How to get a water stain out of wood

Forgot a coaster? Even diligent hosts can be prone to pesky water rings popping up days after, the moisture already lifting the wood stain to leave ghostly water stains. We spoke to Val Olivera of Val's Services for tips on how household products will remove water rings and save your furniture from needing the DIY treatment.

Vaseline

This medicine cabinet staple uses its natural oils to restore the wood from within and remove the white cast water stains leave on treated surfaces. All you need is a dust cloth to buff it out.

Spread vaseline on the water ring and leave overnight. Make sure the wood has been dusted so the oils can penetrate the surface. The next morning, wipe off the excess and buff the oils out. Clean the furniture as you normally would.

Olive Oil and Vinegar

For wood stains caused by wet glasses, you'll need a two-time solution to break down the moisture and replenish the wood's oil. Look no farther then your salad dressing. An equal part vinegar and olive oil is the perfect tag team to restore wood furniture.

Oliveira explains how to get the most from the kitchen ingredients. "Put some of this solution on a cloth and gently apply it to the stain. Make sure to wipe in the direction of the wood grain, then use a dry cloth to wipe up the excess solution and leave the furniture shining."

Toothpaste

A non-gel toothpaste has just enough abrasion to smooth over irregularities in the wood while coating the piece in a protective layer. Just spread the toothpaste over the water ring and lightly scrub with a toothbrush after a few minutes. Wipe off the excess and buff the table with a microfiber cloth to remove the water stain.

If you're finding water stains on your surfaces regularly or love to entertain, it's time to time preventative measures.

"If your wood furniture doesn’t already have a protective finish on it, I suggest applying your own. Common options are lacquer and varnish and both will provide your furniture with stronger resistance to staining," Olivera recommends.

Mary Marlowe Leverette is one of the industry's most highly-regarded housekeeping and fabric care experts, sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, laundry, and textile conservation. She is also a Master Gardener with over 40 years' experience; writing for over 20 years.

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Updated on 09/14/22

Reviewed by

Katie Berry

Reviewed by Katie Berry

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Katie Berry is a cleaning expert with 30 years of household management experience and 12 years of writing about cleaning methods and routines for Housewife How-Tos. She is the author of several books about homemaking.

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Fact checked by

Jessica Wrubel

Fact checked by Jessica Wrubel

Jessica Wrubel has an accomplished background as a writer and copy editor, working for various publications, newspapers and in public libraries assisting with reference, research and special projects. In addition to her journalism experience, she has been educating on health and wellness topics for over 15 years in and outside of the classroom.

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The Spruce / Hilary Allison

In This Article

Expand

• Before You Begin

• White Water Stains

• Dark Water Stains

• Additional Steps

Project Overview

• Working Time: 10 - 30 mins
• Total Time: 15 mins - 12 hrs

• Skill Level: Beginner
• Estimated Cost: $15

Whether you've overwatered a plant, left wet boots dripping on the floor, or had a plumbing leak, removing dark water stains from wood can be a challenge. If the stain appears white, there's a good chance you can remove it. The whitened area indicates that the water has only seeped into the wax or polyurethane finish on the wood.

Dark water stains are more difficult. The moisture has penetrated the finish and seeped into the wood, causing it to darken.

With some elbow grease and patience, though, it is possible to remove both types of water stains. Here are tips and techniques for restoring your wood surface to its former beauty.

 Stain TypeWater 

Before You Begin

Before you start the stain removal process for either white or dark water marks, make sure the wood surface is clean and free of any dust, crumbs, or grime. A smooth, clean surface will make stain removal much easier and improve your chances of success.

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Instructions

How to Remove White Water Stains From Wood

White rings and marks indicate a superficial stain—the moisture did not fully soak through the varnish or wax. This is good news because these stains are easier to remove than their darker counterparts.

The Spruce / Sarah Lee

1. Get Rid of Dust and Dirt

   Before you tackle the white mark, use a dust mop or vacuum to thoroughly clean the area.

