Watermarks

As long as the marks are white or whitish in color, there is a very good chance you can repair the water damage without refinishing. (If the spots or rings turn a dark color, the water has seeped through the finish and into the wood and the damage can be repaired only by refinishing.)

Try the following treatments for white watermarks. Start with the first--and mildest--treatment, moving on to the more involved treatments only if the preceding does not work.

Treatments:

1.      Moisten a rag with denatured alcohol and try rubbing the spot out.
2.      Moisten a rag with camphorated oil and try rubbing the spot out.
3.      Moisten a rag with turpentine and try rubbing the spot out.
4.      Put a small amount of toothpaste with "extra brighteners" (actually a mild abrasive) on the spot and rub in with your finger or a small cloth pad. Try to keep the rubbing motion parallel to the grain of the wood. The stain should lighten as you rub, eventually disappearing.
5.      Sprinkle table salt on the spot. Dip cloth into mineral oil or lemon oil and rub the salt into the spot. If this starts to take the spot out, repeat the process using salt and vinegar (which acts a mild bleach).
6.      Mix rottenstone with lemon oil or mineral oil to make a paste. Rub into the spot. It may take a lot of elbow grease to get the spot out. Note: This treatment will dull the surface of your wood, but you can easily fix it by waxing or polishing the area. If that doesn't restore the dull area, in some cases you may need to apply a light coat of shellac or varnish, but this is not recommended as it is difficult to blend a touchup.

Scratches

Try repairing those little scrapes or nicks in the wood finish (that do not go through to the wood) using one of these techniques:

Treatments:

1.      Use a colored oil stain to touch up the scratch. While this will not fill the scratch, it will camouflage it nicely. Polish or wax the touch up area.
2.      Use a "scratch-removing" liquid (available in most hardware stores) to touch up the scratch. Polish or wax the touch up area.
3.      Apply denatured alcohol with a pointed artist's brush. This will cause the finish to soften and flow together, masking the scratch. Polish or wax the touch up area.
4.      For deep scratches (such as Fluffy's), heat a matching shellac stick* with a lighter until it drips or is the consistency of butter. Use an artist's palette knife or a spatula to fill the scratch with the melted shellac. Reheat the knifeblade if you need to mold cooled shellac.

You can also use wax sticks to repair your scratches. The best approach is to heat the knifeblade and blend the wax into the scratch. Wax sticks are easier to use than shellac sticks, but the wax does not last as long as shellac, nor look as lustrous.

After filling in the scratch, apply a very thin coat of shellac. Polish or wax to finish

Burn marks

Success of these treatments really depends on how far into the finish or into the wood the burn goes.

Treatment:

1.      If the burn mark is only as deep as the finish, wrap a small piece of very fine steel wool around your finger and gently rub the scorched area. Polish and wax the area.
2.      If the burn mark has blisters in the center, hold a knifeblade at a right angle to the burn and carefully scrape the burned area using side-to-side motions. Once all the burned area is removed, rub a piece of steel wool on the spot until the area is smooth. Brush the dust a way to see if any finish remains. If so, polish and wax the area to restore luster.
3.      If you have scraped into the wood, you need to build up the cavity that now exists. Apply thin coats of varnish or shellac with a small artist's brush, allowing each coat to dry before applying the next one. Once the area matches the surrounding surface, rub it carefully with a piece of steel wool dipped into paste wax. Blend the area by rubbing parallel to the wood grain. Polish and wax the area.

Dents

A dent occurs because the fibers of dented wood have been greatly compressed. Many times you can fix the dent by restoring the fibers to their normal size.

Treatment:

1.      Either remove the finish over the dented area or prick holes in the area with a pin or a tack to allow moisture into the fibers.
2.      Place a wet cloth over the dent with a metal cap on top of it. The cap helps prevent damage to the surrounding areas.
3.      Apply heat from an iron by placing the iron on top of the cap, which will heat up the cap, in turn warming the cloth, which will then release steam into the wood fibers. The wood should swell into its previous shape.
4.      Fill in or touch up with varnish or shellac as needed. Polish and wax the area.

Note: This technique may cause watermarks from the steam. Simply treat them using the techniques listed under watermarks.

