Alcohol spewing on your wooden furniture can leave you wondering how to remove an alcohol stain from wood. Though taking alcohol can be fun, cleaning up the mess afterward can be pretty challenging. The white marks left by the alcohol on the wood aren’t so impossible to clean up after all. So what steps are there to take?
One way to get rid of the alcohol stain is by using a dry cloth with any cooking oil. You can opt for olive, linseed, or canola oil. Steam irons, bleach, and laundry detergent have also been shown to effectively clean off alcohol stains from wood. Working lightly with sandpaper against alcohol stains on wood is a great alternative, especially if other simple steps fail.
Most wooden surfaces are polished to give them a bright finish. However, when stains appear on wooden surfaces, they tend to lose their beauty. Continue with this exciting post to learn more.
My Quick Overview (30 Sec)
- Alcohol stains happen, but there are tried and tested techniques to help you eliminate those stains quite easily.
- The most popular and effective approach is to apply cooking oil to the stain using a dry cloth and rub.
- Others swear by cleaning agents such as laundry detergent or bleach to tackle those pesky alcohol stains. However, both must be mixed with water before applying it to the wood.
- If all else fails, try drying out the alcohol stain using a steam iron on low heat. Or you could use a very fine sandpaper to carefully remove a surface stain.
What Causes Alcohol Stains On Wood?
Spills are inevitable when having your favorite drink. Though they are erasable, know that leaving them for too long can only make it more difficult. It is better to wipe out these spills immediately after they occur to prevent them from leaving a white stain.
Alcoholic drinks are made from the fermentation of fruits, grains, or other sugar sources. These ingredients contained in the alcohol are what leave stains on wooden surfaces. The stains are always quite visible and can be annoying, especially when you can’t easily get them out.
How To Remove An Alcohol Stain From Wood
There are several ways to achieve a flawless wooden finish after having it stained with alcohol. Some tried methods can include the following:
The Cooking Oil Approach
Using cooking oil such as olive or canola oil to remove stains is easy to follow. Wood oil has also been effective when removing alcohol stains. Simply apply the oil of your choice on a clean towel and rub continuously over the stain till it clears off. You can go a step further by cleaning the spot with a dry cloth for a perfect finish.
Try Bleach
Every household uses bleach for cleaning. For alcohol stains, dilute bleach in water and pour the mixture over the stain. With a clean cloth, rub the mixture in a circular motion till it gets clear of all the alcohol stains.
Wipe further with mild soap and water, ensuring you don’t leave traces of bleach on the wood. Bleach left on the wood for an extended period can cause it to fade. Also, wearing protective gear when working with bleach is always advisable.
Use Laundry Detergent
Simply mix laundry detergent with water and use the mixture with a sponge to clean off the alcohol stains from the wood. Use a clean towel to wipe out any excess mixture. Repeat the process if the stain is still visible
The Sandpaper Option
Sandpaper is a simple and easy technique for removing alcohol stains from wood. Start by soaking the stained area with a bit of detergent, then scrub lightly till the stain fades away. Avoid applying too much pressure while scrubbing so as not to peel off the wooden polish.
Utilize A Steam Iron
You may wonder how steam ironing can benefit wood stained with alcohol. Combining steam with other ingredients like bleach or laundry detergent is a great stain remover. First, switch the steam iron on very low heat, then completely dry out the alcohol from the stained area.
Cover the stained area with a dry towel and put the steam iron over the towel. Be sure not to leave it on the spot for too long to protect the furniture from heat damage. Once the stain is no longer visible, use a wood polish to restore shine to the affected area.
Conclusion
You no longer have to fret about those alcohol stains on your wooden surfaces. Cleaning up the mess made from alcohol on your wooden furniture isn’t as complicated as it seems.
