8 ways to remove water stains from wood

Picture this. Your guests have just left, you’re cleaning up and – the horror! – you discover a white ring on your beloved dining room table.

Remove water stains from wood | Home Beautiful Magazine Australia

Don’t despair.

“White rings on wood furniture reflect the moisture that has soaked into the top layers of the wood finish. Basically, it’s moisture that gets into wax, which naturally clouds up,” explains Sabrina Fierman, vice president of luxury cleaning service New York’s Little Eves.

The good news is you probably already have the solution to the water stain in your cupboard. Here are eight tried and true methods.

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

A modern kitchen with blue cabinetry, mosaic splashback tiles and marble benchtops.

The latest kitchen styling trends just got personal

Brought to you by kaboodle kitchen

Darren Palmer's kitchen with Darren standing next to the bench

The Block judge Darren Palmer’s covetable new kitchen

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

Get your precious time back with these dual air fryers that will have you cooking in sync

8 best French door refrigerators to maximise meal time

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

These are the best air fryers for satisfying and easy weeknight dinners

5 nut milk makers that are just so(y) good

Native ad body.

Sponsored by %%sponsor_name%%

The best home coffee machines and accessories that will upgrade your morning routine

Take the pressure off cooking your next family dinner with this kitchen must-have

A timber breakfast nook below a wall gallery of decorative plates.

7 breakfast nooks to help you start your day right

melbourne 1920s bungalow pale blue kitchen cabinet doors

The best kind of paint for kitchen cabinet makeovers

Trace the ring on the furniture with a bit of car wax. Allow it to dry and then polish with a soft cloth.
Grab your hair dryer and blast it on the lowest setting. “Be sure to move the dryer around so there is no direct heat and the wood doesn’t overheat,” explains Fierman.
Mix equal parts vinegar and olive oil and apply it with a soft cloth in the direction of the wood grain. Then buff with a clean, soft cloth.
Gently rub either mayonnaise or petroleum jelly in a circular motion on the mark with a soft cloth. “If the stain is not removed completely, apply more product and leave on for an hour or two and try again,” says Fierman.
Make a paste from one teaspoon salt and a few drops of water. Rub the mixture on to the stain with a soft cloth. Buff with furniture polish.
Make a paste from one tablespoon of baking soda and on teaspoon water. Gently rub the mixture on to the stain. Be careful not to use too much water.
Rub a non-gel and non-whitening toothpaste in to the wood in the same direction as the grain. Remove the paste and buff with wood polish.
Gently rub the stain with fine grade steel wool in the direction as the grain. “Tread carefully and do not go beyond the confines of the stain or you can further damage the finish,” says Fierman.

How to remove water stains | Home Beautiful Magazine Australia — *(Credit: Jody D’arcy)*

This article originally appeared on Better Homes and Gardens.

Writer Livia Gamble

Livia Gamble will not sleep until she has discovered every possible use of bi-carb soda and vinegar. When she isn’t reporting on ways to improve your home and garden, she can be found knitting socks (by choice) and will never say no to pizza.