Use a white toothpaste, not gel, for this remedy. Apply a small amount of toothpaste to the stain and buff gently, with the wood grain, with a soft cotton cloth. Wipe off toothpaste with a damp cloth and polish. For tougher stains, add baking soda in equal parts to the toothpaste.
In a small bowl, mix equal parts vinegar and olive oil. Apply the mixture to the water stain using a cloth. Wipe in the direction of the wood grain until the stain is gone. The vinegar will help remove the stain while the olive oil acts as a furniture polish.
Apply a little toothpaste to a damp cloth and rub the stain gently. Most toothpastes contain a mild abrasive that can help to remove the stain. If toothpaste alone didn't work, then you can step things up a little by adding some baking soda to the toothpaste.
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.
When water penetrates oak it reacts with the high tannin content within oak, resulting in 'blackening'. The Sun's UV rays will turn the oak to a silvery hue over time.
Iron oxide stains in wood are usually dark spots caused by prolonged exposure to water and / or metal. The iron oxide reacts with the tannins in the wood and stains it black. Wood can intentionally be stained black in the same way, and that's called Ebonizing.
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. But first, remember: even a quick touch-up can damage an heirloom.
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.
Pre-staining the wood with black tea or coffee can produce more tannins and thus, darken the wood. An oxidation solution with apple cider vinegar can also produce a slightly darker result without the need for a pre-stain.
It is proven that mayonnaise can be used to remove any water stains from oak furniture. Just get a little bit on a cloth and coat the area with the mayonnaise. The oils within the mayonnaise should dissolve the water stain on the item.
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.
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.
Black spots are formed when the wood is exposed to metal and moisture. Like a wet glass or leaky vase. This causes a chemical reaction from the tannic acid and water. The chemical reaction leaves black spots on your wood. Tannin Spot Neutralizer also removes rust stains.
This is known as zebra stain. Zebra stains happen when iron or manganese darkens the browning and makes it turn black. Sun Exposure. If your wood product is left outside and exposed to the sun, over time it will darken (like a sun tan) and may make the wood appear dirty or damaged.
Creosote is a black tar-like byproduct of burning wood that can line the inside of flues or chimneys and cause longer-term issues until it's removed. Creosote can be produced in higher quantities when there's a problem with the wood or the airflow to the fire.
When solid oak boards become highly exposed to changeable moisture and humidity levels, much more serious problems can occur. Two of the most common problems caused by moisture are cupping and crowing.
Use a polyester filler to rebuild rotted or damaged wood. You can mold and shape it to match the original wood profile. It takes paint well and won't rot.
Fortunately, in many cases, this type of damage can be almost magically undone by treating the wood's surface with oxalic acid. Oxalic acid removes the gray color from oxidized wood, without changing the wood's natural color.
Tannic Acid
Tannin occurs naturally in trees. Darker wood species such as mahogany and walnut and some oak subspecies have particularly high levels of it. The tannic acid that is within tannin can, if the wrong finishing product is used, react and cause dark stains and patches on your wooden floor.
Oak (or Chestnut) commonly contain tannins that could potentially stain the surface with the moisture. Thankfully, the leaking tannins are not a permanent issue with Oak and over time they will deplete and no longer present as a dark stain upon the surface.