Mix equal parts vinegar and water; or squeeze one lemon into a cup of water. Then, lightly scrub the solution over the stain, moving in the direction of the wood grain. For added grit and cleaning power, add a teaspoon of salt or baking soda to the mix.
For stubborn black water stains, you may need to use a commercial wood bleach. After removing the wood finish, apply mixed wood bleach with a brush to the wood. Allow the wood bleach to work for four hours. Neutralize the wood bleach by applying a mixture of two parts water and to one-part vinegar with a sponge.
Using Mild Abrasives (Toothpaste/Baking soda/salt)
Buff out water stains on wood with a mild abrasive. Using a non-gel (plain white) toothpaste, baking soda paste or salt paste (adding a few drops of water to form the pastes), gently rub the mixture into the stain. Be sure to go along the grain of the wood.
The water soaks into the wood and as it evaporates out of the wood it brings along the colored extractives which can then become visible on the surface. In some cases water-soluble tannins may react with minute particles of steel on the surface forming dark, iron tannate stains.
Watermarks -- or water stains -- are often caused by cold glasses, spills, or hot dishes places directly on the wood. Luckily, though, they aren't always permanent. This guide will guide you through the process of removing these stains.
White stains in the shape of rings are typically caused by the bottoms of hot plates or cold glasses and mugs resting directly in the wood surface. Condensed water or steam pushes into the wood's finish causing the clear layer to become whitish.
Vinegar is a safe, all-natural household cleaner with the amazing ability to combat hard water stains. Pour some in a spray bottle and squirt any surface where you find hard water stains. Let it sit for five to 15 minutes to give the vinegar time to break down the minerals in the chalky, white stain.
Here are the most common hard water stains and their root cause: High calcium in the water leaves a white residue which is most visible on metal surfaces like faucets and showerheads. Brown or black staining is usually the result of high levels of dissolved manganese.
Dark Watermarks
To remove dark water stains, you'll usually have to remove the finish first. Then dissolve some oxalic acid crystals to a saturated solution in hot water. The easiest and least damaging way to remove dark watermarks is to bleach them out of the wood with oxalic-acid wood bleach.
If the stain remains, treat again with 100 percent hydrogen peroxide for 10 minutes, and allow the wood to dry completely. If the stain is still present, try the chlorine bleach method. For chlorine bleach, start with a solution of 4 parts water to 1 part bleach. Follow the same instructions for hydrogen peroxide.
If the water damaged area has turned cloudy white, moisture is probably trapped in the finish. You can remove the moisture by rubbing the area with alcohol. Denatured alcohol, rubbing alcohol or industrial alcohol will work.
The most common method for getting water stains out of quality wooden furniture is by using baking soda. This is most effective with stains that have just occurred, so old water rings may not budge, but a new one will disappear.
These hard water stains are not permanent; however, if they're allowed to build up over time, you could end up with layers of scale in your bathroom plumbing or around the valves of your dishwasher which could lead to costly repairs down the line.
Hard water stains can become permanent if left too long. It's best to remove hard water stains as soon as they appear. While it may be tempting to let a mild stain sit until cleaning day, the longer it sits the harder it is to remove.
Flooding, leaky pipes, and malfunctioning appliances can all cause water damage. Once water seeps into a porous surface like drywall, black mold and its cousins are likely to appear.
Use Dawn and some hot water and a cloth or sponge to get into those nooks and crannies where grime and scale tend to build up. You can also combine Dawn with vinegar for stronger cleaning power, especially when tackling hard water stains.
An iron analysis will tell you if this is the cause of the stain and just how much iron is in the well water. Light brown or tea-colored stains: Usually caused by manganese. Manganese is also a common component in the Earth's crust and is also found in many ground waters.
Usually, the water will clear on its own within a few hours. If after a few hours and the water has not cleared then you will need to call for a professional opinion.
Vaseline (Petroleum Jelly)
Blot the stain, then use a dry sponge or towel to apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly. Let it stand overnight and wipe away in the morning. The jelly should've penetrated the surface and replaced the trapped water with oil. If you still see the stain, repeat the process.
Generally, a light, cloudy mark will dry on its own. Brister says that's because a contemporary finish is less permeable than the older one on grandma's table. Water can and may evaporate, and residual marks can even be polished out.
Like toothpaste, you can clean with baking soda to remove water marks from wood. 'Simply make a paste from two parts baking soda to one part water and apply with a microfiber cloth (you can buy these from Amazon). Rub the baking soda mix over the water mark gently until it disappears.