Whether caused by overwatering a plant, a puddle left by a boot or pet or a plumbing leak, water stains on a wood floor are unsightly. If the water stain appears as a white ring, there's a very good chance you can remove it. A white ring indicates that the water has only seeped into the wax or polyurethane finish on the wood.

Darker rings and large stains are more difficult. The moisture has penetrated the finish and seeped into the wood causing it to darken. Dark rings can be removed with some elbow grease and patience. However, depending on the extent of the stain and damage to the wood, refinishing the floor or replacement of the boards may be the best option.

Once you've mastered the task of removing water stains on wood floors, those pesky rings left by a wet glass on a wood table will be simple to erase.

What You Need to Remove White Rings on Wood Floors

Supplies

Mineral oil

Mineral spirits

Tools

Disposable gloves

Dust mop or vacuum

Soft cloths

How to Remove White Rings From Wood Floors

Get Rid of Dust Before you tackle the white ring on the floor, use a dust mop or vacuum to thoroughly clean the area. Leaving dust and grit on the floor will only make more of a problem as you apply the cleaning solutions. Time for an Oil Change Pour a generous amount of mineral oil onto a soft cloth. Rub the white ring(s) with the cloth working with the grain of the wood. Let the oil remain on the floor overnight. If the stain is gone the next morning, buff the area with a dry cloth to absorb any remaining oil. If the stain remains, it's time to take the next step. Head to the Kitchen If you don't have any mineral oil on hand, you can substitute any cooking oil, mayonnaise, butter or solid shortening. Petroleum jelly also works well in a pinch. Keep Your Spirits Up If the mineral oil didn't do the trick, move on to mineral spirits, a paint thinner and solvent. Wearing gloves, apply some mineral spirits to a soft cloth. Following the grain of the wood, rub what remains of the white ring. Wait a few minutes and the stain should disappear. Finish by buffing the area with a clean, dry cloth.

What You Need to Remove Dark Water Stains From Wood Floors

Supplies

#100-grit sandpaper

#150-grit sandpaper

#0000 steel wool

Hydrogen peroxide

Chlorine bleach

Water

Wood varnish that matches your wood floors

Wood floor polish

Tools

Tack cloth or vacuum

Soft cloths

Disposable gloves

Dust mask

How to Remove Dark Water Stains From Wood Floors

Dark water stains are much more difficult and time-consuming to remove. The process can take days so be prepared to devote some time.