Material file · Hard surfaces
Wood furniture and floors: what it can take
Covers finished wood tables, furniture and hardwood floors. No soaking, so each treatment is applied, given a few minutes, and blotted away.
- Water
- Yes
- Max temperature
- 30 °C (86 °F)
- Rubbing
- Gently
- Stain files
- 45
01 What it is
Finished wood is protected by a film (polyurethane, lacquer, varnish or shellac) and it is the finish, not the wood, that most cleaners touch first.
02 House rules
- No soaking, so each treatment is applied, given a few minutes, and blotted away.
- Water stays at or below 30 °C (86 °F) the whole way through.
03 Field notes
- White rings are moisture trapped in the finish and usually come out with gentle heat; black rings mean water reached the wood itself and reacted with its tannins.
- Shellac and some lacquers dissolve in alcohol, which is why a spilled cocktail can leave a cloudy, sticky patch on old furniture.
04 Every cleaner, rated
| Cleaner | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Citrus adhesive remover | Test first | Generally fine on sealed wood; wipe off promptly. |
| Cornstarch | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Dish soap | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Bio detergent | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Enzyme cleaner | Test first | Wipe it on and off rather than letting it pool; standing liquid can whiten a finish. |
| Oxalic acid cleanser | Test first | It is the classic bleach for black water rings in bare wood, but it strips the finish: refinishing territory. |
| Rubbing alcohol | Test first | Alcohol dissolves shellac (French polish) and softens some lacquers, leaving a cloudy, sticky patch. Most polyurethane-finished floors and furniture tolerate a brief dab: test in a hidden spot first. |
| WD-40 | Test first | It can soften some finishes; wipe off quickly. |
| White vinegar | Test first | Diluted, it can be used on sealed wood, but it dulls some finishes over time. |
| Baking soda | Avoid | As a paste it is abrasive enough to dull a finish. |
| Borax | Avoid | It can dull or haze a finish. |
| Household ammonia | Avoid | Ammonia darkens oak and other tannin-rich woods (that is how "fumed oak" is made) and dulls finishes. |
| Hydrogen peroxide 3% | Avoid | It can lighten wood and soften some finishes. |
| Lemon juice | Avoid | It can bleach wood and dull the finish. |
| Magic eraser | Avoid | It dulls and thins the finish. |
| Acetone | Never | Acetone dissolves lacquer and many other finishes. |
| Chlorine bleach | Never | It bleaches wood and can damage the finish. |
| Hot water | Never | Heat and moisture together are exactly what makes white rings in a wood finish. |
| Oxygen bleach | Never | Alkaline peroxide can lift a finish and bleach the wood under it. |
| Steam cleaner | Never | Steam forces moisture into the finish: white haze and lifted boards. |
05 Stains on wood table
| Stain | Difficulty | Never |
|---|---|---|
| Hair dye | Specialist | Hot water, Waiting |
| Acrylic paint | Tough | Hot water, Standing liquid |
| BBQ sauce | Tough | Hot water, Rubbing |
| Mildew and mould spots | Tough | Standing liquid, Mixing bleach |
| Nail polish | Tough | Acetone, Rubbing |
| Permanent marker | Tough | Water first, Rubbing |
| Super glue | Tough | Acetone, Pulling |
| Turmeric and curry | Tough | Hot water, Rubbing |
| Wall paint (latex/emulsion) | Tough | Rubbing, Standing liquid |
| Ballpoint ink | Stubborn | Hairspray, Rubbing |
| Beetroot | Stubborn | Rubbing, Standing liquid |
| Berries | Stubborn | Bar soap, Hot water |
| Chocolate | Stubborn | Hot water, Rubbing |
| Grape and cranberry juice | Stubborn | Hot water, Bar soap |
| Grease and cooking oil | Stubborn | Rubbing, Standing liquid |
| Mustard | Stubborn | Hot water, Rubbing |
| Red wine | Stubborn | Hot water, Salt as a stain-removal substitute |
| Salad dressing | Stubborn | Rubbing, Standing liquid |
| Tomato sauce and ketchup | Stubborn | Hot water, Rubbing |
| Urine (pets and people) | Stubborn | Chlorine bleach, Ammonia |
| Vomit (pets and people) | Stubborn | Hot water, Rubbing |
| Avocado | Manageable | Hot water, Rubbing |
| Blood | Manageable | Hot water, Chlorine bleach |
| Butter | Manageable | Rubbing, Standing liquid |
| Candle wax | Manageable | Hot water, Rubbing |
| Chewing gum | Manageable | Hot water, Pulling |
| Coffee | Manageable | Hot water, Bar soap |
| Cola and soda | Manageable | Hot water, Standing liquid |
| Crayon | Manageable | Rubbing, Standing liquid |
| Egg | Manageable | Hot water, Steam |
| Gravy | Manageable | Hot water, Standing liquid |
| Hair and body oil | Manageable | Rubbing, Standing liquid |
| Highlighter | Manageable | Rubbing, Standing liquid |
| Matcha | Manageable | Hot water, Bar soap |
| Peanut butter | Manageable | Rubbing, Standing liquid |
| Perfume | Manageable | Ironing, Standing liquid |
| Slime | Manageable | Hot water, Rubbing |
| Soy sauce | Manageable | Hot water, Standing liquid |
| Tea | Manageable | Hot water, Bar soap |
| Water stains and rings | Manageable | Spot-wetting, Standing liquid |
| Beer | Easy | Hot water, Standing liquid |
| Orange juice | Easy | Hot water, Ironing |
| School glue (PVA) | Easy | Standing liquid |
| Sticker and tape residue | Easy | Rubbing, Standing liquid |
| Washable marker | Easy | Hot water, Standing liquid |
06 The most common mistakes on wood table
Counted across all 45 stain files for wood table:
- Leaving liquid to stand (45 files). Moisture that sits on a finish turns into a white ring, then a black one.
- Hot water (27 files). Heat helps pigments bond to the fibres before you have lifted them.
- Rubbing or scrubbing (25 files). It spreads the stain and grinds it deeper; blot instead.
- Bar soap or soap flakes (6 files). True soap is alkaline, and alkalis set tannin stains such as wine, coffee, tea and fruit.
- Acetone or nail polish remover (2 files). Acetone dissolves lacquer and many other finishes.
- Pulling it off (2 files). Cured glue can take fibres (or skin) with it.
07 What the wood table files use most
These are the products the 45 stain files for wood table rely on most. Dish soap leads because surfactants have a water-loving end and an oil-loving end.
08 When to call a professional
Black water or urine stains that have gone into the wood, antiques, and French-polished (shellac) furniture.
Specialist-rated stains on wood table: hair dye.