Oil stains on wood furniture can be difficult to remove, but with the correct techniques and tools, you can restore your furniture to its genuine charm. The key to removing oil stains from wood furniture is to act quickly and use the right methods to avoid damaging the wood.
The good news is, I’m gonna teach you in this guide. However, before you begin, it’s important to identify the type of oil stain on your furniture. If it’s a fresh oil stain, it’s likely still wet and easy to wipe up. If the stain has dried, it may be more tough to remove.
In any of the situations, you’ll need a few essential materials to get oil stains out of wood furniture. These include white vinegar, dish detergent, mineral spirits, and paper towels or clean rags. But how to use them? How to get oil stain out of wood furniture? Let me teach you!
Key Takeaways
[su_note note_color=”#fff3ad”]
- Start with the paper method. Blot the stained area with a paper towel, place another towel over the stain, and use a warm iron to draw out the oil.
- If the stain hangs in there, try the white vinegar method. Mix water and vinegar, dampen a cloth, rub on the oily areas, and dry thoroughly.
- Use dish detergent. Mix with warm water, scrub with a sponge or brush, rinse, and dry.
- For stubborn stains, try mineral spirits. Apply, scrub gently, wipe with a cloth, dampen with water, and allow it to air dry.
- Don’t forget a protective coating. Use paste wax or bee’s wax, rub it onto the furniture, work in small sections, and buff it with a clean cloth to create a protective layer.[/su_note]
How to Get Oil Stain Out of Wood Furniture?
As you might know, wood furniture can add warmth and charm to any room because of its natural beauty and durability. Unfortunately, accidents happen, and these precious items might acquire oil stains.
Fortunately, you can remove and restore oil stains from wooden furniture using the right methods. And I have discussed a few methods I have experimented with so far to remove oil stains from wood furniture.
Method 1: Paper Method.
When starting my journey to remove the oil stains from my wood furniture, I always start this with the paper method. Basically, this method is all about blotting the excessive oil and removing as much oil as possible.
What You’ll Need?
- Paper towels/napkins
- Warm iron
- Clean cloth
- Mild detergent
How to Do It?
- Identify the oil stain on your wood furniture.
- Gently blot the area with a napkin or paper towel to soak up any excess oil.
- Put another clean paper towel or napkin sheet over the affected area, then press a warm iron over the paper towel. As the heat from the iron transfers to the paper towel, it will help to draw the oil stain out of the wood.
- Check the progress periodically by lifting the paper towel or napkin. If there is still oil on the surface of the wood, replace the paper towel with a fresh one and repeat the process.
- Continue doing steps 3 and 4 until the oil stain is completely removed from your wood furniture.
- Clean the surface of the wood with a damp cloth and mild detergent, then rinse and dry thoroughly.
Method 2: White Vinegar.
Suppose you have applied the paper method, but you can still find some stains on the wood. In such a case, I suggest using the white vinegar. Vinegar, a weak form of acetic acid, is one of the most potent cleaning solutions to get rid of oil spills.
[su_box title=”Fact:” box_color=”#f5c35f”]Vinegar can easily remove olive oil or coconut oil and grease and also works as a sanitizer without leaving behind any thin layer or leftover substances.[/su_box]
Collect these tools.
- White Vinegar
- Clean Cloth
- Water
- A bowl
Once you have collected these tools, it’s time to start cleaning! Here’s how to use the white vinegar method to remove oil stains from wood furniture:
- Mix equal amounts of hot water and white vinegar in a small bowl.
- Take a soft, clean cloth and lightly moisten it with vinegar-water. Avoid soaking the cloth to prevent excessive moisture on the wood.
- Gently apply the damp cloth to the oily areas on the furniture and rub the cloth on the stained area or the spots.
- If needed, switch to a fresh cloth during the cleaning process to prevent spreading the removed oil and grime back onto the furniture.
- Finally, thoroughly rinse the furniture using a clean cloth and let it dry.
Method 3: Dish Detergent
Another practical technique for taking out oil stains from wood furniture involves the use of dish detergent. A mild dish detergent is an excellent tool to gently remove the oil stains from your wood furniture.
What You’ll Need?
