How To Get Wood Stain Out Of Clothes


The wood stain can be challenging to remove from clothes. You have to be quick as soon as the stain comes in contact with your clothes. That’s the first thing you can do while removing the wood stain. Usually, people try washing garments in warm water with color-safe bleach that also works fine. You can also try mineral spirits or acetone while rubbing on the stain.

These were the general tricks most people try to get the wood stain out of clothes. But we will go through detail in smaller steps to help you out in getting the stain out of your clothes while keeping it simple and easy. Let’s go through each step to find out how it’s done in a few steps.

How To Get Wood Stain Out Of Clothes

Here are some options to get wood stain out of clothes:

  • Wash the stain

If you can somehow manage to wash the stain as soon as it sticks on your dress, chances are high to easily get the stain out of clothes. Once it gets old and dry, it takes more effort and the possibility of never getting out also increases.

  • Don’t rub

People often try rubbing the stain, which makes it sink deeper into the cloth pores. As a result, it becomes permanent. What’s the best you can do is not rub whatsoever.

  • Wear protective gloves

When you get the wood stain on your clothes, never ever rub it with your naked hands as they might be harmful and can cause severe conditions. So as soon as you get the stain, reach out to your gloves and rub or take necessary actions while wearing the protective gloves.

  • Try stain removing techniques on the less visible part

If you’re trying different techniques to get the wood stain out of your clothes, try it on the less visible part. It can be inside of the dress. Otherwise, you may end up ruining the clothes. This technique can save clothes even if it doesn’t work.

  • Try a stain removal pen first.

Get a stain removal pen when you accidentally get stains on your clothes. Put the pen tip on the stain and let the pen absorb the harmful particles that stick to the clothes. Now hold the two sides of the cloth in both hands and rub them against each other. The pen could be a tide-to-go pen or a Clorox bleach pen.

  • Wash with mineral spirits

If you have tried previous tricks and they did not work, the stain must be the old and hard-to-remove wood stain. We got solutions for this one too. Get a small piece of cloth and dip it into the mineral spirit. Rub the cloth in a circular motion on the cloth. Chances are the stain will come out as this is one of the most effective methods.

  • Try acetone

If the stain is water-based, only acetone may work. In this case, dip the rag into the acetone bottle and pour some on the stain. Rub the rag and the cloth against each other. Make sure you’ve placed a towel under the cloth that can absorb the stain and prevent damaging the material where the cloth is placed while absorbing acetone as well.

  • Soak in Oxi-Clean

Add one scoop of Oxi-Clean in one gallon of warm water. Soak the stained cloth into the mixture for several hours. To do so, make sure you’ve placed the bucket in a safe place where there’s no chance of knocking it over.

  • Wash separately

When washing the stained garments in the washing machine, make sure you’re washing them with other clothes. It may transfer the stain and ruin others too. Also, set the machine settings for a small load.

  •  Try washing in the machine.

You can wash the stained garments in the washing machine while keeping the cycle warm. To do so, add some detergents, too, besides the warm water. Adding a small amount of bleach also works fine. However, the bleach should be color-safe, so it doesn’t affect your garments’ colors.

  • Never dry stained clothes.

Try anything and everything you can to get the stain out of the clothes, and our mentioned tricks often work. Once you somehow manage to remove the stain, you can let them dry. Never dry before getting the stain out, or they’ll become permanent.

How to Get Wood Stain Smell Out of Clothes?

Removing stain odor is quite challenging, and most people end up throwing their favorite garments away just because they couldn’t get the stain smell out of their clothes. We got you covered with some of the best techniques that take the older or newer wood stain smell out of the clothes. Let’s go through each.

  • Try adding white wine vinegar while washing the clothes. It makes the clothes softer and smells pleasant while killing the odor. To do so, add half a cup of white wine vinegar to the washing machine and if the smell of vinegar is sharp, try adding some water. Let the machine wash for at least 20 minutes.
  • Let the cold air do the smell killing job. Put the clothes into the refrigerator once you’re done washing them.
  • Try baking soda by pouring it on the clothes and letting them wash for at least 20 minutes. Its bleaching effect will wipe the stain and kill the odor.
  • Tea tree oil with water is another effective way.
  • Try fresh lemon juice with water and let the clothes dry for 40 minutes before you finally wash them.
  • Cut some orange peels, put the peel into the water for a while. Soak the clothes in the mixture for a few hours. Wash them.

How to Get Wood Stain Out Of Clothes & Fabric

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How to Get Gel Wood Stain Out of Clothes?

To get gel wood stain out of clothes use one teaspoon of liquid dishwashing detergent and add it to the two cups of warm water. Also, add one-fourth cup household ammonia. Now dip the clean white cloth or spine into the mixture. Let it soak for a while. Then rub the sponge on the stain until it comes off.

Another way to get the stain out is by mixing one cup of rubbing alcohol with one cup of vinegar. Then pour a small amount of table salt on the stained area. Wait for at least ten minutes while soaking the cloth into the mixture. Get a toothbrush and gently scrub the stain.

How to Get Water-Based Wood Stain Out of Clothes?

