Wooden worktop by sink with water staining - any way to revive?

Question

Getting closer and close to our son being a home owner.

In the kitchen there is a nice wood worktop which has turned black around the sink. Yes, it was a rental property. Looks like a wood block work surface and far to good for a rental. Light colour.

Anyway, once the wood has been soaked long term and turned black is there much that can be done to revive it?

Have a picture. .

My current thought is that it could be sanded down and then the whole worktop stained in a much darker colour.

I assume that it could be cut out past the sink and another piece of matching worktop biscuit jointed in but that could be complicated, I've never done it, and there are tiles and stuff involved as well.

Painting the worktop in white gloss seems a bit extreme! Time for some sticky backed plastic?

As a short term measure I assume that some sanding and treating with oil might stop it getting any worse.

Suggestions welcome.

Cheers

Dave R

spuorgelgoog · Accepted Answer

You might be lucky and be able to sand the muck out, but bear in mind that will leave a depression and it is next to the sink.

A protective piece of stainless steel fitted over it might be the easiest temporary fix. Or route it out and inset a chopping board or trivety thing.

Owain

Peter Parry · Answer

Yes - Oxalic Acid .  Wash several times with a solution of Oxalic Acid will remove the black and  restore the colour.

John Rumm · Answer

Give it a scrub with soap and water to get any surface dirt off. Then strip the adjacent finish, and give it a light sanding. Have a look to see what staining is left then.

Next treat the stains with some oxalic acid dissolved in warm water. Apply, leave it to dry and then wash with fresh clean water. Let it dry and look again. Repeat if necessary. Finally a fine sanding again, and then refinish.

One of many examples of its use:

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John Rumm · Answer

Here is another better one:

Chris Holford · Answer

In article , David  writes Oxalic acid may lighten water stained wood.

Martin Brown · Answer

I think that might work. My guess would be iron tannin complexes formed in the wood have turned it black. Or nasty black/drak green bacteria algae - either way oxalic acid ought to be aggressive enough to zap it without doing too much damage to the wood.

Peroxide would be another option to try as a bleach if the stains are very stubborn but it might denature the wood.

RJH · Answer

Any suggested source? I see Wickes do Kilrock Bar Keepers Friend - would that be up to the job?

(I've a situation similar to the OP's - left a tin on the worktop, and it's somehow left a black imprint in the oak)

David · Answer

Stainless could be an attractive option if the Oxalic Acid doesn't do the  trick. Thanks to all for the suggestions. Cheers Dave R

David · Answer

Oxalic Acid is available on Amazon.

Next question is how much I would need!

It isn't expensive, but probably not something to have lying about for many years.

100 grams be enough?

Something like perhaps?

Cheers

Dave R

John Rumm · Answer

Probably - if you look at the way he uses it in the videos I posted, a  scoop of it is usually enough.

David · Answer

Just priced 600*300mm in 1.2mm brushed SS. £80. Ouch.

Wooden worktop by sink with water staining - any way to revive?

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