How to Remove Water Stain on Wood

remove water stain

Remove Water Stains on Wood

See this ugly white water stain on our piano bench? The bench (and piano) aren’t even ours, which makes the stain even uglier.
I intended to sand it down and refinish it before the owners claimed it back, but today that plan got replaced by a much easier way to remove water marks from wood furniture. I heard that ironing the stain with a damp cloth would lift it off, but didn’t really believe it. So I videotaped myself doing exactly that just in case it worked and I could make a believer out of you.

water stain wood

No More Stain

It’s true. You can take water stains on wood off with a damp cloth and a hot iron! It took me about 15 minutes to get this piano bench looking better than it did when we got it.
Steps for Removing a Water Stain from Wood:
1. Spray water on an absorbent pillow case.
2. Get your iron as hot as it will get.
3. Place the damp pillowcase moist-side-down on the water mark.
4. Iron with continuous motion for about 10 minutes.
5. Remove the pillowcase and continue ironing for a couple minutes with dry heat only, MOVING THE IRON CONSTANTLY.
6. Buff with furniture polish.

7 Comments

  1. Yago
    Yago on February 20, 2013 at 1:51 pm

    Esta técnica funciona também para manchas antigas, ou seja, aquelas que já secaram na madeira já há muito tempo?
    Caso contrário, alguém conhece alguma outra técnica que funcione bem em manchas d’água já secaram e estão impregnadas em pisos de madeira?
    Desde já agradeço qualquer ajuda.
    • Marta
      Marta on February 20, 2013 at 3:06 pm

      Experimente com esta tecnica primeiro. Aguardo seus resultados…

  2. fran starr
    fran starr on August 17, 2012 at 11:59 am

    Not really a comment but a questions what about fingernail polish remover
    accidentally spilled a little on my wood coffee table. would the same procedure work?

    • Marta
      Marta on August 17, 2012 at 3:28 pm

      It wouldn’t hurt to try. I have a feeling it won’t clear it up completely, but will make it less noticeable. Let us know what the result is if you try it, ok?

  3. deanna from sophia
    deanna from sophia on July 2, 2012 at 3:21 pm

    it really worked……i just finished…i am so gratiful for the information…glad to see there is people out there ready to help

  4. SavvyPracticality
    SavvyPracticality on March 12, 2012 at 4:56 pm

    Marty,
    I can’t believe this trick worked to take water stains off the wood! This will really save people a lot of time and hassle. I’m sure this can be used on antiques and this way people don’t have to damage the aged surface. All I can say is WOW!

  5. gary
    gary on March 6, 2012 at 8:47 pm

    WOW!!!! I bet it won’t weigh as much next time we need to move it!

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