November 28, 2000
Furniture tip of the Month
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Stain
Removal
Today's
high-performance finishes demand special and careful attention when
it comes to stain removal. While there are countless remedies for
stains, some may damage the furniture's finish. If you're at all
unsure, you should call a professional refinisher.
These common
stains often can be treated with do-it-yourself furniture first aid.
But bear in mind: always test your remedy on a small area to see if it
removes the stain without disturbing or damaging the finish.
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| Stain |
Treatment |
| Water
Marks & Rings |
Often,
rings are in the wax, not the finish. Cover the stain with a clean,
thick blotter, press down with a warm iron, and repeat. Or rub with
salad oil, mayonnaise or white toothpaste. Wipe dry and wax or polish. |
| White
Marks |
Rub
with a cloth dipped in a mixture of cigarette ashes and lemon juice or
salad oil. Or rub with a cloth dipped in lighter fluid, followed by a
mixture of rottenstone and salad oil. Wipe dry and wax or polish. |
| Milk or
Alcohol |
Use
your fingers to rub liquid or paste wax into the stain. Or rub in a
paste of boiled linseed oil and rottenstone with the grain, substituting
pumice for dull finishes. Or rub with ammonia on a dampened cloth. Wipe
dry and wax or polish. |
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During everyday
use, your hardwood furniture may be subjected to mishaps and spills
which temporarily mar its finish.
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| Problem |
Treatment |
| Cigarette
Burns (light) |
Rub
with scratch-concealing polish, or with a paste of linseed oil and
rottenstone, working with the grain until the burn mark disappears. |
| Heat
Marks |
Rub
gently along the grain, using a dry steel wool soap pad or a cloth
dampened with camphorated oil or mineral spirits, or rub gently along
the grain with extra-fine (0000) steel wool. Wipe clean and wax or
polish. |
| Nail
Polish |
Blot
the spill immediately, then rub with fine steel wool (0) dipped in wax.
Wipe dry and wax or polish. |
| Paint
Marks |
If
fresh, remove latex paint with water and oil-based paint with mineral
spirits. If dry, soak spot in boiled linseed oil, wait until paint
softens and lift carefully with a putty knife or wipe with cloth
dampened with boiled linseed oil. Residue can be removed by rubbing
along the grain with a paste of boiled linseed oil and rottenstone. Wipe
dry and wax or polish. |
| Sticking
Paper |
Dampen
the paper thoroughly with salad oil, wait five minutes and rub along the
grain with extra-fine (0000) steel wool. Wipe dry and wax or polish. |
| Wax or
Gum |
Harden
the substance by holding an ice cube wrapped in cloth against it, then
use your fingernail or plastic credit card to remove it. Rub the area
with extra-fine (0000) steel wool dipped in mineral spirits. Wipe dry
and wax or polish. |
This
information provided compliments of
The Hardwood Manufacturers Association
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