Liberon Ring Remover uses a unique formula that will remove most white heat marks, cup ring marks and white water marks from highly polished, hard surfaces on wood. This includes ring marks on varnished, French polished, lacquer and modern hard finishes. It is suitable for use on most polished woods and will also revive and shine the finish.

For example, the reusable Guardsman Ring and Water Mark Remover Cloth is pre-treated with natural oils and designed to remove heat and water stains from wood.

If the mark does not disappear apply more Ring Remover to the cloth and continue to rub this in until the mark is removed. This can be done with either a hairdryer or a clothes iron, with the idea being to reopen the wood’s pores and let the moisture escape. The ironing method made little difference to this stain —and there were no significant changes to the white stains either. (Image credit: Future/Natasha Brinsmead) 2. Does bicarbonate of soda and water remove water stains? Our preferred product is olive oil mixed with a little salt. This is most effective as the salt’s drying effect reduces the wood’s moisture content. The above stain removal methods are so effective that they not only eliminate the stain—they may also start to strip the wood stain used to colour the wood and provide a protective coating.

Moisture stains, often seen as white rings or spots on wood surfaces, are caused by the interaction of water and the finish on the wood. If the finish on your wooden table is soluble in ethanol, such as shellac, you can remove heat marks by reintroducing alcohol to the wood. This will re-saturate it and allow the moisture to escape. Important –Always test the product on a spare surface or inconspicuous area for colour, compatibility and end results.Ironing method: Place a clean, white cloth or towel over the moisture stain and set your iron to its lowest heat setting. Gently iron the cloth, moving it in circular motions for about 15 to 20 seconds. The heat from the iron will help lift the moisture from the wood, removing the white stain from its surface. White rings can occur on any type of wood surface, but are particularly common on table tops and other furniture items that are frequently exposed to moisture and heat. Removing these stains requires a bit more effort than burns or moisture marks, which are typically surface-level stains.

Next, find a white tea towel that is smooth in texture to prevent leaving a textured imprint in the wood. This is especially important on soft, varnished woods. Adrienne Perry said: “The bloke from The Repair Shop will suggest mayonnaise. I saw him do it on there.” The white ring mark is often a result of the moisture getting trapped in the finish, creating a barrier that prevents the moisture from evaporating, and causing it to remain in the wood fibers. The verdict: I started by trying it out on the very dark water stain under the coffee machine. After some scrubbing (the product comes as a powder that needs to be worked into the stain with a wet cloth or sponge), the stain had, much to my surprise, noticeably lightened. If you’ve read any of our other cleaning guides, you’ll have no doubt come across these two products before.

How Do You Remove Stains From Wood Without Stripping It?

This is an extra but vital step in making your wooden furniture and flooring look as good as possible, both now and in the future. Although the above cleaning practices can remove most stains from wooden surfaces, prevention is a better solution. Using coasters or protective mats can help prevent white ring marks from forming on wooden surfaces. and was pleasantly surprised by the outcome. (Image credit: Future/Natasha Brinsmead) 6. Are made-for-purpose products worth the money? The very dark, ingrained water mark I discovered under the coffee machine. (Image credit: Future/Natasha Brinsmead) 1. What is the steam and clean method?