How to Repair a Water Stained Finish

Water stains occur when moisture comes into contact with wood furniture. Drinks, flooding and steam from humidifiers can cause wood damage. Inspect your furniture for any water stains, which appear cloudy or ring-shaped. To prevent further damage to wood, move furniture out of basements and away from windows and humidifiers; place coasters on wood tables. Repairing your wood furniture will restore the look of the wood and provide a glowing sheen.

Things You'll Need

• Soft cloth
• Mayonnaise
• Alcohol
• Gum turpentine
• Boiled linseed oil
• Clear wood finish

Instructions

1. Clean off the dust from your wood furniture with a soft cloth.

2. Get out as much of the water stain without having to restore the finish by applying a think layer of mayonnaise on the wood overnight. The oil in the mayonnaise can displace the moisture trapped in the pores of the wood finish.

3. Wipe up the mayonnaise in the morning with a soft cloth that is slightly saturated with alcohol. The alcohol will pick up the condiment and slightly strip the finish.

4. Clean the wood furniture with a mixture of 2 tbsp. of gum turpentine and 4 tbsp. of boiled linseed oil. Add one gallon of water. Dip a soft cloth into the mixture and wring out. Wipe down the entire piece of furniture. Use a dry soft cloth to dry.

5. Apply a clear wood finish to the furniture. Follow the directions on the finish. Generally, you will need to apply a coat and let it dry. Then reapply.

Tips & Warnings

• Test the clear finish on a small area to ensure it doesn't cause warping or discoloration to your wood.

• Make sure your wood furniture is completely dry before applying the finish or you can damage the wood.

References

• Wood Finish Supply: Furniture Finish Repairs
• Utah State University: Cleaning, Repairing and Reconditioning Wood Furniture