How to Remove Water Stains From Wood

Setting your water glass down without a coaster won't ruin your furniture when you keep these cleaning solutions at top of mind.

Few things are more enjoyable than an ice cold glass of water. But if you forget to use a coaster, the condensation will drip to the bottom of the glass and form an unsightly ring on wood furniture that can feel impossible to remove. Rather than get rid of your furniture, or resort to covering up the stain with a fresh coat of paint, there are a few tried-and-true ways to remove water stains from wood.

While an iron is typically used for getting wrinkles out of clothes, it's also effective at removing water stains from wood. "This method is best for recent water stains," says Alicia Sokolowski, the president and co-CEO of Aspen Clean. "If the stain has been on the wood for a long time, it may not be possible to remove it completely."

If the stain isn't lifting with an iron, you may need to use something more heavy duty, like white vinegar. "If using a vinegar method, test a small inconspicuous spot to make sure the stained wood surface can tolerate the acidity of vinegar," says Melissa Poepping, founder of The Chemical Free Home.

Another unexpected way to remove water stains from wood? Mayonnaise. "Mayonnaise works well to treat heat stains, or white stains on wood from fluid," says Poepping.

One common reason people use mayonnaise to treat water stains is because it contains oil. But an easier method (especially if you don't have mayonnaise handy) is to go straight to the source and use olive oil instead.