Wood and water don't mix?

April 11, 2007 1:29 PM

We've got a wooden shelf in the bathroom in our (rented) apartment. We've been here two years now and it's gone very pale, and is stained a funny colour where water has landed on it. What should we do to return it to its former glory? (pretty much cleaning/DIY noobs, to be honest...)
posted by ascullion to home & garden (12 comments total)

Depending on the depth of the water penetration, sanding it back and re-staining should do the trick.

I get the feeling that it wasn't stained or treated in any way to begin with - correct? If that's the case, the landlord can hardly complain if it has water stains and has faded. That's what happens to wood. Anyway, my suggestion remains.
posted by different at 1:44 PM on April 11, 2007

To return it to its former glory, you'd have to strip, sand and refinish it with stain or varnish. Or, since it's a rental, you could just return it to a more utilitarian glory with a half-gallon can of interior latex paint.
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 1:44 PM on April 11, 2007

Depending on the depth of the water penetration, sanding it back and re-staining should do the trick.

I get the feeling that it wasn't stained or treated in any way to begin with - correct? If that's the case, the landlord can hardly complain if it has water stains and has faded. That's what happens to wood. Anyway, my suggestion remains.

to be honest, i don't know.. it was a much darker colour to begin with, but it hasn't coped very well. it's not like we've been getting the thing very wet, just the odd drips from cups and toothbrushes. but it has gone from a relatively dark brown to a pretty pale and lifeless state..
posted by ascullion at 2:10 PM on April 11, 2007

thanks for the help, btw, much appreciated
posted by ascullion at 2:12 PM on April 11, 2007

So if it was "relatively dark brown," it was probably varnished, and varnish doesn't like moist environments like bathrooms very much.
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 2:17 PM on April 11, 2007

OK, I'm no sort of wood expert (IANSOAWE?), but it does sound like an untreated piece of wood. Have you ever seen freshly-cut firewood, and compared it to wood that's been seasoned for a few years? Sorry if that sounds dumb, no idea if you're a city or a country kid! What happens is that the wood dries out and the colours become duller and less vibrant. It's one of the reasons that we tend to 'treat' tables, chairs etc with paints or stains.

The funny part is that, even when the wood isn't that old, you usually don't have to sand it back too far to reveal the fresh-looking wood underneath. Sanding and staining is the way to go.
posted by different at 2:21 PM on April 11, 2007

If it happens to be a plain flat board shelf, possibly on angle brackets, the easiest way to "repair" it would be to buy a new laminate shelf at the hardware store for $ 10 to $ 20.
posted by yohko at 2:22 PM on April 11, 2007

to make it easier for you, i've taken a picture of it. not sure if it'll help, but perhaps it'll give an indication of the colour.

if you look closely on the left you can see a black water stain. else there are varying shades of brown throughout..
posted by ascullion at 3:01 PM on April 11, 2007

My mom swears that mayonnaise (sp?) works to bring the luster back on wood that has faded from water or heat. It's worth a try. She works the mayo in quite well and if it's still luster-less does another treatment of mayo. Worth a try!
posted by Sassyfras at 3:01 PM on April 11, 2007

Just a guess, but it looks like you might be able to get rid of the water stain and even out the finish with a little rubbing alcohol and some elbow grease.

Otherwise, I'd sand, stain- and polyurethane, which should be mandatory for anything wooden in the bathroom.
posted by jenkinsEar at 3:50 PM on April 11, 2007

I've done a lot of wood finishing. To me, that looks like oak coated with stain and too little too little polyurethane, or maybe the color is in the polyurethane itself. The black streak was caused by water soaking into the wood. I'd use 150, 180, and then 200 sandpaper on the whole surface. Sand in the direction of the grain.

After sanding, use a wipe-on stain that's close to the darkest color in the wood. The easiest stain for you to use would be a thick gel stain, because it sits on the surface and covers more evenly than a thin stain. Second best is a stain like Zar, which is a thickish liquid that can build up if you want to apply more coats. Oak doesn't take a conventional thin stain well, because the wood is very hard. Don't use a tinted polyurethane that claims to be stain and finish in one, because it'll be streaky where one coat overlaps another.

Finally, do two or more coats of polyurethane, or apply a wipe-on finish like Tung Oil or (my favorite) General Finishes Arm-R-Seal. Water-based poly is easier to clean up and has no fumes, but you'll need more coats. Fortunately, it dries fast. Make sure your stain is well-cured before you apply the coating; it could take a few days.
posted by wryly at 11:53 PM on April 11, 2007

Linseed Oil or I think it's also know as Cedar Oil you can get it at the hardware store possibly even a supermarket. (Machine oil being a fine grade also will do the trick at a pinch too)

Unfortunately I did mine just two days ago so I can't show you it in action, but scratches (to a suprising, yet limited depth) and other such things just disappear! The board behind the kitchen sink which suffers similarly looks tremendous.

Wear gloves I find it makes me feel just slightly...?? if it absorbs through my hands. Apply with rag evenly. Seems to go on better with a wipe/rub/massage kinda technique. Really inexpensive. Don't apply directly until you get the hang of it to avoid possible slight circles. It's really, really forgiving but yeah 'til your familiar with it no blobs.

If the wood seems thirsty still and it's only been like an hour apply again. What it doesn't need you can just wipe off. I drown mine and just let it sit it's been two days and I just checked them there's a slight film on the surface I'm about to wipe off.

You'll see the improvement instantly. If you don't give the offending spot a quick rub/wipe to make sure the oil is penetrating. If it's deffinitely penetrating and still doesn't happen then it's not likely to some things are just beyond it's mighty powers.

Maybe try it first because it's so cheap, quick and easy. It doesn't appear as bad as some things I've seen it restore but if it's not up to task it is nourishing for the wood and will make resurfacing easier.
posted by mu~ha~ha~ha~har at 7:59 AM on April 12, 2007