Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Remove white circles
• Method 2 of 2: Remove other stains
• Tips
• Warnings

Someday it will happen. Someone places a glass on a wooden table and before you can place a coaster under it, a circle has already appeared on the wood. Instead of spending a lot of money on refinishing the wood, here are some inexpensive methods to get stains out of wood.

To step

Method 1 of 2: Remove white circles

1. Run an iron over the stain. First, remove all the water from the iron. Place a towel, T-shirt, or cloth on the stain. The fabric acts as a barrier between the table and the iron. Set the iron to a low setting and briefly iron it over the fabric. Then lift the fabric to see if the stain is gone. If you can still see the stain, put the fabric back and repeat the process.
   • Make sure the iron's steam function is turned off.
   • Proceed as soon as possible. Dry the surface of the table as best you can before you start.
   • Wipe away any moisture or water on the surface every time you lift the iron.
   • White circles are caused by steam and moisture.The white color means that they have just gotten into the paint or finish, which means that they are a lot easier to remove than dark spots.
2. Rub the stain with a piece of steel wool and lemon oil. Buy a piece of fine steel wool and soak it with lemon oil. Rub the piece of steel wool very gently over the white circle. Then rub the stain with a cloth with denatured alcohol.
   • The lemon oil is a lubricant that prevents scratches in the wood.
3. Try toothpaste. Put some toothpaste on your finger or a cloth. Rub the toothpaste onto the surface along the grain of the wood until the wood heats up. Dampen a cloth with water and wipe away the toothpaste. Dry the wood.
   • Make sure you use white toothpaste, not gel toothpaste.
   • You don't need a lot of toothpaste. A small dollop is enough.
   • Don't scrub too long. Just try to scrub the stain. Scrubbing other areas can wear down the varnish and the top layer of wood.
   • Repeat the process until the stain is gone.
4. Dry the stain with a hair dryer. Grab a hair dryer and set it on a high setting. Keep it close to the stain. The stain should disappear when the moisture dries up due to the heat. Make sure to move the hair dryer back and forth over the area.
   • This will probably only take 10-30 minutes.
   • Afterwards, smear some olive oil on the wood to moisturize it.
5. Rub oil-based agents on it. Oil-based agents such as mayonnaise, butter and petroleum jelly penetrate the wood and remove the moisture. Spread the mayonnaise or petroleum jelly on the stain. Leave it on for an hour to overnight.
   • Make sure to apply more mayonnaise to the stain as it dries out.
   • To get rid of the stain, mix some cigarette ash with the mayonnaise or petroleum jelly.
6. Use baking soda. Mix baking soda with toothpaste or water to remove the stain. Mix 2 parts baking soda with 1 part water. Rub the stain gently with a cloth.
   • Mix equal parts baking soda and toothpaste. Spread everything on the stain with a cloth. Afterwards, rinse the area with a damp cloth.

Method 2 of 2: Remove other stains

1. Use baking soda on paint stains. Baking soda is an excellent cleanser. To remove the paint, mix baking soda with distilled vinegar or lemon juice. Make a paste that is about the thickness of toothpaste. Spread the paste on the stain and gently rub the paste into the wood with a sponge. When you are done, wipe the paste off the surface. Then rinse the area with a cloth and clean water.
   • You can also use your fingers instead of a sponge.
   • If you have a stubborn stain, add more vinegar or water.
   • Repeat the process until the stain is removed.
   • You can also try to remove paint stains with a miracle sponge.
2. Use dish soap for stains that do not contain grease. Stains caused by food or nail polish can be removed with dish soap. Mix some dish soap with warm water, soak a cloth in the mixture and rub the affected area with it.
   • This method works best for stains that do not contain grease.
3. Treat grease stains with ammonia. Try to remove grease stains in wood with a little ammonia and cold water. Wet a cloth with the mixture and gently rub it over the stain.
4. Remove pet urine and feces with a bactericidal agent. When animals urinate or defecate on a wooden floor, the bacteria must be killed. Bacteria cause stains and odors. To remove stains and bacteria, use a solution containing 5 percent phenol. You can buy this at hardware stores. Clean the area with a damp, soft cloth.
   • If your floor is finished with wax, use a fine piece of steel wool and turpentine to clean the area. Make circular movements. Afterwards, apply new wax and polish the area.
5. Use isopropyl alcohol for stains caused by waterproof inks. Put a small amount of isopropyl alcohol on a cloth. Gently rub the stain with the cloth to remove it. Afterwards, wipe it off with a damp cloth to rinse the area.
   • Test the product on the bottom of your table first to make sure it won't damage the table.
   • Also try to remove the waterproof ink with toothpaste.
6. Use bleach to get rid of black spots. Use oxalic acid, an ingredient in wood bleaches, and some household cleaners. You can buy this remedy at hardware stores and some supermarkets. First, remove the polish from the affected area so that you can treat the stain.
   • Mix the oxalic acid with water to get a thick paste. Avoid using a metal bowl as oxalic acid can discolor metal. Apply it to the stain with a rag or old paintbrush and let it dry. Apply the product several times. Always rinse the area in between.
   • If bleach does not remove the stain, it may be caused by something else, such as food or wine. In that case, try with hydrogen peroxide or household bleach.
   • Apply new paint to the area. Do not repaint the entire furniture unless necessary.
   • Black spots are water spots that have penetrated deeper into the wood. These stains are a lot more difficult to remove.

Tips

• Try all of these on an invisible part of the wood before trying to remove the stain. The agent you use can damage the wood even further, depending on the type of wood in question.
• If the black stain has gone deep enough into the wood, you will likely need to remove the paint. You may also need to remove the paint to remove the stain and then refinish the wood.

Warnings

• Make sure you work in a well-ventilated area when using chemicals.