How To Get Water Spots Off Hardwood Floors

Yous can remove h2o stains from wood with household products like distilled white vinegar, toothpaste, and even mayonnaise.
Light stains are newer and tin be removed using surface treatments similar polish.
Dark stains are older and have mildew growth; you'll need to sand the piece to get rid of them.

Wood furniture and floors are timeless and elegant. Unfortunately, they're also prone to watermarks.

"H2o stains on wood furniture tin be a existent eyesore," says James Walton, woodworker and author of the Wood Router Guru. "They tin can brand your cute forest furniture look former and dirty."

H2o stains happen when moisture penetrates into the wood and becomes trapped beneath the surface, which occurs most commonly from the condensation from a cup, bottle, or mug, or when a spill is left uncleaned.

No matter what the crusade of your water stain, there are options for clearing it and getting your wood article of furniture, floors or counters looking every bit proficient as new.

Determine the color of the stain

Light water stains appear cloudy or light compared to the forest, whereas dark ones appear almost black.

No two water stains are the same. But generally, you tin get a sense how to approach removal by determining whether yous take a light or dark water stain.

"The difference between light and dark stains is the length of time the water has been on the wood and therefore how far it has penetrated," says Laurence Isle of mann, director of Wood Finishes Direct.

Light water stains: Low-cal water stains announced white or light-colored, and may have a cloudy advent. These are newer stains, where the h2o has only affected the finish of the wood or the surface layer, says Isle of mann.
Dark water stains: If light stains aren't treated, they'll eventually develop into nighttime h2o stains on wood. These stains, which announced deep brown or blackness, happen when water seeps into the wood, and then begins to grow mold. Since these are deeper inside the wood, they're more difficult to remove, says Mann.

5 ways to remove light water stains

The simplest way to remove calorie-free stains is with lemon or vinegar.

According to Mann, the best style to get rid of water stains is to use a combination of methods.

Begin with the to the lowest degree invasive method, which yous'll observe at the tiptop of this list. Check dorsum the next 24-hour interval. If the forest is nevertheless stained, motion on to more invasive options for removing the stain.

i. Lemon or vinegar

The simplest style to remove a water stain is by rubbing information technology with lemon water or vinegar. Mix equal parts vinegar and water; or clasp one lemon into a cup of water. Then, lightly scrub the solution over the stain, moving in the direction of the forest grain. For added grit and cleaning power, add a teaspoon of salt or baking soda to the mix. This method works best on very new stains that take only afflicted the pinnacle layer of the wood'due south terminate.

ii. Toothpaste

If a light scrub doesn't work, grab a tube of toothpaste. You lot'll want a white paste, non the gel diverseness. The abrasiveness of the toothpaste can help remove h2o stains on the top-most surface of the forest.

Clasp the paste onto a cloth and rub it in a circle on the stain. Don't press too hard, and only exercise this for 1 minute — more than that, and you run a risk damaging the wood.

3. Petroleum jelly or mayonnaise

One of the best ways to remove a water stain is by covering it in petroleum jelly, or even mayonnaise. The oil from these substances can seep into the forest, displacing the water and removing the stain.

To try information technology, put a dollop of petroleum or mayonnaise on a newspaper towel. Gently rub it over the stain. Leave it on for at least 15 minutes, and as long as overnight, checking dorsum periodically to evaluate the appearance of the stain. When it has disappeared, wipe downward the wood with a cleaning solution and clean cloth.

four. Hair dryer or iron

New stains tin can sometimes be removed by applying heat, which causes the water to evaporate. However, rut can also warp wood, so proceed with caution when trying these methods, says Isle of man. First by using a hair dryer on a hot setting. Point it at the stain until the h2o evaporates. If that doesn't work, lay a kitchen towel over the stain. And then, go over the towel with an fe, making certain the iron never comes into directly contact with the forest.

5. Commercial wood cleaners and polish

If home remedies haven't worked, it'southward time to achieve for wood-specific products, says Mann. Start by applying wood polish or wax. Leave it on for 6 to 8 hours, so wipe away to see if the stain is gone. If it'due south yet there, try a ring remover solution. Odorless mineral spirits or acetone tin can too be used to sparse the peak layer of varnish and remove the stain, just since they're non specifically designed for this purpose they may get out blemishes, says Mann.

How to remove dark water stains

Dark water stains occur over time and take sanding to remove.

Dark h2o stains are more difficult to remove because there are two steps: you must remove the h2o, and as well clear away mold that has grown within the wood. The but way to properly practise that is by sanding dorsum the surface of the wood, says Mann.

Whether this is a big or small project volition depend on where your water stain is. A pocket-size stain on furniture or countertop tin can be sanded out by hand using 150-dust sandpaper. Press the paper lightly into the wood, moving in the aforementioned direction as the grain of the forest.

After you've sanded down to the stain, apply a mold and mildew cleaner to kill the mold and ensure the stain does not come dorsum. One time the stained surface area has dried, you'll be able to refinish the wood with the same stain or varnish equally the rest of the slice.

For larger night water stains, similar those on floor after a plumbing leak, you may need to rent a sanding automobile to remove the heavy varnish.

Insider's takeaway

When it comes to treating water stains on woods, fourth dimension is of the essence. Newer stains can be treated simply by wiping the expanse with vinegar or lemon h2o, or by scrubbing lightly with toothpaste. Using wood polish or forest stain remover can also assistance.

Every bit the stain permeates deeper into the wood it will become darker and harder to remove. To remove these stains y'all'll need to sand and refinish the stained expanse.

Kelly Burch is a New Hampshire-based freelance journalist writing nearly finances, health, family, and more. Her work has appeared in The Washington Postal service, The Chicago Tribune, and Forbes, among others. Follow her on Facebook orTwitter, and or learn morehere.