You love hosting dinner parties and weekend hangouts with friends—good food, good drinks, and great company. But let’s be honest, your furniture sometimes pays the price for all that fun.
Those white rings from beer cans and the occasional wine stain on your wood side tables? Yep, they’re a telltale sign of a good time. But don’t worry—your furniture isn’t ruined! Most of the time, it’s just the wood’s finish that’s been affected, not the wood itself.
The best part? These stains can be removed! Let’s dive into some simple and effective ways to make your wood surfaces look brand new, so you can keep entertaining stress-free.
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What causes the white rings on your wood?
If you leave a glass or can of cold alcohol on your wood, there will be a buildup of moisture under the finish of the wood.
That is what creates those white circular stains on the wood. But they are simple to remove.
The more challenging stains are those created by wine. That’s because the grape juice can seep into the wood and leave a nasty splotch.
However, to tackle the stains you will be surprised to find that most of the items you need are already in your kitchen.
4 methods to remove alcohol stains from your wood
When it comes to dealing with stains, it’s best to deal with them as soon as possible.
A fresh stain is easier to take care of than one that has been left for some time.
1. Using cold water to remove alcohol stains
This method is effective if the stain is fresh.
- Blot at the stain with a paper towel.
- Dampen a cloth with cold water and then daub the stain.
- If the stain is still visible, try to rub it with dish soap. Let the soap soak into the stain for several minutes to break it down.
- Wipe down the surface with a clean cloth.
This method is better suited for stains that are lighter in color (for example, white wine).
2. Ridding your wood of alcohol stains with cooking oil.
Grab your cooking oil and say goodbye to that nasty alcohol stain. You can substitute cooking oil with another oil such as lemon oil.
Here is what to do:
- Add several drops of your oil onto a cloth.
- Softly rub the oil into the stain.
- Once the stain has gone, wipe over the surface to remove the residual oil.
3. Try furniture polish to remove the alcohol stain
This acts similarly to the previous method. That is because furniture polish contains an oily component that helps to break down the water molecules within the stain.
- Spray a light coating of furniture polish over the stain. Let the polish sit for 2 minutes.
- Gently rub over the stain and furniture polish with a clean cloth.
- When the stain has disappeared, give the surface a final wipe-down to remove any excess polish.
4. Removing alcohol stains from wood with a hot cloth
Some people will tell you not to use hot water to remove alcohol stains from wood. Their reason is that it can harden the stain, making it difficult to remove.
Yet, if you proceed cautiously you will be okay with this method. It requires using a steam iron (but without the steam).
Additionally, use this procedure as soon as a spill or stain happens.
- Blot the stain with a paper towel to soak up as much of the alcohol as possible.
- Plug in your steam iron and have it set to the lowest temperature.
- Place a cloth over the stain and then go over it slowly with your iron. Keep the iron moving as leaving it in the same spot can damage the wood.
- Once the stain is removed, seal the wood with furniture oil.
5. Use steel wool to remove alcohol stains from wood
You may shudder about touching your wooden surfaces with something as potentially damaging as steel wool.
Yet, there is a way to remove those unsightly alcohol stains without harming your wooden furniture.
- Dab the stain with a paper towel to soak up any excess moisture from the area.
- Lightly rub at the stain with the steel wool. You mustn’t apply too much pressure as you will end up marking the surface if you do.
- Once the stain has been lifted, wipe over the surface.
- Apply a coating of furniture oil or beeswax to bring the wood back up to standard.
6. Removing alcohol stains from wood with turpentine
Allow for proper ventilation when using this method. The fumes from the turpentine can be overpowering.
Have fresh air circulating through the room during and after you use this method.
One thing to note about this solution for removing stains is that it should be done when the stain is fresh.
- Dry and scrub the stain using paper towels or a cloth with a semi-rough texture.
- Add an equal mix of turpentine and white petroleum in a container. Stir together.
- Use a cotton swab and rub your turpentine/petroleum over the stain. Keep rubbing at the stain until it disappears.
- Wipe down the surface.
If the stain isn’t fresh, you will need to remove the finish from the wood. To do this, you will need a fine grade of sandpaper.
Sand away the finish from the wood and then tackle the stain. Once you have succeeded in removing the mark, seal the wood with a finish.
7. Removing beer stains from wood with sparkling water
Though this works well on beer stains, you can try it as a way to remove other alcohol stains from your wood.
- Blot up the beer with a cloth or paper towel.
- Trickle a small amount of the sparkling water over the stain. Gently work the water into the stain using a cloth.
- Pat the area with some liquid foam. Then leave everything for an hour.
- Wipe the surface clean with a fresh cloth.
Enjoy your stain-free wood
Cold beer or other chilled alcoholic beverages can leave a ring or stain on your wooden surfaces.
If you notice a nasty white ring or alcohol-induced splotch on the wood, there are ways to remove them.
We have provided a range of different options for you to try.
Once you have freed your wood from those stains, you can prevent them from returning. How? Use coasters for people to place their drinks on.
All you have to do now is organize the next social event at your house.
