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Terri asked: How do I remove water stains from a Lundby Doll House? I think it is a wood-based material.
Water stains can be quite difficult to remove from wood. What’s more, several factors come into play: the type of wood, the type of stain, and the finish of the wood, if any. Because of an almost endless combination of these variables it’s almost impossible to give one solution that will work for any type of wood. The following technique, however, has consistently worked for many types of white water stains. (Please note: The steps presented below are for removing water stains from finished wood. If you have water stains on raw, unfinished wood, please review the additional tips and advice for suggestions.)
You Will Need:
- Iron or Hair dryer
- Cloth napkin or old T-shirt
Steps to Remove the Water Stain:
- Set the iron to warm (not hot) and allow it to heat.
- Lay the cloth napkin or tee shirt over the water stain.
- Iron the stain through the cloth for 5-10 seconds, then remove the heat for 20-30 seconds.
- Repeat as necessary, buffing lightly with the cloth after every 2-3 heat cycles.
- A hair dryer may used instead of the iron. Set it to medium heat and hold 2-4 inches from the stain. Buff the stain with the napkin or tee shirt as you heat the wood.
Additional Tips and Advice
- Relatively new stains should come out quite nicely. Older stains are harder to remove, but you should see a remarkable improvement
- If you are working with unfinished wood, try lightly sanding the surface to lighten the stain. If that is impossible or doesn’t work, try a solution of mild detergent and water. Wipe, then blot and allow to air dry.
- Other well known methods that may work on finished wood to remove stains are an application of mayonnaise or peanut butter. Apply a thick layer and leave over the stain for at least four hours (preferably overnight) then wipe clean.
- After taking steps to remove a stain from finished wood, always apply a good coat of furniture polish and buff thoroughly. Even if you were unsuccessful at stain removal, you want to reapply that protective coat to prevent further damage.
You can also remove water with a paper towel. Then, use a small amount of mayonnaise on the area. Let set for just a minute or two and then rub the area. The mayonnaise is also a good polisher for your wood surface.
My cat was sick on my wooden sideboard. I cleaned it, but it has left a stain like it has taken the colour out of it. Would you know how I can get it back to normal please?
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Would applying heat to wood cabinets with an older white water stain also work? Same question to using mayonnaise on wood cabinets. I’ve seen other suggestions about applying mayonnaise to wood furniture, but wasn’t sure if I could also use either methods on wood cabinets with white water stains. Thank you!
Is there a way to remove water level stains from unfinished cypress siding on a house following a flood? Right now, there are dark stains on the cypress which show how high the water came during the flood. Oddly enough, the high water mark is the only stain on the wood.
Peter,
This is the article you need: How to Remove Water Stains from Wood Paneling. However, be sure to test the solution on a small hidden area first to look for any adverse reaction – every wood is unique. If that method doesn’t work, you can try some of the tips in the guide How to Remove Stains from Unfinished Wood. Good luck!
Hello,
My husband put wet washing over my oak chair and it has been ruined. How can I improve it please?
Thank you so much.
Ann,
If the method in the article doesn’t work, try the other idea from the Additional Tips section (covering the stains with mayo or peanut butter overnight). A slightly easier trick is to buff the stains with some oil, which is basically what is being done with the mayo or peanut butter. As a last resprt, you can refinish the chair, which isn’t as difficult as it sounds – you just wipe off the finish using some wood stripper, then apply new finish. Also, know that if the stains are fresh, they often will go away on their own as the wood dries, so helping the wood to dry as quickly as possible is the best courst of action, either by pointing a fan at the chair or even helping it dry with a hair dryer. Good luck!
I had a leak in my moterhome. It’s left a waterstain in the wood. How do I get the stain out?
Colin,
The steps above and the other ideas in the Additional Tips section are your best bets to remove the stain. If they don’t work, the stain may be from more than just water (debris from the ceiling that got into the water, etc.) or the damage may just be too great and refinishing the wood will be required instead. Good luck!