Buff out water stains on wood with a mild abrasive. Using a non-gel (plain white) toothpaste, baking soda paste or salt paste (adding a few drops of water to form the pastes), gently rub the mixture into the stain. Be sure to go along the grain of the wood.
Brian Bennett is a former senior writer for the home and outdoor section at CNET. Nothing ruins the luster of wood furniture quite like a watermark. Watermarks -- or water stains -- are often caused by cold glasses, spills, or hot dishes places directly on the wood. Luckily, though, they aren't always permanent.
Removing water stains from unfinished wooden floors and furniture is the easiest scenario. All you need to do is take some sandpaper and gently sand the stained area. You can also apply some gentle dish cleaning soap and water with a cloth to the stain.
Treat water-based stains by applying mayonnaise, petroleum jelly, lemon juice, toothpaste, mineral spirits, dish soap, or oxalic acid to the wood and wiping it off. Strip the previous finish using solvent or sandpaper. Then, paint or stain the wood and seal the furniture in varnish to restore your piece.
Stains & Discoloration
These stains are usually dark brown, dark yellow, orange, or even green. These unsightly discolorations are caused by the salt and minerals left behind as water evaporates. White discoloration can also be observed on wooden furniture if the finish reacts with the water.
Mayonnaise and Vinegar—One of the most effective methods is a mixture of 2 parts mayonnaise to 1 part vinegar. Dab the mixture on the stain with a paper towel. Let it sit, covered by a paper towel, for a few hours or overnight. Wipe away the mayonnaise with a clean cloth and finish by polishing it with vinegar.
Hydrogen peroxide can be used to remove stains from wood, but it works best for dark stains. Mix one part hydrogen peroxide with one part water and soak a paper towel or small cloth in the mixture. Lay that on top of the wood stain for 10-15 minutes.
If you want the water stain gone asap, then a good way to do that is with vinegar and oil. This is a great combo because the vinegar works to remove the stain while the oil works to polish the wood. It's great for quick fixes.
Vaseline (Petroleum Jelly)
Blot the stain, then use a dry sponge or towel to apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly. Let it stand overnight and wipe away in the morning. The jelly should've penetrated the surface and replaced the trapped water with oil. If you still see the stain, repeat the process.
Oxalic acid has many uses around the home and can be used to remove stains from metal and stone as well as wood.
You can remove water stains from wood with household products like distilled white vinegar, toothpaste, and even mayonnaise.
Lay paper towels on the hard water and soak them with vinegar. Let the vinegar work on the stains for two hours. Remove the paper towels, rinse, and check to see if the stains are still visible. Use a baking soda and water paste to tackle stubborn stains and rinse again.
How does vinegar darken wood? Vinegar causes steel wool to oxidize, or basically rust. That rust “dyes” the vinegar. Then, that vinegar reacts with the color of the wood that you apply it to, giving it a new, deeper color.
So long as your wood (floor or furniture) has been sealed with a waterproof, astringent proof finishing, such as hard glaze clear varnish or polyurethane varnish, using Windex should be completely harmless. Just like Windex doesn't leave any residue on furniture, it shouldn't leave any residue on your wood furniture.
Just cover the stain with a generous smear of mayonnaise. Let it sit anywhere from an hour to overnight. Clean up the mayonnaise and polish the piece up with some nice furniture oil. The mayonnaise won't harm the wood, so if it doesn't work, you're only out some mayo.
Dampen a clean cloth with hydrogen peroxide. Press the cloth onto the stain firmly so the hydrogen peroxide is absorbed into the wood. Leave the cloth on the stain overnight. In the morning, remove the cloth and wipe the wood with a clean, damp cloth.
By successive use of ammonia water and hydrogen peroxide, the method can achieve a very ideal wood bleaching effect, is easy to operate, and does not consume labor or time.
For light stains, machine wash or steam clothes and fabrics that can handle heat. Hand wash delicate fabrics like silk. Spray or dab stains on upholstery and carpet with a cleaning solution of water and distilled white vinegar. Blot dry and repeat until the stain is gone.
You can use several different types of vinegar to remove hard water stains, including white vinegar and apple cider vinegar. Try using whatever you have on hand first. If it doesn't do the trick, look for cleaning vinegar, which is more acidic for superior power against hard water stains.