Tough stains

Here's what you can do to remove those tough stains from your upholstery:

Stain Treatment:

1.      The quicker you attack a stain the better. Try not to let a stain set or soak in--it's very difficult to remove a set stain.
2.      Look for the furniture tag and see if the manufacturer has recommended specific cleaning methods.
3.      If there are no recommendations or you can't find the tag, refer to the following mixtures to attack the stain.
4.      NOTE:Before you try any of these stain-removing mixtures, always remember to test it in an out-of-the-way place on your fabric. Sprinkle a few drops and blot with a clean cloth. If your fabric bleeds or becomes discolored, have it professionally dry-cleaned. If not, go ahead and treat the stain.
5.      To prevent future stains, apply a protectant (available from most furniture stores and home-improvement centers) to the fabric.

1.      Mix 1 cup of water with 1 tsp. mild colorless dish detergent.
2.      Test a piece of fabric. If the fabric is not adversely affected, proceed.
3.      Use a clean cloth to apply the mixture to the stain. Start from the outside edges and work your way in. Avoid overwetting the area.
4.      Blot the stain with a clean, dry, absorbent cloth. Let the fabric dry completely.
5.      If stain remains, try applying the mixture a few more times. If the stain still persists move on to the next step.
6.      Mix 2/3 cup water with 1/3 cup white vinegar.
7.      Test a piece of fabric. If the fabric is not adversely affected, proceed.
8.      Use a clean cloth to apply the mixture to the stain. Start from the outside edges and work your way in. Avoid overwetting the area.
9.      Blot the stain with a clean, dry, absorbent cloth. Let the fabric dry completely.
10. If stain remains, try applying the mixture a few more times.

Blood:

1.      Mix 1 cup of water with 1 tsp. mild colorless dish detergent.
2.      Test a piece of fabric. If the fabric is not adversely affected, proceed.
3.      Use a clean cloth to apply the mixture to the stain. Start from the outside edges and work your way in. Avoid overwetting the area.
4.      Blot the stain with a clean, dry, absorbent cloth. Let the fabric dry completely.
5.      If stain remains, try applying the mixture a few more times. If the stain still persists move on to the next step.
6.      Mix 1/2 cup water with 1 tsp. ammonia. Wear protective rubber gloves and work in a well-ventilated area.
7.      Test a piece of fabric. If the fabric is not adversely affected, proceed.
8.      Use a clean cloth to apply the mixture to the stain. Start from the outside edges and work your way in. Avoid overwetting the area.
9.      Blot the stain with a clean, dry, absorbent cloth. Let the fabric dry completely.
10. If stain remains, try applying the mixture a few more times.

Candle wax, crayons:

1.      You'll start with dry-cleaning fluid, available at grocery and hardware stores. Wear protective rubber gloves and work in a well-ventilated area. Do not use when smoking or near an open flame.
2.      Test a piece of fabric. If the fabric is not adversely affected, proceed.
3.      Use a clean cloth to apply the mixture to the stain. Start from the outside edges and work your way in. Avoid overwetting the area.
4.      Blot the stain with a clean, dry, absorbent cloth. Let the fabric dry completely.
5.      If stain remains, try applying the mixture a few more times. If the stain still persists move on to the next step.
6.      Mix 1 cup of water with 1 tsp. mild colorless dish detergent.
7.      Test a piece of fabric. If the fabric is not adversely affected, proceed.
8.      Use a clean cloth to apply the mixture to the stain. Start from the outside edges and work your way in. Avoid overwetting the area.
9.      Blot the stain with a clean, dry, absorbent cloth. Let the fabric dry completely.
10. If stain remains, try applying the mixture a few more times.

1.      Mix 1 cup of water with 1 tsp. mild colorless dish detergent.
2.      Test a piece of fabric. If the fabric is not adversely affected, proceed.
3.      Use a clean cloth to apply the mixture to the stain. Start from the outside edges and work your way in. Avoid overwetting the area.
4.      Blot the stain with a clean, dry, absorbent cloth. Let the fabric dry completely.
5.      If stain remains, try applying the mixture a few more times. If the stain still persists move on to the next step.
6.      Mix 1/2 cup water with 1 tsp. ammonia. Wear protective rubber gloves and work in a well-ventilated area.
7.      Test a piece of fabric, if the fabric is not adversely affected, proceed.
8.      Use a clean cloth to apply the mixture to the stain. Start from the outside edges and work your way in. Avoid overwetting the area.
9.      Blot the stain with a clean, dry, absorbent cloth. Let the fabric dry completely.
10. If stain remains, try applying the mixture a few more times. If the stain still persists move on to the next step.
11. Mix 2/3 cup water with 1/3 cup white vinegar.
12. Test a piece of fabric, if the fabric is not adversely affected, proceed.
13. Use a clean cloth to apply the mixture to the stain. Start from the outside edges and work your way in. Avoid overwetting the area.
14. Blot the stain with a clean, dry, absorbent cloth. Let the fabric dry completely.
15. If stain remains, try applying the mixture a few more times.