Acetone is the only solution to get water-based wood stains out of clothes. Get a rag and dip into the acetone, and pour some acetone on the stain too. Blot the stain using an acetone-soaked rag. Keep in mind, never forget to place the paper towel under the clothes. It will absorb the stain and the excess acetone while keeping the surface protected.

Another way to get the water-based wood stain out of clothes is first scraping off the surface with a spoon, brush, or dull knife. Flush the water from the opposite side once you’re done with scraping off. Then add some detergent into the water and blot the rag on the stained area.

How to Get Varnish Stains Out of Clothes?

If the varnish stain is water-based, pour a small amount of a paint remover or citrus-based cleaner onto a paper towel or white cloth. In case the varnish stain is oil-based, rubbing alcohol does the job. Make sure you don’t spread the stain, and for this, dab the varnish from the outside toward the center.

Another effective way to get the varnish stain out of clothes is through acetone nail polish. Get a small piece of fabric or rag and pour some acetone. Dab the piece of fabric onto the stained area for a while. If it doesn’t get the stain out, repeat the process multiple times until it gets out. Once you manage to get the stains out, leave the clothes to dry naturally.

Best Way To Get Dried Wood Stain Out Of Clothes

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How to Get Furniture Polish Stain Out of Clothes?

Dry-cleaning solvent works best in removing the furniture polish stain out of the clothes. Pour the solvent onto the clothes and blot until it’s absorbed. You can also try removing it with stain remover. Once you do that, launder the clothes to finally get the furniture polish out of the clothes. If there’s still stain remains, wash the clothes again but this time, use chlorine bleach or oxygen bleach. Make sure the bleaches are color-safe and don’t affect the garment’s quality.

Another productive way to get the furniture polish out is with heavy-duty liquid detergent. Launder the stain immediately and if there’s color left, wash in the chlorine bleach while ensuring the bleach is safe for fabric. For further cleaning, apply dry cleaning solvent on the back to let the stain be absorbed by paper towels.

Can Wood Stain be Removed?

Wood stain can easily be removed, but you have to hurry as soon as you get it. There are tons of methods to get the stain out. Start with clearing away the varnish using the chemical stripper. In that case, some of the stains will be left there. Then you can sand away the thin layer from the wood surface to remove the most stain. Since it’s permanent, you may not be able to remove it perfectly. Still, there’s a lot you can try, and this is one of the most effective ways.

Does Vinegar Remove Wood Stains from Clothes?

Yes, vinegar will remove wood stain from clothes. Pour some vinegar on the stained area and use a stiff brush to get the stains out. It will take a few minutes to remove the wood stain. Even after brushing, pouring vinegar doesn’t take the wood stain out; try oxalic acid. You can remove the stain by bleaching the stained area with oxalic acid.

However, distilled vinegar works efficiently in removing the stains from the clothes. Also, it’s the most inexpensive and gentle way to rub one the fabric without affecting the clothes’ quality and color. Yellow vinegar not only precisely removes the wood stains but also brightens up the white clothes. So, we can conclude that it’s one of the most effective and inexpensive ways to remove wood stains from clothes.

How Do You Get Oil-Based Stain Out of Clothes?

Baking soda, mineral spirit, and alcohol are the most effective products in getting the oil-based stain out of the clothes. First, apply dish soap and then rub with baking soda for stubborn stains. Then soak into hot water, wash, and air dry. Last, you can soak in the bleach and water mixture.

When it comes to mineral spirit, dab it on the stain and apply the mineral spirit using a white, clean, and dry cloth. Last, when removing the oil-based stain using alcohol, apply the alcohol until the stain gets wet and let the alcohol break down the oil in a few minutes. Finally, you can run the area with bar soap.

Does Acetone Remove Wood Stain?

Acetone is a colorless chemical solution that is used as an organic solvent. It removes the stain even when you’re done with finishing. However, you may also go through sanding and then apply acetone. It’s another ideal way to get the wood stain out without affecting the material’s quality or color.

How Do You Remove Wood Stain Without Sanding?

A fine-grade steel-wool pad with a paint stripper is a good option to remove wood stain without sanding. Rub it against the wood until the stain comes off. Further, you can wipe off the stain with a rag. However, sanding is often used and the most recommended method, but you always have the second choice, and a steel-wool pad with a paint stripper is the second most effective way to remove the wood stain.

How to Strip Stain From Wood: Furniture Repair Tips

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Will Vinegar Damage Wood Stain?

Vinegar is the best wood cleaner because it doesn’t affect the wood finish whatsoever. That’s why it’s the first choice of many DIYers, woodworkers, and carpenters in removing the stain without affecting the wood. Even for clothes, it doesn’t affect the quality or color either. Make sure you leave the vinegar for at least 15 minutes to let it do the job, or you may not get the efficient cleaning.

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Kevin Nelson

I will always have a special place in my heart for woodworking. I have such fond memories working on projects with my parents on the weekends in the garage growing up. We built tables, shelves, a backyard shed, 10' base for a water slide into the pool, 2 story fort playhouse with a fire pole, and so much more. This woodworking blog allows me to write helpful articles so others can enjoy woodworking as much as we have.

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