Last Updated on September 11, 2022 by Ernest Godia
We love our wooden pieces in their pristine condition. However, daily activity and accidents make it impossible to always keep our wooden furniture, accent pieces, and other wooden items free from stains.
Therefore, you will want to know how to remove dark stains from wood to help you keep your wooden pieces sound for longer.
Dark stains on wood can result from contact with wet glass, leaky vases or flower pots, pet urine, a leaking roof on the side of the house, or puddles of water on your deck.
The source of the stains notwithstanding, here is a detailed geode on removing dark stains from the wood in your home. .
How to remove dark stains from wood
- Place a cloth on the stain and drench it with 3% hydrogen peroxide.
- Let the soaked cloth sit for about 5-6 hours for the peroxide to penetrate and dissolve the stain.
- Check if the stain has come off. Repeat the treatment if necessary.
- Wipe the treated wood using a damp cloth. Let it air dry completely.
What Causes Black Stains on Wooden Surfaces?
Prolonged exposure to water or metal causes black stains on wood. That’s because the moisture from water or the iron oxide in metals reacts with tannins in the wood. This chemical reaction results in the discoloration of wood –black stains.
Homemade solutions for removing dark stains from wood
The methods we’ll discuss under this section as remedies for removing black stains from wood are what we imagine is readily available at home. If you don’t have one, you certainly will have the rest.
These methods are guaranteed to give you the results you expect. However, repeat the process or try a different approach if you don’t get your desired results in the first go. By all means, do not quit until you have restored the aesthetic appeal of your wooden surface.
And, if the stains are oil based, then our guide on Removing Oil Based Stains From Wood should help.
Method 1: Using Toothpaste
Do you have white toothpaste in your bathroom? That’s all you need to eliminate that dark water ring on your furniture. Note that what works is the white toothpaste, not the gel types.
You can use this method on finished wooden furniture or bare wood. This option is most effective on light or recent stains.
Steps for removing dark stains using toothpaste
Step 1: Ensure the stained wood is completely dry. Squeeze the toothpaste on the stained area and gently spread it using an old toothbrush.
Step 2: Brush the paste on the stain in the direction of the wood grain. Let it sit for about 10 minutes.
Step 3: Wipe the paste and stain residue using a soft, damp cloth. You should notice an improvement in the pigment of the stain or a completely faded stain. Repeat the treatment process if needed.
4: Reapply the finish if the treated area is significantly lighter than the surrounding surface.
Method 2: Using White Vinegar
Check your pantry for white vinegar or lemons. These items can help you deal with that water ring stain before it becomes a nightmare for you. Although you can use vinegar or lemon juice separately, mixing them and getting an even stronger solution against black stains on wooden surfaces doesn’t hurt.
Procedure for removing dark stains using white vinegar
Step 1: Mix equal parts of distilled vinegar and freshly squeezed lemon juice in a bowl. Let them sit for at least 5 minutes before use.
Step 2: Apply the solution to the stain using fine steel wool. Gently rub the stain going with the wood grain for a few minutes.
Step 3: Apply more vinegar and lemon solution to the stain and let it sit for a few minutes to dissolve it.
Step 4: Wipe the treated surface using a clean cloth or paper towels. Repeat the process if you find it necessary.
Step 5: Wipe the surface with a damp cloth and then let the surface dry completely.
How to remove dark stains from wood by bleaching
Bleaching wood is another effective method of getting rid of dark surface stains. Clorox, hydrogen peroxide, and oxalic acid are products we’ll be focusing on in this section.
Remember that bleach can dry out your hands, and the fumes can irritate your airways. Therefore, ensure you wear gloves, a respirator mask, and goggles when using one.
Method 3: Removing dark stains from wood using commercial bleach
You can use a 1- or 2-part bleach solution to dissolve and fade out dark stains from wooden surfaces.
The procedure
Step 1: Mix equal parts of the bleach with warm water in a container. Prepare the solution depending on the size of the affected wood.
Step 2: Apply bleach to the stained wood. You can use a cloth, mop or roller, or even a pump sprayer, depending on the size of the affected surface.
Step 3: Let the bleach sit and dry on wood for 30 minutes or more if necessary.
Step 4: Rinse the wood thoroughly with clean water. Let it air dry.
Step 5: If the stain faded in one treatment, rinse the surface with a solution of water and vinegar. Vinegar is acidic and will dissolve bleach residues to keep the wood from yellowing. Let the surface dry out.
Step 6: Rinse with clean water to remove vinegar and bleach residues. Let the wooden surface air dry completely before proceeding with further treatment.
Step 7: If you can still see traces of the dark stain, repeat the bleaching process. Alternatively, you can sand away the remaining stain.
Method 4: Using Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a common household product for cleaning various types of stains. It is a great place to begin when trying to remove dark stains from wood. However, if the stained wood is finished, strip the finish first before you start the treatment.
In this case, ensure you’re using 3% hydrogen peroxide. A higher concentration may be too caustic to use without diluting. In any case, always wear your rubber gloves, goggles, and a nose mask.
Procedure for using hydrogen peroxide
Step 1: Wipe the dark-stained wood with a damp cloth to remove loose debris.