Coffee, tea:

1.      Mix 1 cup of water with 1 tsp. mild colorless dish detergent.
2.      Test a piece of fabric. If the fabric is not adversely affected, proceed.
3.      Use a clean cloth to apply the mixture to the stain. Start from the outside edges and work your way in. Avoid overwetting the area.
4.      Blot the stain with a clean, dry, absorbent cloth. Let the fabric dry completely.
5.      If stain remains, try applying the mixture a few more times. If the stain still persists move on to the next step.
6.      Mix 2/3 cup water with 1/3 cup white vinegar.
7.      Test a piece of fabric. If the fabric is not adversely affected, proceed.
8.      Use a clean cloth to apply the mixture to the stain. Start from the outside edges and work your way in. Avoid overwetting the area.
9.      Blot the stain with a clean, dry, absorbent cloth. Let the fabric dry completely.
10. If stain remains, try applying the mixture a few more times. If the stain still persists move on to the next step.
11. Start with dry-cleaning fluid, available at grocery and hardware stores. Wear protective rubber gloves and work in a well-ventilated area. Do not use when smoking or near an open flame.
12. Test a piece of fabric. If the fabric is not adversely affected, proceed.
13. Use a clean cloth to apply the mixture to the stain. Start from the outside edges and work your way in. Avoid overwetting the area.
14. Blot the stain with a clean, dry, absorbent cloth. Let the fabric dry completely.
15. If stain remains, try applying the mixture a few more times.

1.      Start with dry-cleaning fluid, available at grocery and hardware stores. Wear protective rubber gloves and work in a well-ventilated area. Do not use when smoking or near an open flame.
2.      Test a piece of fabric. If the fabric is not adversely affected, proceed.
3.      Use a clean cloth to apply the mixture to the stain. Start from the outside edges and work your way in. Avoid overwetting the area.
4.      Blot the stain with a clean, dry, absorbent cloth. Let the fabric dry completely.
5.      If stain remains, try applying the mixture a few more times. If the stain still persists move on to the next step.
6.      Mix 1 cup of water with 1 tsp. mild colorless dish detergent.
7.      Test a piece of fabric. If the fabric is not adversely affected, proceed.
8.      Use a clean cloth to apply the mixture to the stain. Start from the outside edges and work your way in. Avoid overwetting the area.
9.      Blot the stain with a clean, dry, absorbent cloth. Let the fabric dry completely.
10. If stain remains, try applying the mixture a few more times. If the stain still persists move on to the next step.
11. Mix 1/2 cup water with 1 tsp. ammonia. Wear protective rubber gloves and work in a well-ventilated area.
12. Test a piece of fabric, if the fabric is not adversely affected, proceed.
13. Use a clean cloth to apply the mixture to the stain. Start from the outside edges and work your way in. Avoid overwetting the area.
14. Blot the stain with a clean, dry, absorbent cloth. Let the fabric dry completely.
15. If stain remains, try applying the mixture a few more times. If the stain still persists move on to the next step.
16. Mix 2/3 cup water with 1/3 cup white vinegar.
17. Test a piece of fabric, if the fabric is not adversely affected, proceed.
18. Use a clean cloth to apply the mixture to the stain. Start from the outside edges and work your way in. Avoid overwetting the area.
19. Blot the stain with a clean, dry, absorbent cloth. Let the fabric dry completely.
20. If stain remains, try applying the mixture a few more times.

