wood stains?

Question

what's the best way to get rid of dye stains from a wooden surface w/o damaging it?

i have a black robe and the arm sleeve area penetrated the wood from having my arms resting on the surface, so there's a black area on it that looks like it's been spray-painted.

Answer 1

i'm assuming that you got some dye on a piece of wooden furniture and are trying to get it off. your question wasn't very specific.

if the wood surface has a polyurethane or shellac coating, then the dye most likely didn't penetrate the wood and you can use regular furniture cleaner or polish to remove it. if that doesn't work, get fine grit sand paper (400 grit preferably), wet it, and lightly sand the area until the dye is gone. you'll probably have to polish the surface or put a coat of polyurethane on it after sanding as it will have a "hazy" appearance.

if it HAS soaked into the wood grain, then the only way to remove it would also remove the stain from the wood and leave you with a spot of bare wood.

Answer 2

strip the with paint thiner then use several coats of johnson weather seal.

Answer 3

have you tried tooth paste or ;moistened cigarette ashes?