How to Remove Wood Stains: A DIY Guide

Published October 27, 2023

If you’re anything like me, you’d be familiar with my mom’s words, “Make sure to use a coaster!” And she repeats this because she doesn’t want her children to ruin her oh-so-precious furniture. 

Wood furniture is a classic. They are a perfect combination of aesthetics and practicality. But like almost every building material, wood will undergo wear and tear. 

One of the biggest challenges people face with wood is stains. Removing stains is a common dilemma, whether it’s your wooden furniture, floor, or walls. In this post, we’ll teach you how to remove those stains and restore your wood to its former glory.

But before we dig deep into the topic, remember that “wood stains” can refer to two different kinds of things:

• a type of wood finish
• a discoloration or spots of dirt that can be hard to remove

Removing wood finish is different from eliminating discolorations in your wood. But no worries, here’s a quick guide on how to get rid of both.

How to Remove Wood Stain Finish

Wood stain finishes tend to seep into the grain of the wood. Plus, they’re usually made of chemicals (some of which can be toxic when not handled appropriately). So before you start stripping that wood stain finish, be sure to prepare all the necessary tools first.

What You’ll Need:

• rags
• plastic scraper
• sandpaper/electric hand sander
• chemical wood stripper
• safety glasses
• chemical resistant gloves
• respirator mask
• drop cloth
• clean cloths

Step 1: Prepare Your Work Area

Removing wood stain finish can be dusty and messy. It can even be noisy, depending on the tools you’re using. So make sure you’re working outdoors or in a well-ventilated area. Don’t forget to lay a drop cloth to protect your work area.

Step 2: Get Rid of the Protective Finish

Most stained woods have varnish or lacquer protecting the wooden surface. That means you need to strip it first before you can get rid of the wood stain.

Removing the protective wood finish usually requires using a chemical wood stripper. Make sure to put on your Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) before handling any type of chemicals. Using a paintbrush, slowly apply a thick layer of stripper onto the wood’s surface. Make sure all nooks and crannies are covered. Let it soak for about 20 minutes, depending on the instructions provided on the label.

After soaking it, use a plastic scraper to scrape off the varnish and stain. Then, using a steel wool, wipe down the surface. Follow the direction of the wood’s grain. Ensure to remove all debris, protective coating, and the wood stripper. Allow the wood to dry for 24 hours.

Step 3: Sand the Wood’s Surface

After the wood has dried, it’s time to sand its surface. You can use sandpaper or an electric hand sander, depending on the size of the area you’re working with. Sanding the wood will remove the stain and expose the fresh, unstained wood beneath it.

After you’ve sanded the surface, wipe it with a damp and clean cloth. Now, your wood is clean and ready for another stain or finish.

Removing Different Types of Wood Stains

The second type of wood stain we’ll cover is the spots and discoloration you often see on floors and wooden furniture. This type of stain is caused by moisture seeping into the inside of the wood. They can be challenging, especially since not all stains are equal.

Since different substances have varying consistencies and properties, they absorb the wood differently. As such, no one-size-fits-all wood stain remover formula can magically eliminate all stains.

Common household cleaning solutions can remove some stains. But others can be stubborn and may need harsher chemicals.

Here are some tips on how to effectively remove different types of stains from wood:

Dried/Dry food stains

This can be one of the most common stains, especially on wooden dining tables. For this type of stain, you can use white vinegar. Mix vinegar in two parts and water in one part, and wipe the stain away with a soft cloth.

Greasy stains

When dealing with greasy stains, you’ll want to use ammonia. Ammonia is excellent at breaking down stains from animal fat and vegetable oil. Add some ammonia to cold water and apply to the stained area with a soft cloth. 

Non-greasy stains

For this type of stain, you’ll want to use dishwashing liquid. Make a solution by mixing in some dishwashing liquid in warm water. Using a rag, apply it to the stained area. Then rinse it with a damp cloth.

Pet stains

Pet owners understand the frustrations of cleaning up after their furry friends. When dealing with pet stains, it’s best to use bacteria-killing solutions. One of the solutions we’d recommend using is hydrogen peroxide. 

