Natural wood is beautiful as well as useful, from dining tables and chopping boards to rustic oak flooring. But even routine wood maintenance and cleaning cannot prevent mishaps that leave unsightly stains. Knowing how to remove stains from wood can come in handy for everything from pet accidents on our hardwood floors to glasses without coasters. You can learn a few simple ways to remove stains from wood without spending a fortune on refinishing.
How to remove stains
Apply heat for water stains
If you discover water stains on wood as soon as it happens, they are easier to remove. However, applying heat is a very effective method to remove the moisture from a water stain that occurred just a few days ago. Set your clothes iron to the lowest heat setting and plug it in. Place a cotton cloth or T-shirt over the stain, iron over the fabric for a few seconds, then inspect the stain. Repeat the process till the stain disappears.
Use toothpaste for heat stains
Heat stains on wood usually appear as a white patch. Using baking soda and non-gel toothpaste, make a paste. With a soft, cotton towel, rub the mixture into the wood until it feels warm. Clean up with a second moist cloth, then quickly dry. This method might need to be repeated several times. Buff the wood with furniture polish or oil to revitalise it once the mark has disappeared.
Sandpaper
Dark stains in the woods can be caused by urine, oxidation, and old water spouts. Use 100-grit sandpaper to remove the dark stain. Feather the edges with 150-grit sandpaper to help the region blend in. Don’t push too hard; work with the grain. Apply several light coats of varnish to match the original finish after sanding the stain off. Dark stains on wood floors can cause trouble if you live on rented property. To make sure this doesn’t happen, hire a reputed bond cleaning service to aid you.
Mayonnaise
Mayonnaise is one of the strangest remedies for erasing water stains from wood. The oil in the mayonnaise can penetrate the wood and absorb moisture, causing stains to fade or vanish. You’ll need to be patient to achieve the full effect because this stain removal technique works slowly. Use a clean cloth and a small bit of mayonnaise to gently massage the water stain. Let it sit all night, then wipe it away with a clean cloth the next morning. If you need a quick result you should hire a well-known house cleaning services.
White vinegar
White vinegar is a natural cleaner and disinfectant, its acidic composition also makes it effective against stains and secure for wood. Put some paper towels over the stain after soaking them in white vinegar. After letting the towels soak for about 30 minutes, clean the stained area with a moist cloth. Wait 30 minutes for it to dry. Repeat the procedure with a little baking soda added for extra scouring power if the stain is still noticeable.
Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a safe whitener that effectively removes all stains. Only use 3% hydrogen peroxide that is available over-the-counter, and pay attention to how the stain remover interacts with your wood. Apply hydrogen peroxide to a clean cloth and press it firmly against the stain to allow the peroxide to penetrate the wood. Leave the cloth on the stain overnight. Remove the cloth in the morning and wipe the wood with a clean, damp cloth.
