About Grease and Water Stains on Wood

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By Cathryn Whitehead
eHow Contributing Writer

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Wood is easy to care for if you can keep it away from its number one enemy: water. When water marks stain your wood floor or furniture, it presents a challenge. And, when you also find grease stains on your wood, you have to come up with some creative solutions to remove the stains without damaging the surface of the wood.

Identification

Water stains on wood can show up as white rings. Caused by moisture between the finish and the wood, these stains can be difficult to remove without sanding down to the wood and refinishing, but there are some methods you can try first. Try mixing equal amounts of mayonnaise and ashes and rub them into the water stain. Leave it for an hour, then wipe it away. Or you can mix equal amounts of white toothpaste and baking soda, then rub it into the stain. Wipe it away and rub the area with a soft cloth.

Types

Grease stains can be removed with cleaners that are designed to get rid of grease, but you have to make sure they don't damage the wood. Try solutions in an inconspicuous area before you use them on stains. You can steep 2 black teabags in a quart of boiled water for 20 minutes and wash the grease stain with a cloth moistened with the tea. Spraying the spot with Greased Lightning available at dollar stores can remove grease stains from wood. Apply Dawn Dish Liquid to the grease stain and rub until the spot is gone. Rinse well.

Prevention/Solution

Wipe up water spills as soon as they happen and place glasses on coasters instead of directly on wood. If grease drips on wood, cover the spot with an ice cube to harden the grease and carefully scrape it away with a spatula. Be sure to read manufacturer's instructions and use solutions recommended by the manufacturer.

Considerations

Some grease stains can be removed from wood by using brake cleaner, turpentine, or trisodium phosphate. All are available at home improvement, hardware, or paint stores, but you need to test them to make sure they don't damage your floor and you need to use them in a well ventilated area. Wood surfaces stained with water could form mold or mildew stains, and bleach that's usually used to remove mold can discolor the wood. You may have to use a manufacturer recommended floor cleaner with number 1 steel wool for removal.

Features

One of the best features of wood is that it can be sanded and refinished. If all other efforts to remove grease and water stains fail, you might need to sand the area with a sanding block or sander. Make sure you remove all sawdust and dirt before applying finish to the sanded surface.