How to Restore Wood With Water Damage
Wood furniture is often covered with a layer of wood stain and in some cases, a clear protective coat. When this coat is missing, water damage occurs. Leave a glass of liquid on the piece and the moisture causes a ring to appear on the wood. The longer you leave the water damage on the wood, the greater the chance is that the wood develops rot. Depending on the severity of the water damage, cleaning alone may help. If that fails, you'll need to fix the damaged area. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Mayonnaise
- Paper towels
- Plastic wrap
- White toothpaste
- Baking soda
- Paint stripper
- Paint scraper
- Fine grade sandpaper
- Wood stain
- Cloth
Instructions
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1
Cover the water damage with a thin layer of mayonnaise. Use a paper towel to push the mayonnaise around the water damage and into the stained areas. Cover the mayonnaise with a piece of plastic wrap. The next day, wipe away the excess mayonnaise and check the damage.
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2
Combine equal parts white toothpaste with baking soda. Rub the mixture into the water stained areas of the wood, using your hands to gently massage it into the wood. Wipe any of the excess mixture away with a damp paper towel and check for any remaining damage.
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3
Place a small amount of paint stripper on the wood surface and let sit for at least five minutes. Use the paint scraper to slowly remove the stain from the piece. Rub the scraper across the surface of the wood and the stain or paint should slide right off.
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4
Rub fine grade sandpaper all over the wood, making sure it's dry first. Use the sandpaper on any areas where the wood was damaged by water. Remove any excess stain or paint and keep rubbing until you wipe away any signs of the water damage. Wipe the piece down to remove any wood dust.
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5
Apply wood stain to your cloth and then rub it across the wood. Use a second cloth to wipe off the excess stain. Keep adding more stain, until the formerly water damaged areas are the same shade as the rest of the furniture piece.
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Tips & Warnings
If the wood rots or has chunks missing, you'll need to use an epoxy designed for wood. Scrape out any soft wood and apply the epoxy. After it dries, sand away any excess and apply a coat of wood stain.
