How to Remove Stains from Unfinished Wood

If you’ve had the misfortune of finding unwanted stains on your unfinished wood, you’ve learned firsthand why experts recommend a protective coat over wood surfaces. Whether you’ll ever be able to remove the stain depends on a couple of factors, namely, the type and condition of the wood and the kind of stain you’re dealing with, but under the best of circumstances many stains will be permanent. Still, you may improve or eradicate the stain by following these steps.

You Will Need:

• Fine grit sandpaper

Steps to Remove the Stain:

1. Using fine grit sandpaper, lightly sand the surface.
2. Pause frequently to wipe away the dust and check your progress.Also, ensure you are not sanding so much wood away that you leave a depression.
3. Repeat until the stain is gone or until you start to wear away the wood.
4. If the sanding is noticeable, lightly scuff the rest of the surface with the sandpaper so it matches.

Additional Tips and Advice:

• Pine is a soft wood and quickly absorbs stains. Harder woods are more likely to only be stained at the surface, therefore increasing your chance of successful stain removal.
• If you get the stain out, consider finishing the wood with a clear protective finish. If you can’t get the stain out, consider applying a wood stain over the entire surface to “hide” the unwanted color.

• Oily food stains rarely come out of wood.