Step 2: Place a cloth or paper towel over the stain and then pour the peroxide over it to drench the cloth.
Step 3: Leave the soaked cloth to sit over the stain for 5-6 hours or more. This waiting time allows the peroxide to dissolve the dark stain and eventually fade away.
Ensure the cloth remains damp the entire time, either by re-drenching it or by covering the cloth with a plastic wrap to stop hydrogen peroxide from evaporating.
Step 4: Lift off the cloth and assess the state of the stain. Move on to the next step if the stain is completely faded. However, if there are more stains left, you need to repeat the treatment process as often as you find necessary.
Step 5: Once all the dark stains have faded, wash the treated wood with mild soapy water to remove every bit of the chemical cleaner. You can scrub the spot with a soft sponge and then wipe over the rest of the wood.
Step 6: Rinse the wood with clean water, wipe excess water, and let the wood air dry completely.
Step 7: If the treated wood had a finish, buff the treated spot and refinish it to match the rest of the wood. If the wood was bare, plan to finish it however you please.
Method 5: Using Oxalic Acid
Oxalic acid is another efficient product that removes stubborn dark stains from wood, both finished and unfinished. This product works by bleaching out the stubborn stain, leaving the treated wood looking lighter and good as new.
You can buy oxalic acid powder or cream from local hardware or home improvement stores.
The steps to follow
Step 1: Wear your rubber gloves, goggles, and mask to reduce accidents in case of contact with this product.
Step 2: Mix the product with water for the oxalic acid treatment.
If you choose to use the Oxalic acid cream, mix a tablespoon of the cream with one cup of hot water. Alternatively, mix 28g of oxalic acid powder with 473 ml of water if you’re using the powdered option. Adjust the ratios depending on the size of the stained surface you plan to treat.
Step 3: Apply the treatment to the stained area and scrub using a scrub brush. Scrub the spot in circular motions for a few minutes. Then apply more product and let it sit for a while for the treatment to work on the black stain.
Step 4: Clean the treated spot with lots of water and then check the stain. Repeat the treatment if there’s more stain left on the surface.
Step 5: Once the stain is completely lifted off, lightly sand the surface and refinish the wood.
How to Remove Dark Stains from Wood by Sanding
When all else fails, you can always count on sanding to remove every unsightly stain on the wood. This is the most reliable method against wood’s pigmented water or urine stain.
Sanding works for bare and finished wood. When you want to sand the stain, be prepared to refinish the wood afterward.
Sanding is a dusty process; therefore, ensure you’re appropriately dressed for the job and ensure the space is well-ventilated. Use a power sander or a sanding block depending on the size of the surface you need to sand.
Procedure for sanding dark stains from wood
Step 1: Fix 100-grit sandpaper on your power sander or sanding block and begin sanding the stain away. Sand a small section at a time and ensure to move the sandpaper along the wood grain.
Step 2: Collect the sawdust using a shop vacuum, a broom, or a bristle brush. Then assess the amount of stain that’s left. If there’s more stain, repeat the sanding process using the same grit sandpaper as the first round.
Step 3: Collect the sawdust again and assess the progress so far. At this stage, the stain should be significantly lighter.
Step 4: Change the sandpaper grit to 150 and sand the surface. This fine grit will help smooth out the scratches from the previous sandpaper grit.
Step 5: If you’ve sanded off all the black stains on the wood, you can stop here or sand one last round with 180-grit.
Step 6: Collect the sawdust once again and then refinish the sanded part to match the rest of the wood.
How to remove dark stains from wood FAQs
How do you get the darkest stain out of wood?
Remove the darkest stain out of the wood by sanding. Begin sanding the stain using 100-grit sandpaper going in the direction of the wood grain. Collect the sawdust and then sand again using 150-grit sandpaper. Once the stain has lifted off completely, clean up the dust and then apply a finish to the wood.
How do you get dark stains out of wood without sanding?
You can get dark stains out of wood by scrubbing them off with white toothpaste or vinegar and lemon juice. Alternatively, you can remove the dark stain from wood by bleaching using hydrogen peroxide, oxalic acid, or commercial wood bleach.
Here is a video explaining how to use a wood bleacher to remove dark spots from furniture:
Can vinegar remove dark stains from wood?
Yes, vinegar can remove dark stains from wood. Apply white vinegar over the stain using a soft sponge. Let the vinegar work for a few minutes before wiping it off. However, vinegar is only effective against superficial discoloration caused by watermarks.
What causes black spots on wood?
Black spots on the wood are formed as a result of a chemical reaction between moisture and tannins, or iron oxide and tannins. This chemical process is only possible if the wood has been in constant contact with water or metals over an extended period.
Final thoughts on How to Remove Dark Stains from Wood
We hope you enjoyed our article on how to remove dark stains from wood. The methods discussed above will help you deal with a slight discoloration or a heavily-pigmented dark stain.
Regardless of the cause of the unsightly stain, you can get rid of it using white toothpaste, white vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, oxalic acid, or commercial wood bleach. Still, you can choose to sand the stain away and then refinish the wood.
Engage with us in the comment section below if you’ve got related comments or questions.