How Remove Wood Stain From Clothes and Carpet?

You can spill wood stain on a carpet or clothes while staining wood, So, how to remove it?

To remove wood stains from clothes or carpets, wash it off immediately with laundry detergent and water. In this case, the wood stain will still be fresh and can be washed out with soap.

To remove a dried wood stain, you must use a solvent. However, you may not be able to remove an old coating as it can soak and dry through the fibers.

Things To Know

Wood stain comes out of clothing and carpets. But, it may not come off completely, especially if it has soaked and dried through the cloth’s fibers. The longer you leave it on the carpet, the more difficult it is to remove it.

If the wood stain dries on the cloth, it can leave a discolored spot even after removing it. That’s because it has a high volume of dye and pigments in the formula, and once it dries, the pigments will set on the carpet and discolor it. That’s why it’s important to remove it immediately.

Also, dried wood stain is difficult to remove because it has a hard and glossy finish. So, to remove it, you need to soften or dissolve it with a solvent and then wipe it off. It’s also not advised to wash a dried wood stain off of cloth or fabric because doing so will spread its color on the cloth rather than remove it.

Find The Type of Wood Stain

Water-based and oil-based wood stains have different removal processes. So, you must know which type you have on your clothes to know which methods and products to use. If it’s a fresh stain, check the container to see its type.

Try washing the cloth with water. If the wood stain comes off the cloth after blotting water, it’s water-based. If it doesn’t come off, it’s oil-based. That’s because water-based stains are water soluble, while oil-based stains aren’t.

You can also wipe the carpet with rubbing alcohol to know the type of stain. Soak a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and use the dampened cotton ball to wipe the affected spot. If the wood stain comes off on the cotton ball, it’s water-based. If it doesn’t come off, it’s oil-based.

This works because rubbing alcohol is a natural water-based paint remover. But, it’s not strong enough to dissolve and remove oil-based finishes.

Removing Oil-based Wood Stain

The oil-based wood stain has more oils and pigments, so removing it is harder and requires a stronger solvent.

1. Fresh Oil-based Stain

If the stain is still wet, remove it by following the steps below:

1. Wipe the excess wood stain off of the cloth using a rag.
2. Sprinkle baking soda or vinegar on the stained spot and leave for a few minutes.
3. The baking soda will absorb the stain.
4. Dampen the affected spot with mineral spirits.
5. Wash the cloth with laundry detergent.
6. Rinse it with plenty of water and allow it to dry.
7. When the cloth dries, inspect it.
8. The stain should be gone. If not, repeat the steps.

2. Dry Oil-based Stain

Removing dried oil-based wood stain is more difficult because it has a glossy finish that repels liquid. So, it’s harder for the solvent to penetrate its finish and dissolve the particles. That’s why you must mix different solvents to create a stronger mixture to remove it.

Mix laundry detergent, ammonia solution, or baking soda with water.

Here is a guide for this:

1. Prep your mixture.
2. Pour the mixture over the dry oil-based stain.
3. Wait a few minutes.
4. The stain will become softened and might change its color.
5. When you notice changes, wipe the affected spot with a clean rag.
6. Wash the cloth with laundry detergent.
7. Rinse thoroughly.
8. Leave the cloth to dry.

Removing Water-Based Wood Stain

Removing water-based wood stain is easier because it doesn’t contain many additives, oils, or a glossy finish. So, the solvent can easily penetrate its coating and dissolve the particles.

1. Fresh (Wet) Water-based Stain

If the water-based wood stain is still wet or fresh, blot it out using a rag and water and wash the fabric.

1. Use a dampened rag (with water) to clean the stained spot.
2. Wipe as much stain off the cloth as you can.
3. Wash the cloth using laundry detergent and rinse it with plenty of water.
4. Leave the cloth to dry.

2. Dry Water-based Stain

If the wood stain has dried, you need a paint-removing solvent, such as rubbing alcohol, to remove it. Rubbing alcohol is a natural paint remover and will dissolve paint particles of the stain, making it easier to remove it.

1. Use a clean rag to remove as much wood stain as possible from the fabric.
2. Pour rubbing alcohol into a clean rag, and use the dampened rag to wipe the stained spot.
3. Wait 5 minutes.
4. The stain will liquefy (become loose), and you can wipe it off.
5. Wash the cloth with laundry detergent and rinse it.
6. Allow the cloth to dry.

Tip: You must wash the cloth properly to remove the rubbing alcohol residue. If you don’t, the rubbing alcohol can discolor the cloth.

How To Remove Wood Stain From Carpet?

Wood stain penetrates (or soaks into) carpets deeply, so it’s harder to remove it.

Here are the tools you need:

• Laundry detergent
• A vacuum
• Scrubbing brush
• A soft sponge
• Water
• Mineral spirits or acetone
• Baking soda

1. Use Baking Soda – If the wood stain is still fresh, sprinkle baking soda over it. Baking soda will absorb it from the carpet, and you can vacuum the leftover stains.
2. Use Mineral Spirits -If the wood stain has dried on the carpet, use mineral spirits or acetone to dissolve and remove it.
3. Rinse – After washing the carpet, rinse it with plenty of water to remove the soap residue.
4. Vacuum – Use a wet/dry vacuum to remove excess moisture from the carpet and allow it to dry faster.

Final Words

In summary, removing wood stains from clothes and carpets isn’t hard. You just need to know the type of stain and use the right tools and solvents to remove it.

If the stain is still wet, use a soapy mixture to wash it off. If the wood stain has dried, use a solvent to dissolve (or soften) it before removing it. You can use mineral spirits for this.