Carolyn asked: How do I remove oil from lotion from finished wood? There are streaks and areas on my wooden desk, and a bench that is partly cloudy. I can’t seem to get them clean. I believe that the marks come from hand lotion that was applied shortly before touching the wood. I may my own cleaning agents at home. The multipurpose mixture of water, white vinegar, borax and a mild dish soap. The wood cleaner is diluted Murphy’s Oil Soap. Neither of them are working to remove the streaks. Any ideas? Thanks so much!
Table of Contents:
Lotion stains can be surprisingly difficult to remove from all types of surfaces, including wood. Cleaning them will take a bit of elbow grease, but with a good effort, you should see results with this method.
You Will Need:
- Dish soap
- Hot water
- Bowl
- Clean cloths
- Cool water
- Wax or furniture polish
Steps to Remove the Stain:
- Add a good amount of dish soap to hot water in a bowl. Agitate the water until you’ve created a large amount of suds.
- Dip one clean cloth in the suds (not the water).
- Use the cloth to scrub the suds into the wood.
- Wipe clean with a second cloth moistened with cool water.
- Repeat as necessary.
- When the stain has been completely lifted from the wood, dry it thoroughly.
- Apply a wax or polish to protect the finish.
Additional Tips and Advice
- On some wood finishes where the lotion stain is relatively new, you can try laying a piece of blotting paper over the stain. Heat the spot with a warm iron for just a few seconds at a time to avoid scorching the wood. Repeat as necessary.
- Avoid using abrasive cleansers. They may damage the surface or finish of the wood.