   
   

   The Spruce / Sarah Lee

2. Apply Mineral Oil

   Pour a generous amount of mineral oil onto a soft cloth. Rub the white mark with the cloth, working with the grain of the wood.

   Let the oil remain on the wood overnight. If the stain is gone the next morning, buff the area with a dry cloth to absorb any remaining oil. If the stain remains, move to the next step.

   
   

   The Spruce / Sarah Lee

   Tip

   If you don't have any mineral oil on hand, you can substitute any cooking oil, mayonnaise, butter, or solid shortening. Petroleum jelly also works well in a pinch.

3. Apply Mineral Spirits

   If the mineral oil didn't do the trick, move on to mineral spirits, a product that works as a paint thinner and solvent. Wearing nitrile gloves, since mineral spirits can soak through latex, apply some mineral spirits to a soft cloth. Following the grain of the wood, rub what remains of the white mark.

   Wait a few minutes, and the stain should disappear. Finish by buffing the area with a clean, dry cloth.

   
   

   The Spruce / Sarah Lee

How to Remove Dark Water Stains From Wood

Unlike white marks, dark stains are a result of water seeping through the wood's finish and into the grain. This means that you need to take a more aggressive approach to stain removal, including sanding the surface of the wood to access and eliminate the stain.

The Spruce / Sarah Lee

1. Sand the Stained Area

   You will need to remove the wood's finish to get to the dark water stain.

   • Wearing a dust mask, start by evenly sanding directly over the stained area with #100-grit sandpaper. Work following the grain of the wood while applying even pressure.
   • Next, move to the #150-grit sandpaper, and sand the edges of the finish around the main stain to gradually smooth the edges.
   • Finish sanding by going over the entire area with the #150-grit sandpaper and the #0000 steel wool.
   • Finally, use a vacuum or tack cloth to remove all of the grit and dust from the work area.
   
   

   The Spruce / Sarah Lee

2. Lighten the Stain

   To lighten the dark staining, you can use either hydrogen peroxide or chlorine bleach, but do not mix the two chemicals.

   For hydrogen peroxide, begin with a 1:1 dilution of hydrogen peroxide and water.

   • Soak a white cloth in the solution, and wring lightly.
   • Then, place the cloth on the dark stain, and allow it to sit for 10 minutes.
   • Remove the cloth, and allow the wood to dry completely.

   If the stain remains, treat again with 100 percent hydrogen peroxide for 10 minutes, and allow the wood to dry completely.

   If the stain is still present, try the chlorine bleach method.

   • For chlorine bleach, start with a solution of 4 parts water to 1 part bleach.
   • Follow the same instructions for hydrogen peroxide.

   If the stain remains after the first treatment, repeat the steps with a stronger bleach solution until the stain is gone.

   
   

   The Spruce / Sarah Lee

3. Apply a New Finish

   Once the dark water stain is lifted, use a wood varnish that matches your wood to stain and seal the area.

   After the finish is dry, use the #0000 steel wool to smooth any bumps between the newly cleaned area and the old finish.

   Finally, use a good wood polish to make your wood shine again.

   
   

   The Spruce / Sarah Lee

Additional Steps for Handling Water Stains on Wood

Depending on the extent of the stain and damage to the wood, refinishing the floor or replacing the wood furniture might be necessary.

Are water stains permanent on wood?

Thankfully, most watermarks are not permanent, and it's almost always possible to get rid of the stains from your wood surface, depending on the intensity of the stain and condition of the wood.

Can water stain be removed?

There are plenty of DIY natural remedies out there, but we find that the best hard water stain remover is a paste of white vinegar and baking soda. Spread over affected surfaces, let it sit for 30 minutes, then wipe clean with a dry microfiber cloth to quickly brighten bathroom surfaces.

Can you remove white water stains from wood?

Using Mild Abrasives (Toothpaste/Baking soda/salt) 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.

Does toothpaste remove water stains wood?

To get rid of those telltale watermark rings left by sweating beverages, gently rub some non-gel toothpaste with a soft cloth on the surface to remove water stains from wood. Then wipe it off with a damp cloth and let it dry before applying furniture polish.