Expert: Kirk Ryan - 3/25/2009

Question
I have a newer(2 yr old) dresser - appears to be natural light oak. Someone left a water bottle on it, now I have a white ring. How do I get it off or at least less noticable?

Answer
Try a conditioning furniture oil specially made for oak. Also get yourself some "triple zero" steel wool. This is a very fine steel wool that will not do any harm. At first see if the oil alone removes the white areas, then try the steel wool and oil the area after using the steel wool on it.

The white area means that water did penetrate the wood, but the good news is, the white means it dried out.

Dark rings are usually more permanent signs of water damage.

Hope this helps.