Grab a damp cloth and soak in the hydrogen peroxide solution. Scrub the affected areas liberally. Leave a paper towel soaked in peroxide on the affected spots if not enough. The stain should go away after a few minutes to a few hours. However, this solution could cause further discoloration in some types of wood, so be wary.

Alcohol stains

When wood comes in contact with alcohol, white stains tend to appear. These stains are damage to the sealant and not the wood. To get rid of alcohol stains, you need cooking oil. 

Soak a small cloth with a few drops of cooking oil and gently rub the visible stain. If not enough, add more oil drops until the stain disappears. 

Once that’s done, use the dry part of that cloth to wipe the remaining oil on the furniture.

Stubborn stains

Dark stains could come from a deeply penetrating water stain. In this case, you’ll want to use bleach. A wood bleach is most suitable, but you can use oxalic acid if you don’t have one. Put some bleach into a shallow basin or bowl and dip your brush into it. Using the brush, you’ll want to scrub the affected area and leave it on for a few hours. (I know this article says in minutes, but some stains are extra stubborn.) 

After that, you’ll notice the wood return to its original color. You’ll want to wipe the bleach away with a damp cloth or sponge. Afterward, you can apply some vinegar to the area to prevent discoloration. 

Some more stubborn stains require heavy-duty solutions. For these types, you will need some commercial stain removers or chemical-based removers. You must be careful when using these, as they could harm your skin and lungs. We’d generally recommend you use gloves and gas masks when handling these.

As another precaution, you should refer to the product’s description and instructions to avoid unwanted consequences. 

Heat stains

When you leave a hot object on wood, it usually leaves a white fog mark on the surface – something we commonly refer to as ‘” heat marks.” This is caused by the moisture trapped within the varnish under the hot object. The best way to remove heat stains is to use baking soda and toothpaste paste. 

You should mix a non-gel toothpaste with equal parts baking soda. Using a damp cloth, apply this paste to the affected area. After removing the stain, use a dry cloth to clean the residue.

Water stains

Water is the most common cause of staining in wood. There isn’t actually one best solution to remove water stains. But some of the most common ones are:

1. Non-gel toothpaste

Apply a small dab onto a clean cloth and wipe the affected stain until it is gone. Using a dry cloth, clean off the excess toothpaste left.

2. Hairdryer

Many people use a hairdryer to dry off the stains left by water. But this technique takes a bit of time. After setting your hairdryer to its maximum heat and power, blast it onto the affected surface for 10 to 20 minutes. After that, the stain should most likely be gone.

3. Oil-based products

Products like petroleum jelly and mayonnaise are also great at removing water stains in wood. Wait, mayonnaise? Yes, mayonnaise. And before you shrug this as nonsense, know that this technique is backed by science. When the oil seeps into the wood, it displaces the water or moisture initially in it and nourishes the wood from within. To do this, smear a dab of your oil-based product of choice over the affected area. You should leave that on for a few hours and reapply if the previous one dries.      

How To Remove Stain From Wood? – Wood Stain Remover

Here are some stain removers for wood that you can easily find at home:

1. Vinegar Soak

Drench some paper towels in white vinegar and lay them on the stain like a blanket. Let it seep into that stain for half an hour or so.

2. Mineral Oil Rub

Grab a clean, soft rag and douse it with a generous helping of mineral oil. Scrub the oil into the stain, making sure to go with the wood grain. Leave it be for a bit.

3. Baking Soda Mix

Got a stubborn one? Try a concoction of baking soda and water, followed by the vinegar solution from step 1. Rinse and repeat as needed.

4. Sanding

If all else fails, you might need to resort to sanding. Let the wood dry for a full day, then gently sand the surface with sandpaper (100- 150 grit should do the trick).

5. Baking Soda Paste

Mix baking soda with distilled vinegar or lemon juice until it’s about the consistency of toothpaste. Spread this over the stain like a layer of frosting.

6. Vinegar-Water Solution

Whip up a simple solution, mixing water and white distilled vinegar in equal parts. Gently wipe this over the stain.

7. Hydrogen Peroxide

Dampen a clean cloth with 3 percent hydrogen peroxide and press it firmly against the stain.