How to Remove Oak Counter Stains Easily

Here's a fun guest post from Amy Reeves, a small business owner of London Cleaners in Hanwell. She likes writing articles about organization and cleaning.  All opinions and tips are her own and not of Sabrina at Sabrina's Organizing.  

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• Tip for cleaning water oak counter stains:
• Tips for cleaning a variety of other stains on oak counters:

Is your kitchen counter made of oak? Then you must be very happy because it is really very pretty and in my opinion, it complements all kinds of kitchens perfectly. I don't think anyone could ever go wrong with an oak counter.

However, there must be some risks and unpleasant surprises when it comes to cleaning and stains, because we all know that even accidental spills that are quickly cleaned can still leave a trace. And that is where the tricky part comes in, because wood should be treated and cleaned delicately and with the proper solutions to make sure it is safe (affiliate) and will not make things worse. Oak surfaces, even when properly maintained and cleaned, tend to become discolored over time.

There are two types of stains: surface and deep ones. The deep ones most often require sanding to remove. Sorry to say. However, you can address the surface stains.  Here are tips on how to clean stains from oak surfaces.

Tip for cleaning water oak counter stains:

• I do not know if you have heard this, but I have personally not tried it yet since I have not had the chance to, but I heard that people use Brazil nuts to clean water rings from their oak countertops. Rub a Brazil nut on the stain, and it should disappear so that you can try that next time your oak table has a water ring and you have Brazil nuts lying around.
• I know some people sand a layer off their oak counters, but I am personally not a fan because then you need to take other steps to restore its original look, and I'm not willing to do that.
• What I do to get rid of water rings on my oak countertop is to iron them! That is right. How it works: Put a towel on the stain and set your iron to medium and on steam. Let the iron warm the towel, and after a few seconds and let steam out. Lift the towel to release the warmth, and repeat as long as necessary. It will loosen the stain, and it will vanish.

Usually, every countertop is a high-traffic area, where it tends to accumulate more stains and wear. Its color also fades a bit. If you prefer not to deal with sanding, oiling, and waxing, which can be more complex and time-consuming, remember that the key (affiliate) is prevention. But we all know that does not always work, so we need to have a backup plan to help us achieve our goals and keep our oak countertop clean.

Tips for cleaning a variety of other stains on oak counters:

For a variety of stains that are on the surface, there is one way that is considered to be very efficient, and it has definitely helped me a few times. Use a fine wire wool and lemon oil to gently scrub the stain and erase it. London Cleaners Hanwell has used this method, and we had to scrub for a while to get it out, but it works.

Some oak counter stains can be rooted in moisture. That is why you should always wipe down and dry your countertop after use. Again, prevention is the key (affiliate) to success.

However, when stains do occur, try these simple oak countertop cleaning tricks to restore it to its original, flawless state.

Whether you cook, eat on an oak surface, or your kids use it as a crafts area, these methods should help you deal with a variety of stains.

Now it's your turn. Do you have oak surfaces in your kitchen?  How do you remove stains from oak counters?  Please leave a comment below. We would love to hear from you. 

Please note these are affiliate links through Amazon (affiliate), and at no additional cost to you, I will earn affiliate fees if you decide to make a purchase.