently, work slowly and don’t overdo it. Use small amounts of any solution and gently work it in the stain. Avoid harsh scrubbing or lots of liquids on the wood. One will end up scratching and damaging the finish of your wood, the other may simply make things worse.
Petroleum jelly
Imagine you invited a couple of guests at your place, made dinner, had drinks, overall – had fun. However, you get up the next morning to find out that someone has left their sweaty glass on your beautiful wooden coffee table. Obviously, an unsightly water mark will be left for you to deal with. To get rid of it, apply petroleum jelly all over the stained area, let it sit overnight, then wipe the surface clean.
Baking soda
No matter how those water rings ended up on your beautiful wooden table, getting rid of them is not too hard. To do that without spending much effort, make a paste of 1 tablespoon of baking soda and about 1 teaspoon of water. Mix well (the paste should not be too thick and too runny). Grab a soft cloth or a sponge and gently rub the paste onto the area of the stain until it goes away. Use circular motions and make sure you don’t apply too much pressure. Pay extra attention when using this trick on wooden surfaces with a glossy finish. Baking soda will act as a mild abrasive and if used too harshly, can scratch and dull the shine of the wood. What is more, adding too much water in the paste can make the stain even worse, so keep that in mind as well.
Toothpaste
Another great way to get rid of water stains from wood, is by using toothpaste. Make sure you use a non-gel toothpaste formula. Gently rub a bit of toothpaste with a soft cloth. Make sure you don’t use too much. When thoroughly rubbed onto the stained area, wipe it away with a damp cloth, then apply furniture polish. If the stain is larger or more serious,make a more powerful solution by mixing the toothpaste with some baking soda. Rub this paste parallel to the wood grain, wipe it off, then polish with lemon oil.
Salt
To make a paste, combine one teaspoon of salt and a few drops of water. With a soft cloth or sponge, gently rub the paste onto the ring and work it over the spot until it’s gone. After that, use furniture polish to restore the shine of your wood. Similar to the baking soda method, make sure you don’t rub using too much pressure. Salt will act as an abrasive and can scratch, dull, or even damage your wooden surface.
Car wax
Once you get rid of the stains, polishing or waxing will be needed. However, depending on the type of wood, the severity of the stain, and the method you chose to use, regular furniture polish may not be sufficient. In such cases, go to your garage, grab a box of car wax and get to work. Try using a small dab of car wax on a microfiber cloth to get rid of all residue left from the stain. Use a finger to apply the car wax along the ring stain, let it dry, then wipe away the solid and buff with a dry cloth to restore the beautiful finish of your wood.
Vinegar
Vinegar is another powerful household ingredient that can be used for so many things around the house. From deep cleaning, through stain removal, to deodorising. Another great use of this product is the removal of water stains. To get rid of them, mix equal parts of vinegar and olive oil and apply this solution to the surface of your wood using a dry soft cloth or a microfiber towel. Move along the wood grain. When done, grab another clean, dry cloth and buff the surface to shine it up.
Pro tip: You can use full-strength vinegar to get rid of unsightly water marks from leather surfaces. This cleaning method should work quickly and efficiently. All you have to do is dab the stains with a sponge dipped in white vinegar.