7 Ways to Remove Water Spots From Wood

There are few things as frustrating as investing in a pricey new coffee table, only to immediately mar it with a rogue water glass. If that happens, know it’s not the end of the world—for you or your table. All you need to do to get that pesky water stain out of your wood is a few household items.

1. Iron Over a Dry Towel

If you notice water rings on your wood, the first thing you should do is bust out a dry rag and attempt to wipe the table free of any excess water, as well as dust, grime, or crumbs, before breaking out your iron. Plug in the iron to allow it time to heat up, then lay down a dry towel or cotton cloth, fully covering the stain. Run the iron slowly over the fabric a few times, then remove the towel to see if the watermark has vanished.

2. Apply Baking Soda

Baking soda has many uses beyond, well, baking. You can mix it up with water—1 tablespoon of baking soda to 1 cup of water—to create a paste that you’ll apply directly to any water rings. Rub it into the stain, then let it sit for 10 minutes or so before wiping it away with a clean, damp rag.

3. Gently Rub With Steel Wool

If the water damage to your wooden surface is excessive, steel wool and lemon oil might do the trick. Dab a bit of lemon oil onto your piece of steel wool—opting for a fine to super-fine grade—and gently scrub it into the surface, working it in the same direction as the wood’s grain. Take care to only scrub where the stain is and not damage the wood any further.

4. Take a Hair Dryer to the Stain

If you spot a fresh mark on your wood, an everyday hair dryer can go far in figuring out how to get water stains out of wood. Using the highest heat setting, turn on the hairdryer and aim it directly at the water rings until they vanish.

5. Wipe Away With Toothpaste

Dab a glob of regular white toothpaste onto a paper towel and work it into the watermarks on your wood until they’re gone. Use a clean paper towel or reusable cloth to remove any excess residue once you’re done.

6. Disappear the Stain With Mayonnaise

Mayonnaise has magical properties beyond flavor—in addition to delighting your tastebuds, it also will make many watermarks on wood completely go away. Spoon a small amount onto your water rings, then leave it alone for the afternoon or even overnight. Wipe away any remaining mayonnaise and you’ll find yourself with a pristine surface that’s (hopefully) like new.

7. Re-Stain or Refinish the Wooden Surface

If all else fails and you can’t figure out how to get water stains out of wood, you could consider refinishing the wooden surface (or carefully styling the stain so it’s concealed by a stack of coffee table books or other decorative items).

Start by carefully sanding the top completely down to the raw wood, removing any old varnish and stain from the surface. Wipe it down with tack cloth then re-stain with a matching color. 

Once it’s cured, which will typically take up to 24 hours, apply a thin layer of varnish for the first coat, wait for it to cure, then sand with 220-grit to knock down the grain. Re-wipe with tack cloths and apply up to six more consecutive coats to create a durable, long-lasting finish for the wooden surface.  

Of course, if you’re afraid to take sandpaper to your beloved piece of furniture, you could always call in a local furniture restoration expert to do it for you. To prevent future watermarks, consider using a local cleaning service to keep your surfaces stain-free.