Sooner or later it sure happens: someone places a glass on the wooden table and, before you can put a coaster on, a ring appears on the surface. If you don't want to spend a fortune finishing your furniture, you can learn some inexpensive ways to get rid of stains.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Eliminate White Halos
Step 1. Address the stain with an iron
Drain all water from the iron. Place a towel, shirt, or other cloth over the stain to act as a barrier between the table and the iron. Set the appliance to the minimum temperature and let it slide slowly on the fabric for a short time. Lift the cloth and check if the stain is gone. If not, put the cloth back and repeat the operation.
- Make sure your iron is not set to steam.
- Move as quickly as possible. Dry the surface of the table as much as possible before starting.
- Each time you lift the iron, it removes any residual moisture and condensation that has formed on the surface.
- White halos are caused by vapor or liquids. The fact that they are white in color means that they have only penetrated the wax or finish layer, so it is much easier to clean them than dark spots.
Step 2. Scrub the surface with a piece of steel wool and lemon essential oil
Purchase a fine steel wool sponge. Dip it in lemon oil and rub it very gently over the white glow. Then take a cloth dipped in denatured alcohol and rub it on the stain.
Lemon essential oil is a lubricant and helps prevent scratches on the wood
Step 3. Try the toothpaste
Put some toothpaste on your finger or cloth. Rub it into the cabinet following the grain of the wood until it warms up. Dampen a cloth with water to rinse off the toothpaste and finally wipe off the wet residue.
- Make sure the toothpaste you use is white in paste and not gel.
- You don't need much toothpaste, a pea-sized amount is more than enough.
- Do not rub an extended area. Try to stay on the stain area, otherwise you risk peeling the finishing layer off the wood.
- Repeat the process until all stains are gone.
Step 4. Use a hair dryer
Take the hair dryer and operate it at maximum temperature keeping it close to the stain. You should notice that the stain begins to shrink as the appliance dries the moisture. Move the hair dryer over the stain continuously to avoid overheating a single spot.
- This remedy usually takes 10 to 30 minutes.
- At the end, apply a little olive oil to the wood to hydrate it.
Step 5. Scrub the surface with oil-based products
Products that contain oily substances, such as mayonnaise, butter and petroleum jelly, penetrate the wood and remove moisture. Put a little mayonnaise or petroleum jelly on the stain. Leave it on for an hour or even overnight.
- Add more mayonnaise to the stain if you notice it drying out.
- To make the treatment a little more abrasive, combine cigarette ash with mayonnaise or petroleum jelly.
Step 6. Use baking soda
Mix baking soda with toothpaste or water to remove the stain. If you add it to water, mix 2 parts of baking soda with 1 part of water. Use a rag to gently scrub the surface.
If you use baking soda with toothpaste, make a mixture in equal parts. Rub it on the stain with a rag, then rinse with a damp cloth
Method 2 of 2: Remove Other Stains
Step 1. Use baking soda on the paint stains
Baking soda is a great cleanser, and if you want to get rid of the dyes, mix it with distilled vinegar or lemon juice. Make a paste the consistency of toothpaste and apply it to the affected area. Use a sponge to rub it gently on the wood; when finished, remove all traces and wash the surface with a rag and water.
- You can use your fingers instead of the sponge.
- Add a little more vinegar or water if the stain looks particularly stubborn.
- Repeat the process until the halo disappears completely.
- You can also try a magic eraser to remove the dye.
Step 2. Use dish soap for non-greasy stains
If the stains are from food or nail polish, you can try removing them with dish soap. Add it to hot water, dip a cloth in the solution and rub it on the affected area.
This method works best if the stains are not greasy
Step 3. Rub the greasy stains with ammonia
In this case, try to treat the wood using a little ammonia mixed with cold water. Wet a rag with the solution and rub it gently on the stain.
Step 4. Clean up any residue left by pets with an antibacterial solution
If your pet has left a "souvenir" on the wooden floor, you need to kill the bacteria responsible for stains and odors. To get rid of both stains and bacteria, use a 5% phenol-based product, which you can buy at hardware or home improvement stores. Clean the affected area with a soft, damp cloth.
If the floor has a wax finish, use fine steel wool and white spirit to clean. Make sure you make circular motions and apply the wax and polish the area when finished
Step 5. Use isopropyl alcohol for permanent marker stains
Put a small amount of isopropyl alcohol on a rag and gently rub the stain to remove it. Finally, wipe with a damp cloth to rinse.
- Test the underside of the table first to make sure you don't damage it.
- Toothpaste can also be effective for removing permanent marker stains.
Step 6. Apply a whitener to get rid of black spots
It uses oxalic acid, which is found in wood whiteners and some household cleaners. You can buy this product in DIY stores and paint shops. First you need to remove the wood finish from the stained area so that you can treat it.
- Mix the oxalic acid compound with water to create a thick paste. Make sure you don't put it in a metal container, because the acid could stain it. Apply it to the stain with a disposable rag or brush. Let the product rest until it dries. If necessary, do more applications, making sure to rinse between applications.
- If this product does not eliminate it, the stain was probably caused by something else, such as food or wine. If this is the case, try treating it with hydrogen peroxide or household bleach.
- Refine the treated area. Do not finish all the furniture unless it is necessary.
- Black ones are water stains that have penetrated deep into the wood: they are much more difficult to remove.
Advice
- If the black spot has gone in very deep, it may be necessary to remove the paint. You may need to remove it completely, get rid of the stain, and then reapply a finishing coat.
- Test each of these methods in a small, inconspicuous corner of the wood before treating the stained area. Depending on the type of wood, you could damage it further.
