#14 Repairing Wood No matter how careful we are, sooner or later we will be faced with fixing damaged wood. Wood is a pretty forgiving material, and most damage can be repaired. Probably the most common problems are either white or black water stains. White Water Marks: Water and wood are natural enemies. Water, allowed to sit on a wood surface, will stain it. A white or cloudy water mark means the moisture has only penetrated the finish, not the wood. These marks can often be removed by dampening a soft cloth with mineral oil, mayonnaise or cooking oil. A slice of walnut meat rubbed over the area may also work. When the oil penetrates the finish, the moisture is forced to the surface where it evaporates. Stubborn white water stains may require a mild abrasive. Pumice, a fine, abrasive powder of volcanic origin mixed with water or oil, is very effective when used to clean and rubdown wood surfaces. Baking soda and toothpaste, (not the gel type) can also be used. Buff with the grain of the wood using the mild abrasive and a soft cloth. This opens the pores and allows the moisture to escape. Use a clean, soft, dry cloth to buff the area and remove the abrasive residue. If this process leaves noticeable shiny areas, repeat the process over the entire surface to blend them. Black Water Marks: Black rings indicate that the moisture has penetrated the finish, and stained the wood. The finish will have to be entirely stripped and the surface bleached to remove these stains. Don't try and spot remove them, it won't work, as the bleached areas will be lighter.