Cosmetics, furniture polish, ink, shoe polish:

1.      Start with dry-cleaning fluid, available at grocery and hardware stores. Wear protective rubber gloves and work in a well-ventilated area. Do not use when smoking or near an open flame.
2.      Test a piece of fabric. If the fabric is not adversely affected, proceed.
3.      Use a clean cloth to apply the mixture to the stain. Start from the outside edges and work your way in. Avoid overwetting the area.
4.      Blot the stain with a clean, dry, absorbent cloth. Let the fabric dry completely.
5.      If stain remains, try applying the mixture a few more times. If the stain still persists move on to the next step.
6.      Mix 1 cup of water with 1 tsp. mild colorless dish detergent.
7.      Test a piece of fabric. If the fabric is not adversely affected, proceed.
8.      Use a clean cloth to apply the mixture to the stain. Start from the outside edges and work your way in. Avoid overwetting the area.
9.      Blot the stain with a clean, dry, absorbent cloth. Let the fabric dry completely.
10. If stain remains, try applying the mixture a few more times. If the stain still persists move on to the next step.
11. Mix 1/2 cup water with 1 tsp. ammonia. Wear protective rubber gloves and work in a well-ventilated area.
12. Test a piece of fabric, if the fabric is not adversely affected, proceed.
13. Use a clean cloth to apply the mixture to the stain. Start from the outside edges and work your way in. Avoid overwetting the area.
14. Blot the stain with a clean, dry, absorbent cloth. Let the fabric dry completely.
15. If stain remains, try applying the mixture a few more times.

Ice cream, milk:

1.      Mix 1 cup of water with 1 tsp. mild colorless dish detergent.
2.      Test a piece of fabric. If the fabric is not adversely affected, proceed.
3.      Use a clean cloth to apply the mixture to the stain. Start from the outside edges and work your way in. Avoid overwetting the area.
4.      Blot the stain with a clean, dry, absorbent cloth. Let the fabric dry completely.
5.      If stain remains, try applying the mixture a few more times. If the stain still persists move on to the next step.
6.      Mix 1/2 cup water with 1 tsp. ammonia. Wear protective rubber gloves and work in a well-ventilated area.
7.      Test a piece of fabric, if the fabric is not adversely affected, proceed.
8.      Use a clean cloth to apply the mixture to the stain. Start from the outside edges and work your way in. Avoid overwetting the area.
9.      Blot the stain with a clean, dry, absorbent cloth. Let the fabric dry completely.
10. If stain remains, try applying the mixture a few more times. If the stain still persists move on to the next step.
11. Mix 2/3 cup water with 1/3 cup white vinegar.
12. Test a piece of fabric, if the fabric is not adversely affected, proceed.
13. Use a clean cloth to apply the mixture to the stain. Start from the outside edges and work your way in. Avoid overwetting the area.
14. Blot the stain with a clean, dry, absorbent cloth. Let the fabric dry completely.
15. If stain remains, try applying the mixture a few more times.
16. Start with dry-cleaning fluid, available at grocery and hardware stores. Wear protective rubber gloves and work in a well-ventilated area. Do not use when smoking or near an open flame.
17. Test a piece of fabric. If the fabric is not adversely affected, proceed.
18. Use a clean cloth to apply the mixture to the stain. Start from the outside edges and work your way in. Avoid overwetting the area.
19. Blot the stain with a clean, dry, absorbent cloth. Let the fabric dry completely.
20. If stain remains, try applying the mixture a few more times.

Wine

1.      Mix 1 cup of water with 1 tsp. mild colorless dish detergent.
2.      Test a piece of fabric. If the fabric is not adversely affected, proceed.
3.      Use a clean cloth to apply the mixture to the stain. Start from the outside edges and work your way in. Avoid overwetting the area.
4.      Blot the stain with a clean, dry, absorbent cloth. Let the fabric dry completely.
5.      If stain remains, try applying the mixture a few more times. If the stain still persists move on to the next step.
6.      Mix 2/3 cup water with 1/3 cup white vinegar.
7.      Test a piece of fabric. If the fabric is not adversely affected, proceed.
8.      Use a clean cloth to apply the mixture to the stain. Start from the outside edges and work your way in. Avoid overwetting the area.
9.      Blot the stain with a clean, dry, absorbent cloth. Let the fabric dry completely.
10. If stain remains, try applying the mixture a few more times. If the stain still persists move on to the next step.
11. Mix 1/2 cup water with 1 tsp. ammonia. Wear protective rubber gloves and work in a well-ventilated area.
12. Test a piece of fabric, if the fabric is not adversely affected, proceed.
13. Use a clean cloth to apply the mixture to the stain. Start from the outside edges and work your way in. Avoid overwetting the area.
14. Blot the stain with a clean, dry, absorbent cloth. Let the fabric dry completely.
15. If stain remains, try applying the mixture a few more times.