If you are someone who has spotted an oil stain on your wooden floor or wooden furniture and are not quite sure what to use to get the stain out, this is the article for you.
Many homeowners are faced with the problem of stains on furniture like sofas and cushions. But what about wooden floors and furniture?
One of the biggest types of stains on wooden floors and furniture comes from oil.
This can be quite bothersome for people who take pride in the décor of their homes, especially when these oil stains are very noticeable. They can also ruin the aesthetic and the quality of your floors and furniture, leading to imperfections within the wood that might cause problems later down the line.
If you would like to keep up the beauty of your furniture, it is imperative that you read this article, so that you do not face this problem without knowing how to resolve it, as removing oil stains may prove to be more difficult that you would think.
There may be affiliate links in this article. You can read more about this in my disclosure.
What sort of things cause oil stains?
Oil stains can be caused by several things such as cooking oils, skin oil and even some wood cleaners, if used you use too much or apply it incorrectly.
This can leave a visible residue on wood that you might be embarrassed about one day if guests come over and notice you have a stain on your wooden floor or your furniture.
Oil stains usually occur due to a wood’s structure, which is naturally porous, meaning that liquids and oils can very easily penetrate the wood’s surface and get into the cracks.
So, it is a good idea that you should not leave it and come back to it another day.
What shall I do about an oil stain?
The first thing you must do is act as quickly as possible!
When you spill something or if you notice an oil stain, you must be prepared to follow these steps in order to remove that nasty stain.
This list will inform you on how to remove stains, from the easier and ‘fresher’ stains to the stronger and ‘harder’ stains to remove.
What you might need depending on how tough the stain is:
- Some form of thick powder that can soak up water well (preferably Baking powder or sawdust)
- Paper (preferably a brown paper bag, but a newspaper or paper towel work well also)
- Iron (optional)
- Detergent/soap
- Mineral spirit (paint thinner, ammonia or turpentine)
- Fuller’s Earth clay
- Wax/polish to protect the wood after the cleaning process is done
Now onto removing those stains:
Method 1: The Powder Method
For this method, you should use an absorbent powder on the stain, such as baking powder or sawdust and sprinkle it onto the area.
You must cover it until it is at least 5 millimetres or so thick. Leave for at least 12 hours or overnight. After this time has elapsed, sweep/vacuum the powder up.
Repeat these steps 1-3 times until the stain is removed. However, if the stain is still present, you may move onto Method 2…
[amazon box=”B074H7CBXJ,B0065NL44M” grid=”2″]Method 2: The Paper Method
For this method, you should blot the oil stain with a newspaper, a brown paper bag/paper or a paper towel. Keep blotting until the oil starts to transfer to the paper.
Be sure to use different parts of the paper that are drier after blotting those areas.
There is also an option to use an iron, which must be used on a low setting to allow the oil to rise out of the wood a little easier.
However, for this technique it is recommended that the paper should not be a paper towel and should not have any ink or dye in such as a newpaper, otherwise it could burn or further stain the wood.
Repeat these steps 1-3 times to make sure the stain is removed. If the stain is still there, you can move onto Method 3…
[amazon box=”B003V9MTWY” template=”vertical”]Method 3: The Sud Method
For this method, you must mix detergent/soap with some warm water in a bowl, to get it very soapy. Once you have done this, remove some of the suds and spread them over the oil stain.
Be careful though, using too much water may damage the wood and cause it to warp and potentially crack!
Once you have spread the suds over the stain, scrub the area with a soft cloth but be gentle, as you do not want to damage the wood. After this you should use a dry cloth to dry the wood and soak up the residual water.
Repeat this step 1-3 times until the stain has been removed.
Now if this hasn’t worked it is likely the stain is a lot oilier and probably a much older stain.
If this is true, then these next few methods will probably be your best bet.
The next method you should try is Method 4…
[amazon box=”B0073LGECW” template=”vertical”]Method 4: The Spirit Method
For this method, you should use a mineral spirit on the oil stain, for example paint thinner or ammonia.
Apply a small amount of mineral spirit onto a cloth, enough to be able to work it into the stain. Once you have done this, start working it into the area, making sure you are going with the grain and not against it.
Again, don’t be too harsh with the wood and do not saturate the wood too much with the mineral spirits either.
Repeat this step 1-3 times until the oil stain has properly dissolved. After you have done this, make sure you wash the area using soap/detergent, in the same way you would mentioned in Method 3.
[amazon box=”B007RO1TW0″ template=”vertical”]Note: Mineral spirits can damage or remove the finish to your wood so make sure to buff the wood with a polish or a wax after, to make sure that you are not exposing the wood even further.
(Turpentine may also be used for removing oil stains in wood, which is especially good for removing oil from skin)
If this didn’t work, then it looks like you have a really tough stain on your hands. Onto the last and final method, Method 5.
Method 5: The Fuller’s Earth Method
Fuller’s Earth is a clay-based material which is extremely good at absorbing oil.
When using Fuller’s Earth, it is best that you pepper the stain lightly with Fuller’s Earth and leave it for at least 10 minutes before using a stiff-bristle brush and wash with soap/detergent using Method 3 and dry.
If that doesn’t work, then it is recommended that you should mix Fuller’s Earth with some water and spread it onto the oil stain and leave for at least a day.
Once it has dried out, you can scrape away the Fuller’s Earth with a palette knife, or an object sharp enough to remove it. After that you should make sure to clean the area as mentioned in Method 3 and give it a buff.
[amazon box=”B01MSZ2BT7″ template=”vertical”]Note: be careful that you do not scratch the wood when attempting to remove the Fuller’s Earth with your chosen sharp object, as you do not want to ruin your beautiful wooden floor or your lovely wooden furniture.
If you have reached the end of the final method, all your wood should now be devoid of stains!
Result!
If you followed these methods correctly, your wood should now no longer be bothered by that troublesome oil and should look as good as new!
Is there a way to protect my wooden floors and furniture in the future?
Keeping up with cleaning up oil stains is a good way to preserve your floors and furniture, and all homeowners should consider checking their wood for any stains that might compromise or ruin the aesthetic of their furniture.
This is very important as some older wooden furniture and floors are more prone to damage as the wood becomes extremely porous as it dries out over the years.
So, it is vital that older floors and furniture are taken care of as soon as oil is spilt, or perhaps if you spot a stain you hadn’t noticed before to try to remove it immediately.
To protect your floors and furniture in the future, it is advised that you clean the surfaces very regularly. Cleaning wood every week with wood cleaner and applying polish often can help protect your wood from oil stains and help maintain its shine!
Without that protective layer, it is a lot easier for liquids and oils to penetrate the wood and potentially ruin your wooden floor and wonderful furniture.
So… in the future you can remember all these methods and the steps on how to remove oil stains, if you are ever stuck in the predicament of dealing with an oil stain that needs to be removed from your wooden furniture or floors.
Remember: Method 1: Powder, Method 2: Paper, Method 3: Sud, Method 4: Spirit, and Method 5: Fuller’s Earth!
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.
