Home Remedy for Water Stained Wood

Olive Oil

• Olive oil is a good alternative to wood polish. As many families already have a bottle of olive oil in the kitchen, it can be a less expensive alternative to purchasing a pricey bottle of wood furniture polish in a store. Rubbing olive oil into the spot with a rag and leaving it to sit can help remove the stain.

Iron

• An iron can be used to remove the dampness from a water stain, leaving behind a clean surface. By laying a piece of wax paper or clean piece of fabric on the water stain, then pressing a heated iron over the spot briefly, the mark can disappear. This method works best on marks that have just occurred.

Toothpaste

• Toothpaste has been known to help remove water stains from wood furniture. The non-gel toothpaste works best for this and should be rubbed generously over the mark and left to sit for a few hours. When you wipe the toothpaste off, the water mark should be gone.

Mayonnaise

• The oils in mayonnaise also make a nice alternative to wood furniture polish. By rubbing the mayonnaise into the wood and letting it sit, the moisture from the wood stain can be absorbed. This method works best when the mayonnaise is left on for a lengthy period of time, about 24 hours.

Tobacco Ash

• Tobacco ash is a secret ingredient some homeowners use to remove water stains from wood. Ash can be rubbed into the stain with a rag or can be combined with a moisture-rich product, like olive oil, toothpaste or mayonnaise. The grit from the ash smooths out the raised mark when it's rubbed into the stain but should be wiped clean once you are finished rubbing down the spot.