If you have ever forgotten a drink on a table, then picked it up hours later and noticed the dreaded water ring, you’re familiar with the feeling of panic. Water rings are unsightly and can ruin the look of your lovely wooden furniture.
But, one man has posted on TikTok a remarkable way to remove these marks without expensive tools, chemicals or even scrubbing. The man, who posts under the name @creative_explained, said that with just a damp cloth and an iron, you can get rid of water rings. To use this hack, place the damp cloth (and make sure it’s a clean one) over the stain, then put the hot iron over it.
Make sure you keep moving the iron to avoid burning the wood beneath the cloth and after about 20 seconds check the stain. It should be gone, but if it remains then repeat the process.
According to Paintez.com the newer the stain, the easier it will come out. If the stain has been in place for several years, this process may take longer.
It’s very important to give the wood time to recover and cool down. Between each round of ironing, make sure you step away for about 2 to 3 minutes or longer.
If you don’t have an iron handy, you can try this hack with a hair dryer instead. This hack will only work on light coloured water rings – if the ring is dark in colour, it means the water has seeped into the wood itself rather than just the varnish.
Comments on the TikTok video were impressed with one person saying: “Dude, you just ironed out a water ring. You’re a magician.”
Another said: “Thanks for the tips on the water rings! It worked like a charm.”
Better Housekeeping backs up the advice, saying that “if the water stain has recently appeared, this quick solution can help clear the liquid away before the stain has a chance to set in. The heat from the iron evaporates the moisture in the surface finish, allowing the wood to dry in a harmless and stain-free manner.”