Simply use a lint-free rag soaked in mineral spirits or paint thinner to rub the areas of over-application—wherever the stain has puddled or is thick and sticky—to remove the excess stain. Areas of over-application may be noticeable because the stain is darker.
Apply a small amount of dry-cleaning solvent or alcohol to the stain. Use small amounts to prevent any possible spreading of stain. Blot quickly using soft, absorbent, white material such as paper towel or napkin. Dry-cleaning solvent and alcohol are commonly available at grocery, drug and hardware stores.
For water-based stains, use a lacquer thinner. Scrub out the streaks, then reapply the stain liberally. Wipe off the excess with a rag immediately.
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.
Use Absorbent Towels or Rags to Remove Stain
Then keep your pressure light and even, with the final wipe along with the grain of the wood. In addition, you can use a dry natural bristle brush to remove stain from the corners. Natural bristle brushes absorb better than synthetic brushes.
Water-based stains dry extremely fast, so you need to wipe off any excess stain within 2 minutes of first applying it. To remove the excess stain, you'll use a synthetic pad and wipe the stain in the direction of the wood grain.
Mineral spirits can be used when working with water-based products, but only if the surface is thoroughly rinsed and allowed to dry for 72 hours.
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.
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.
Water-Based Stains and Finishes.
Rather than use a natural bristle brush with water-based stains and clear finishes and watch it swell out of shape (top brush), I use a synthetic bristle brush, such as Minwax® Polycrylic® Brush (bottom brush). These bristles won't absorb water and won't lose their shape.
To get rid of the excess stain now, take a cloth dampened with mineral spirits and use that to scrub down the piece. This should remove the excess stain. Alternatively, apply another coat of stain, wait a couple of minutes for it to soften up the old, tacky, excess stain, then take a cloth and rub away the excess.
If you're dealing with water rings or food stains on your wood, you can use a little olive oil and vinegar (mixed equally) to remove those stains without stripping your actual wood stain. Just rub the solution in the direction of the wood grain, let it sit, and then wipe it away with a damp towel.
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.
Hydrogen Peroxide & Cream of Tartar
Ordinary hydrogen peroxide works wonders on stubborn soap scum and water stain combinations that accumulate on bathtubs and metal fixtures. For added cleaning power, make a paste using cream of tartar, a type of baking powder, and apply it to the stained area.
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.
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 best way to remove stains from wood furniture is by using oxalic acid. Professional furniture restorers have been using this very safe and easy to apply treatment for decades. Oxalic acid is very effective at removing food and drink stains, including spilled red wine and water marks.
Water Based Stain
Because of these layered, thick top coatings, water based stains tend to blister, crack, flake or peel over time, usually starting to fail in its first winter season. Water based stain formulas tend to come in solid / opaque or semi-transparent stains, covering up the natural grains of the wood.
Thankfully, most watermarks are not permanent, and it's almost always possible to get rid of the stains from your wood surface, depending on the intensity of the stain and condition of the wood. In this guide, we will offer some tips on how to remove water stains on your wooden furniture.
Paint thinned with mineral spirits dries to a smoother, more even finish. The Cons: Mineral spirits is often more expensive than alternative paint thinners. Mineral spirits are not suitable for use with latex paint. While not as abrasive as some cleaners, mineral spirits are a mild irritant.
When working with wood, mineral spirits can be used to clean stain and finishes off brushes, clean the wood before finishing, temporarily changing the color of the wood to highlight flaws, and thinning stain or finish for other purposes.