Regardless of how spiritual you are about coaster use on your house, you probably have at least one water ring plaguing a piece of furniture. I didn’t learn the significance of coasters until after school, and after that my lovely hand-me-down Drexel java table was tarnished with multiple rings out of bottles of beer and wine. Is it too late to save it? Fortunately Peter Stames of Archia Homes has a solution for even the roughest of alcohol and water stains.
To get rid of a fresh stain: Employ a clean cloth to blot the stain, and press on a warm iron on top of the fabric until the stain is removed. Be sure the iron is simply warm — not hot — and don’t utilize any steam. If you’d rather not use this technique, try rubbing the stain with a soft fabric and olive oil or a different natural oil.
If that does not work, consider using mayonnaise or petroleum jelly and leave it overnight. Simply wash it clean the next morning — the stain should be gone.
To get rid of an older blot: Moisten a cotton fabric in olive oil, and touch the fabric to a bit of rottenstone (see next photo). Gently rub the stained area with the fabric until the ring appears to be gone. Never wax or gloss over a alcohol or water ring, because this will permanently set the stain on the wood finish.
Brownells
Rottenstone – $19.99
Rottenstone is a stone used as a polishing abrasive in woodworking, and is normally made out of limestone mixed with different materials. This powder can be blended with natural oils to polish wood to a fine finish.
More rapid fixes:
Correct Squeaky Floors and Sticky Doors
Protect Your Mirrors
Multipurpose Painter’s Tape