A trace of water, ink from a pen, a dish placed on the table and it’s a disaster, your wooden furniture is stained… Fortunately, it’s not inevitable thanks to this powder that can work miracles. Here’s the lowdown.
There are many reasons why a wood surface can end up stained. A glass of water or wine that leaves a mark, a hot dish left unprotected and it’s a burn or a dark stain, a cleaner that’s a little too aggressive, like acetone, and it’s discoloration guaranteed…
So, to get rid of these marks, you’ve tried everything. Rubbing the stain with a cork, failure. Trying a mixture of toothpaste and baking soda, failure again. Sprinkling Fuller’s earth on the stain and leaving it to act for several hours or overnight to absorb the grease, then brushing gently, bitter failure. On the most stubborn stains, you’ve even soaked a cloth in 90°C alcohol or acetone and dabbed the stain until hoping it would disappear, in vain.
In short, you’re out of ideas. Specializing in second-hand furniture, tableware and decoration, Aurélie Friedmann aka @deraymondeazoe on Instagram, has shared her well-kept secret for removing stains on wood or brightening it. And it’s oxalic acid, better known as sorrel salt.
Here’s how to do it: Start by protecting your work surface with newspaper or an old cloth. Mix a small amount of sorrel salt with a little water to create a paste. Apply the paste directly to the stain using a soft brush or cloth. Let it sit for an hour. Rinse the surface with a damp cloth to remove all sorrel salt residue. Dry the wood immediately with a dry cloth to prevent further discoloration or damage.
Always make sure to test on an inconspicuous area before applying sorrel salt to visible surfaces, to ensure that it does not discolour or damage the wood. If the stains are stubborn, it may be a good idea to call in a professional. Note: the sorrel salt used by the influencer comes from the Spado brand, but you should know that you can buy sorrel salt in most DIY stores and online. For example, at Castorama, a 400g packet costs around €8.90. Prices can obviously vary slightly depending on the store and region.