Rings on wooden furniture are a common issue that can affect the finish and spoil a coffee table or dresser. When you notice a ring, you might feel frustrated and annoyed but don’t worry; there are many things you can do to remove the ring and prevent it from happening again in the future. In this article, we have several tips for removing drink rings and how you can avoid them.
Barrier prevention
Preventing drink rings on your furniture is always better than dealing with one. You can do several things to prevent rings from drinks from staining your wooden items. Firstly, the easiest and a popular solution is to ensure coasters are used whenever a drink is placed on a wooden surface. The coaster will provide a barrier between the drink and the table, stopping the liquid from getting to the wood. If you have several side tables or a coffee table, make sure you place enough coasters on them for guests to use. If they’re on the table already, guests are much more likely to use them to keep your table ring free. Another prevention method is covering the top of the piece of furniture completely with a barrier; this can be useful if you’re having a party or event and are concerned about guests not using coasters. You can use table mats, and table covers with a protective layer to help you stay stress-free about rings when hosting several people for a party or event.
Protective coats
Another route to ensuring your table is protected from rings is to treat the table or piece of furniture directly. Wax protects wooden furniture and adds a nice finish to items. The wax will add a coating which acts as a barrier between the wood and the water that comes off any drinks placed on the table. This will prevent the drink from making a ring, even when a coaster isn’t used. However, you need to ensure that the furniture is regularly waxed and the correct products are used to prevent rings. Wax may also change the appearance and the wood's colour slightly, so consider this when choosing to wax any wooden furniture.
Heat to remove a ring
Rings happen when water penetrates through the wood and leaves a mark on the surface. One way to remove rings on oak coffee tables is to use heat to dry the water that’s penetrated the wood. A hairdryer on low heat can be used for this purpose, keep the hair dryer directed at the ring but move it around whilst you’re drying it to prevent burning the wood. In addition, you should make sure the hairdryer isn’t too close to the wood, as this could be a fire hazard.
Household products
Some products you may have already in your house can remove rings from wooden furniture. These are worth a try before you go out and purchase a specific stain removal product for wood. Top household products that work include mayonnaise, petroleum jelly and toothpaste. When using mayonnaise or petroleum jelly, you should apply either product and rub it around the stain in a circular motion. If this doesn’t work, you can leave it on for longer or even overnight. Toothpaste requires a particular type; avoid whitening toothpaste and those that come in a gel format. The toothpaste should be rubbed with the grain and then removed. Afterwards, you can use a wood polish to get the shine back to the surface.
Specific stain removal products
If you have many wooden items in your home and are concerned about rings being an issue, keeping a specific stain-removal product in your cupboard is a good idea so you can act quickly when a ring appears. You can buy several different products online and in shops to remove rings from wood. When using a specific stain removal product, you need to ensure you read the instructions carefully to get the best results.
The best way to ensure rings don’t ruin furniture is to use several methods of protection; table covers, coasters and wax can all be used together. However, don’t worry if a ring does appear; you can use the methods above to remove it; remember, act quickly for the best results.