- Dish detergent
- Warm water
- A bowl
- Soft-bristled brush/sponge
- Clean cloth/paper towel
Let’s do it.
- Mix a reasonable amount of dish detergent in a bowl or bucket with warm water.
- Soak the sponge or brush in the soapy mixture and gently scrub the stained area. Make sure to move your hand in the direction of the wood’s grain.
- Keep scrubbing the stained area until the oil stain starts to lift. You might have to repeatedly redo this procedure to efficiently take out the stain.
- Rinse the cleaned area with clean water to get rid of any leftover soap residue.
- Use a paper towel or clean cloth to dry the area thoroughly.
Method 4: Mineral Spirits
Mineral Spirits can be another very effective cleaning agent when it comes to removing oil stains from wood furniture. To begin with, you will need to gather some essential tools before starting the cleaning process.
What You’ll Need?
- Container of mineral spirits
- A clean cloth
- A soft-bristled brush
How to Do It?
- Apply a manageable amount of mineral spirits onto the affected area to begin the process.
- Get your soft-bristled brush and scrub lightly in a circular motion onto the stained area. Make sure to apply light pressure so as not to damage the wood furniture.
- Let it sit for a few minutes once you have covered the entire area to allow the mineral spirits to work their magic.
- Once a few minutes have passed, grab a clean cloth and begin wiping away the mineral spirits. You should notice that the oil stain is starting to lift away.
- Keep wiping gently until the entire area is clean. Make sure to use a fresh cloth for each wipe so as not to transfer the stain back onto the furniture.
- Once you have removed the stain, take another clean cloth and dampen it with water.
- Use it to wipe away any excess mineral spirits left on the wood furniture.
- Then, let the air dry for a few hours.
How to Protect Your Wood Furniture?
After cleaning the stains from the furniture, don’t forget to apply a protective coating, such as paste wax or beeswax. All you have to do is to collect the required supplies and follow the steps given in the next section.
Materials needed
- Paste wax or bee’s wax
- Clean cloth
Follow these instructions.
- After cleaning the furniture, prepare the protective coating.
- Take a clean cloth and scoop a quarter-sized amount of bee’s wax or paste wax onto it.
- Apply the wax to the wood furniture by rubbing the cloth circularly. Make sure to spread the wax uniformly and work it into the wood.
- Work on small sections at a time, covering the entire surface of the furniture.
- Once the wax is applied to all sections, buff the surface with a clean cloth to complete the process.
- Again, work on small sections using circular motions to achieve a uniform and polished appearance.
[su_box title=”Fact:” box_color=”#f5c35f”]Buffing helps to further distribute the wax and create a protective layer that prevents spills or oil stains from penetrating the wood.[/su_box]
FAQs
What Materials Do I Need to Remove Oil Stains from Wood Furniture?
You need white vinegar, dish detergent, mineral spirits, and clean rags or paper towels to remove oil stains from wood furniture.
What Is the Paper Method for Removing Oil Stains On Wood Furniture?
The paper method for removing oil stains from wood furniture involves using blotting paper, newspaper, or paper towels to blot the area with the oil stain to absorb any excess oil. After that, hot iron is placed on the towel to loosen and absorb the remaining oil.
How Can I Know If An Oil Stain Is New or Old?
As they are typically still wet, fresh oil stains are easier to remove. The color of dried oil stains may be darker since the wood fibers have had more time to absorb the stain.
Does Sanding Wood Furniture Necessary Before Removing Oil Stains?
Sanding is typically not required to get rid of oil stains. Without the necessity for sanding, the cleaning techniques described can successfully remove the stains.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are many methods to get oil stains off of wood furniture. Start with the paper technique to blot the stain, drawing out the oil with a warm iron placed over a paper towel and repeating as necessary.
After that, jump to applying white vinegar if stains are still on the wood furniture. The white vinegar method is mixing equal parts water and white vinegar into a solution, applying it to the stain with a cloth, and then blotting the solution away.
By combining dish detergent with warm water, carefully rubbing the stain, washing, and drying, you can also get good results. Another choice is mineral spirits, which should be applied with a soft-bristled brush and removed with a clean towel.
Related articles:
