how to repair water damage on wood table

1. Allow the furniture to dry. Drying is one of the simplest ways to treat water-damaged swollen furniture. ...
2. Using an iron. Yes, you read that right. Another easy way to fix water-damaged swollen wood is to iron it. ...
3. Using a needle or printer. Using a needle or printer is useful when dealing with furniture that has shrunk after being damaged by water.
4. Sanding and finishing. Sanding is a great way to restore the evenness and flatness of wood. ...
5. Flattening wood. You can fix swollen water damaged furniture by flattening the wood. First, moisten the entire surface of the wood by wetting it evenly with a damp cloth.

Full Answer

How to fix water damaged wood furniture?

Another way to dry the wood is to iron it or remove the water bubbles with a needle or a printer. After the wood has dried, assess the extent of damage, then you can move on to sanding the wood, applying furniture oil, and flattening the wood.

How do I know if my wood has been water damaged?

If you see white spots, stains, blushing or other surface discoloration, then the likelihood is that the wood is being attacked by water. The sooner you address such damage, the cheaper and more permanent any repair will be. In this article I’ll look at a simple seven step process to repair water damaged wood.

What should I do if I spill water on my table?

If a spill occurs, or you notice condensation from someone’s cup or glass, wipe it up quickly so that the water will not damage the wood and the wood will be allowed to dry thoroughly. If you have a hand-held hair dryer accessible, use it to blow air onto the table to dry it quickly.

How do you fix a broken table that won't stay up?

Place glue inside the joint, and reattach the table or chair leg. Put a clamp on the joint and let the glue dry overnight. Use epoxy wood glue for hard-to-glue sections such as the corners of dresser drawers, or decorative sections that require reattachment of intricate, raised wood.

How do you fix a water damaged wood surface?

How to Repair Water Damaged Wood in 7 Simple StepsStep 1: Remove rotting wood. ... Step 2: Use auto filler putty. ... Step 3: Fill the hole. ... Step 4: Repeat steps 2 and 3. ... Step 5: Sand to a smooth finish. ... Step 6: Prime and paint. ... Step 7: Maintain your wood. ... A word about wooden furniture and water damage.

How do you fix a wet wood table?

Undo water damage. Start by placing a clean, thick towel on top of the stain. With your iron on a dry low-to-medium setting, press over the towel (making sure the soleplate doesn't touch the wood) for several seconds. The gentle heat will warm the finish enough to release the moisture into the towel.

How do you fix a water damaged kitchen table?

0:0011:06Water Damaged Table Top Repair - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo here's a situation where we have water damage on this tabletop. This is the leaf of the table.MoreSo here's a situation where we have water damage on this tabletop. This is the leaf of the table. And what happens here is the water has been absorbed by this substrate. And it blows up like a sponge

Can water-damaged wood be repaired?

To fix watermarks or stains on wood, you should have applied marine-grade polyurethane to the wooden furniture in the first place. But, you can still remove watermarks through some other alternative methods.

How do you fix a swollen wood table top?

How to Fix Water Damaged Swollen Wood FurnitureLet Your Furniture Dry Out. Allow your water-damaged piece of furniture to dry before attempting to repair it. ... Sand the Wood & Apply Furniture Oil. Use sandpaper with a hand-sanding tool or your hand to rub your furniture piece. ... Use an Iron.

How do you fix white water stains on wood?

5 Ways to Remove Water Stains from WoodA hair dryer. Put your hair dryer on its lowest setting and direct it at the water ring. ... Mayonnaise or petroleum jelly. Apply a dab of either substance with a soft cloth and rub it into the mark in a circular motion. ... Toothpaste. ... Steel wool. ... Over-the-counter products.

How do you get black water stains out of wood?

Mix white vinegar and lemon juice in equal parts. Apply to the affected area with a soft cloth or cotton swab. Allow the solution to sit for five minutes before wiping it off. Vinegar is acidic, which helps restore the wood's original color by removing the discoloration caused by watermarks.

How do you treat swollen wood?

Water often swells wood. If you dry it out too quickly, it will shrink, crack, and warp. If drawers and doors are swollen, don't force them open – you'll do more damage. Instead, carefully remove the back of the furniture, and allow the air to circulate and dry steadily.

How do you fix a bubbled veneer table top?

0:021:44Bubble in Veneer - The Fix with Jory Brigham - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd take the ca glue with the applicator tip and slide it underneath that bubble on both sides get aMoreAnd take the ca glue with the applicator tip and slide it underneath that bubble on both sides get a nice even amount of glue under there. And then we're going to close it up wipe up the excess.

Can you use water treatment on veneered wood?

Every step of this treatment should be done consistently to the entire surface, not just the damaged area. The procedure involves flooding the surface with water. Fortunately, the damage shown here is on solid wood—using this treatment on a veneered surface can be risky.

Does oxylic acid remove oxidized wood?

Oxalic acid removes the gray color from oxidized wood, without changing the wood’s natural color. That’s why it’s commonly used as the active ingredient in deck cleaners, and why restorers use it to remove gray or black water stains on furniture (see “Oxalic Acid Undoes Rust,” below). Oxalic acid is also used in some household cleaning products for removing hard water stains, and it has many industrial uses as well. Although it is found as a natural ingredient in some vegetables (spinach and rhubarb), oxalic acid is quite toxic if ingested in concentrated form.

How to keep wood from water damage?

Put in place a wood maintenance program, ensuring that paintwork is regularly refreshed. This will help to keep your wood safe from water damage. As well as looking good, you’ll suffer lower repair bills in the long run.

How to get rid of rotten wood?

