Home remedies for furniture stains

Q: Do you have a solution for water marks on furniture made by glasses? Thanks so very much. — Sarah, via e-mail

A: Believe it or not, toothpaste is probably the best all-around solution for removing those unsightly water rings. Apply a small amount of toothpaste (the regular paste kind, not the gel) to a lint-free cloth and gently rub it over the water ring. Wipe away the paste with a damp cloth, dry the area and, if the stain is gone, polish. The pumice in toothpaste acts as a super-fine sanding agent that won’t mar the wood finish.

•Another method for removing cloudy or white water stains from highly varnished furniture is to place a thick dishcloth over the stained area and then set a clothes iron on the dishcloth for three to five seconds (make sure the steam setting is OFF), moving it in circles.

•If you are completely refinishing a piece of furniture, tackle the water stains once you have stripped off the old varnish. Try toothpaste first. If that doesn’t work, make a paste of lemon juice (straight from the lemon) and salt, and apply it directly to the stain and nowhere else. Let the solution stand for 15 minutes, then scrub, rinse and blot dry. Wait for the area to dry completely to see if the stain came out.

•Scratches can also mar your furniture, but can often be dealt with quickly. Mix one part lemon juice with one part olive oil, dip a lint-free cloth deep into the solution, then firmly rub in the direction of the scratch until the mark disappears. You can also use mayonnaise for this — and some readers swear it will work on water stains, too.