How to Fix Water Damage on Wood
Even with the strongest of finishes and sealants, one fact remains true about wood: it does not get along well with water. Damage ranging from intense flooding to simple condensation circles can ruin the appearance of your wood, leaving you with few options. If you decide to try to salvage and repair your wood, there are a variety of methods you can use to help defeat growing mildew and remove those unsightly stains. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Rubber gloves
- Screwdriver
- Hose
- Mineral spirits
- Rags
- Wood glue
- Furniture polish
- Lint-free cloth
- Denatured alcohol
- Cigarette ashes
- Vegetable oil
- No. 0000 steel wool
- Linseed oil
- Furniture Wax
Instructions
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Major Water or Flood Damage
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1
Wear protective rubber gloves when working with damp or moldy wooden furniture. Take the furniture outside and remove all panels, drawers, doors or other removable pieces from the furniture. You will probably need a screwdriver or other tool to remove these pieces. Do not force pieces apart; drawers, doors and other pieces may stick due to wood expanding when wet.
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Use a hose to clean off any mud, dirt or other contaminants from the flood. Check the inside and outside of the furniture for these contaminants. This is only necessary if the furniture is dirty.
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3
Take the furniture to a well-ventilated, indoor storage area, where it will be protected from the sun and rain. Never let wood dry in the sun, as the wood will warp and twist. Allow the wood to dry here completely
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4
Check the furniture periodically, removing remaining individual pieces as you can when they no longer stick. Depending on the extent of damage, the climate of the storage area and the type of wood, wood furniture can take as long as a few months to dry completely.
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5
Clean all mildewed areas with mineral spirits and a clean rag. Check all surfaces, including inside and underside, for mold and mildew growth. You may need to do this repeatedly throughout the drying process, as mold will continue to grow so long as the wood maintains moisture content above 20 percent.
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6
Use wood glue to reapply any broken joints or cracked areas. If there is warping or severe damage to boards or planks, consult an expert woodworker regarding the damage to your wood. These professionals may be able to repair your wood.
Minor Damage, Water Spots and Haze
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Buff the water damaged area with liquid furniture polish and a lint-free cloth to fade or remove the water spots. If polishing alone does not work, dampen a soft rag with denatured alcohol and rub to remove the stain; use as little alcohol as possible, as it can ruin the wood's finish in large amounts.
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Use abrasives if polish and alcohol will not remove the water damage. Mix cigarette ashes with a dollop of mayonaisse or a few drops of vegetable oil to form a paste, and apply the paste to the stain, rubbing in the same direction as the wood grain. Wipe the surface clean with a clean rag; repeat as necessary until the stain is gone.
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9
Remove large white hazy areas, known as blushing, by dipping No. 0000 steel wool in linseed oil. Rub gently with the grain of the wood, buffing the entire hazy surface until the haze is gone.
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10
Wipe the surface with a clean, damp rag and dry with a clean towel after removal, regardless of the method. Apply two coats of furniture wax and buff with a clean, soft cloth to restore the wood's finish and shine.
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Tips & Warnings
Assess the damage to your wooden furniture carefully. Consult with expert woodworkers regarding the cost for repairing broken, warped or bent pieces. It may be cheaper to replace the pieces than repair them.
If cigarette ashes and vegetable oil are not effective, create an abrasive mixture of rottenstone and linseed oil and rub very lightly. Only use this mixture if necessary, however, as the rottenstone can easily damage the wood.
Replace abrasive removal attempts with a few drops of ammonia to remove white spots or haze.
If you are not an experienced woodworker, do not attempt to reshape damaged, warped or bent pieces of wood. You could injure yourself or cause more damage to the wood. Consult an expert woodworker for help.