Step 1: Remove rotting wood. Wood rots quickly when it gets damp and the water is allowed to seep in. Use a chisel to carefully remove any rot ten wood, cutting out through to dry and hard inner surfaces.

Can water damage wood be repaired?

Here’s a simple way how to repair water damaged wood around the house, internally and externally. Water damaged wood can be difficult to repair. Even though most wood finishes protect the surface, it is still possible for the wood to become damaged by water.

Can you repair wood furniture that is water damaged?

However, if you’ve got furniture that is water damaged, then you’ll need to use different approaches.

How to fix loose joints on wood?

Glue loose joints on the furniture with wood glue. Remove old glue by sanding inside the joints with rolled-up 150-grit sandpaper. Remove wood dust with a paintbrush. Place glue inside the joint, and reattach the table or chair leg. Put a clamp on the joint and let the glue dry overnight.

What happens when you water stain wood?

When wood furniture is damaged by water, it requires restorative care to ensure that it remains strong and functional. Not only does water stain wood, but it also sometimes leaves behind toxic mold and mildew that needs to be removed promptly.

How to get water stains out of wood?

Try to remove water stains with wood furniture cleaner. Apply the cleaner to a soft white cloth. Mix a few drops of orange oil in with the cleaner, and rub it onto the furniture in a circular motion. Repeat this until the stain lifts.

How to remove deep set stains from wood?

Strip the furniture with a chemical stripping agent. Stripping is the easiest way to remove deep-set stains without removing layers of wood. Dip a clean paintbrush into the chemical stripping agent, and apply it to the surface of the furniture in smooth strokes. Wait for the chemical agent to oxidize, or begin to bubble.

How to remove sand from furniture?

Take a scraping tool such as a putty knife and scrape the surface of the furniture. After stripping it, sand the furniture with 100- to 150- grit sandpaper to remove excess stripping agent. Remove wood dust with a paintbrush.

How to get a stain out of wood furniture?

Sand the furniture with an electric sander if the stain is not easily removed. Use a sander with 220-grit sandpaper. Open the windows for proper ventilation, and seal off air-conditioning ducts. Put on a dust mask to keep yourself from inhaling wood dust.

How to clean moldy furniture with bleach?

If the furniture has mold and mildew, take it outside to clean. Mix two caps full of bleach with half a bucket of warm water. Add 3 caps full of mild liquid dish-washing detergent. Stir the liquid with a stick. Dip a scrub brush into the bucket.

How to dry wood furniture after it has been soaked in water?

When a piece of wood furniture has been soaked in water, the very first thing to do is to let it dry. Place it in a room with warm temperature and good air circulation. You may want to turn on the heating and the fans. Alternatively, if the weather permits, you can leave the furniture to dry outside.

How to repair a warped veneer?

To repair the damage, you can soak the veneer with a moisturizer until it lies down flat again. Wipe it dry and clean. Fill a syringe with veneer glue and stick the needle between the veneer and the body of the furniture. Empty the syringe slowly. Remove it and place a wood block on top of the veneer. Wait for the glue to dry. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for the waiting period and remove the block.

Why is my furniture black?

Black spots on your furniture indicate that water has seeped through the finish into the wood, leading to the formation of mildew. In this case, you will have to remove the finish, clean the mildew with a bleach solution, and coat it with a new layer of finish.

What to do if mold has formed on carpet?

If mold has formed, or if you feel the carpet needs to be disinfected, use the services of a cleaning company to finish the restoration process.

What happens if you put wood in a cold room?

Make sure the temperature is right. If it is too cold, the wood piece will dry too slowly and mold will form. If it is too hot, cracks will form in the furniture.

Can you clean water damaged carpet?

You can clean water-damaged carpets in one of two ways, depending on the condition of the water.

Is water damage to furniture bad?

Water damage to furniture as a result of flood or weather is not always as bad as it seems. Often the damage is quite manageable, or at least subject to partial repair. Read on for steps you can take to restore your water-wrecked furnitur e and carpeting.

How to prevent water marks on wood table?

If you have a hand-held hair dryer accessible, use it to blow air onto the table to dry it quickly. By doing so, you can prevent a water mark.

How to get water stains out of a table?

Although there are other household items that can be used, one item that will work is toothpaste. Using a clean, lint-free cloth, apply a small amount of non-gel toothpaste to the sta in on your table. Slowly rub the toothpaste into the water spot. With a damp cloth, remove all the toothpaste from the table. When removing the toothpaste, rub gently. Dry the table with a clean, cotton cloth.

How to get rid of water marks on a white dresser?

Make a paste of baking soda and water. Gently rub it with your finger or a clean cloth onto the water mark stain. Leave the baking soda solution on overnight and remove it the next day with another clean cloth dampened with a little water, making sure all of the paste is removed.

What does it mean when a coffee table has water marks?

If it’s a water spill that has left white marks or a blush on your table, it can be repaired. Unfortunately, if the spill has left fissures in the finish of the table that look like scratches, or if the paint has begun to peel, it means that water has soaked into the table and that the table will need to be refinished. If the spill on your coffee table has created water marks, follow the steps below to easily remove them using products that are already available in your home.

What is the best way to prevent water spots?

As they say, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” To prevent future water spots from happening, it’s important that you provide family and guests with coasters of some kind to be used under beverage containers that are likely to leave moisture marks. If you’re having a many guests, even simple coasters made from poster board will do the trick.

What to use to polish a table?

Use your favorite table polish (lemon oil works well) to polish your table. Your table should now look like new.

Can condensation damage a coffee table?

Water damage from a spilled vase or condensation from a coffee cup on a treasured coffee table can be devastating, particularly if it’s a table you have had for years and maintained properly. Accidents do happen.