At my house, we’re normally very careful about using coasters, but sometimes a glass or dish will accidentally be placed on a wooden table, where the condensation collects to create an unsightly water stain. Those marks can easily be removed using a common ingredient that you probably have in your refrigerator – ordinary mayonnaise!

As soon as you see a water mark, gently blot the surface dry. Then apply a layer of mayonnaise with a spatula or paper towel. Leave it overnight, then wipe and buff with a clean cloth. No scrubbing needed.

It’s important to tackle the stain right away, before the water soaks underneath the finish and stains the wood itself. Not only will the stain be removed, but your furniture will have a wonderful luster from the rich polish.

It might seem strange (and smell a little funny), but consider that the primary ingredients in mayonnaise are eggs, oil, vinegar, and lemon juice, so it’s really nothing more than a homemade furniture polish! The combination of fat and mild acids penetrates the top layer of the finish to replace the water with nourishing oil.

The mayo treatment is convenient and will generally take care of most water marks. And it won’t harm your furniture or prevent you from trying other techniques, in the event of a stubborn stain.

Further Information

• How to Remove Water Stains from Furniture (article)

Tags: , finishing, furniture, repair, stain