Help with cleaning - water marks on wood

AdWright · 13 May 2006 at 19:18

Hello all, odd request:

Does anyone have any tips for removing white water marks from wooden surfaces?

For some bizarre reason, the surface around the sink in my bathroom is made of polished wood! Consequently, there are some white marks - limescale I guess - that have built up around the tap.

I need to find a method of removing them that doesn't involve sanding and re-varnishing!

Cheers

( |-| |2 ][ $ · 13 May 2006 at 19:36

it might just need to dry out. I've heard of varnished wood going white before.

i know nothing · 13 May 2006 at 19:37

AdWright said:
I need to find a method of removing them that doesn't involve sanding and re-varnishing!

I doubt you will. I suspect you will need to sand and re-varnish if the stain is in the wood itself.

AdWright · 13 May 2006 at 19:44

( |-| |2 ][ $ said:
it might just need to dry out. I've heard of varnished wood going white before.

The wood is dry, the marks are only on the surface, so it's not too serious. Just difficult to get the marks off. Here's a pic

Nix · 13 May 2006 at 19:45

Wash, polish, varnish.

i know nothing · 13 May 2006 at 20:20

You could try a little vinegar. I strongly suggest you put a very small amount on a cotton bud to test it first in an inconspicous area. If it is a gloss varnish (can't really see from the photo), you could use a glass cleaner, again, test it first.

AdWright · 13 May 2006 at 20:36

i know nothing said:
/snip

Thanks - I used some white vinegar and then some lemon juice and a soft cloth. Seemed to do the trick. Here are the results! (Not perfect - just a quick job!)

pheebs · 13 May 2006 at 20:46

Vinegar seems to be the remedy for many household chores! Genius if you ask me and looks like it did a good job for a quick once over!

Not that it'll help the limescale... but try using some baby oil on a cloth to shine up your taps!

Hehehe

leezer3 · 13 May 2006 at 23:08

The vinegar is going to be disolving the limescale, but it is also going to be damaging the varnish. Unfortunately this is only going to keep on coming back, and you will have to do a sand and re-varnish occasionally.

(Sailor!)

-Leezer-