How to Remove Alcohol Stains on Wood

living room

Sometimes when alcohol is exposed to some woods (particularly if they aren’t protected by a varnish coating), it can leave an unsightly white mark.

The good news is this doesn’t necessarily mean the wooden item in question is irrevocably damaged. Here’s what to do if you’ve recently received alcohol stains on a wooden object.

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Removing Alcohol Stains From Wood

Cooking Oil

You will need:

  • Cooking oil (olive oil is best)
  • A soft, clean cloth (ideally a microfiber towel)

The method:

  • Put a few drops of the oil on the cloth. Lemon oil or other traditional wood oils or furniture polish can also work, if you prefer.
  • Gently rub the oil over the stain.
  • It may take a minute of rubbing the oil in for the stain to fully disappear. Add more oil to the cloth if needed.
  • Once the stain is gone, wipe off the excess oil with a dry part of the cloth.
  • If needed, clean the area to remove any remaining oil. 
  • Repeat the above steps if necessary.

If you’re finding that both oil of choice and furniture polish are not shifting the stain, the area will probably need to be refinished. You can either hire the services of a professional carpenter or do it yourself.

If you wish to do the latter, you’ll need to determine what type of finish you have, put painter’s tape around the stained area on the wood, apply stripper to the area to remove the finish and wipe it clean, then wipe new sealant over the area.

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Wire Wool

You will need:

  • Clean/unused piece of wire wool
  • A clean cloth
  • A clean, dry towel/paper napkins

The method:

  • Rub the steel wool lightly over the stain. Be careful not to use too much pressure and leave the surface stained with the steel wool or scratched. 
  • Use a damp cloth to clean the dust from the steel wool that may be over the stain. 
  • If the stain is particularly heavy, apply a tiny bit of uncolored/unscented dish soap to the damp cloth.
  • Dab the damp area dry with a clean, dry towel, or paper napkins.
  • Repeat the process if needed.
  • Apply an oil or polish over the area once fully dry.
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Hot Water

You will need:

  • A small bowl of hot water (this is important, as wood doesn’t like excess exposure to water)
  • Rubber gloves
  • Clean, dry cloth or towel

The method:

  • Wearing your gloves, apply hot water to the stain. 
  • Leave the water on the stain for a few moments.
  • Thoroughly dry with a cloth. 
  • Finally, clean the wood area with a wood cleaning product, oil, or polish.

Conclusion

yellow sofa

Alcohol – and many other strong liquid substances – should not be exposed to certain woods, particularly wooden furniture. However, accidents are sometimes unavoidable.

Luckily, there are several home remedies you can try to eradicate the stain yourself. Failing that, seek advice from either the manufacturer of the product, or a qualified wood worker.

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Farah Zeb is a mother of five, including two children with special needs. She shares practical parenting tips and resources to help other families navigate daily challenges and create supportive, nurturing environments.

Picture of Farah Zeb

Farah Zeb

Farah Zeb is a mother of five, including two children with special needs. She shares practical parenting tips and resources to help other families navigate daily challenges and create supportive, nurturing environments.
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