You’re relaxing at home, maybe enjoying a drink or hosting friends, and then—oops—a little alcohol spills onto your beautiful wooden table or floor. 

It happens to the best of us. One second you’re having a great time, and the next, you’re staring at an unsightly stain wondering, “Now what?”   

Don’t sweat it. Alcohol stains on wood might seem like a big deal, but they’re actually pretty easy to fix with the right approach. You don’t need fancy tools or expensive products - just a few simple household items and a bit of patience.

In this guide, I’ll show you how to get rid of an alcohol stain on wood step by step.

#1 Remove The Excess Alcohol

First things first: you don’t want the alcohol to soak in any deeper. 

Grab a clean cloth or paper towel and gently blot the area. Just press lightly to absorb any excess alcohol. Don’t rub it in – that could spread the stain or push the alcohol into the wood. 

The goal here is to stop it from doing more damage.

Once you’ve soaked up most of the liquid, take a second to inspect the stain. You’ll likely notice it’s still there, but that’s okay. You’ve just laid the groundwork to fix it.

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#2 Apply Some Cooking Oil

Next up, grab some oil – and don’t worry, it’s probably something you already have in your kitchen!

You can use olive oil, coconut oil, grapeseed oil, or really any type that you have lying around. The important thing is the oiliness, not the brand.

Take a clean, soft cloth and dip the corner into the oil. You don’t need a ton, so make sure to rub the cloth on a paper towel or another cloth to remove any excess oil. Now, gently rub that oily corner over the stained area in small circular motions. 

Keep dipping the cloth in oil as needed and continue rubbing until the stain starts to fade away. 

Be patient here—it might take a few minutes, but the stain should eventually disappear!

#3 Rinse And Dry The Area

Once the stain is completely gone, you’ll want to clean up the oil. 

Take a fresh cloth, dip it in cold water (don’t use hot water, as that could damage the wood), and gently wipe the area. This helps remove the remaining oil. 

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Afterward, grab a dry cloth and pat the area dry.

If there’s still a bit of oil left, feel free to repeat the process until the surface is clean. This step is super important to make sure the wood doesn’t stay greasy and keeps its natural look. 

Once it’s dry, you’re good to go!

#4 Polish The Wood

Now that the stain is starting to fade, it's time to polish the wood and bring back that beautiful shine. 

Use a good wood polish or even a little furniture wax. Use a soft cloth to buff the polish into the wood. Again, small circular motions work best. 

Once you’re done, step back and admire your handiwork.  Your wood should look pretty close to how it did before the spill happened. Not bad for a few minutes of effort, right?

Not only will this restore the luster of your wood, but it’ll also help protect it in the future. 

Other Ways To Get Rid Of Alcohol Stain On Wood

If you’re still dealing with the stain, or if you want to try a different approach, don’t worry. There are a couple of other simple methods that can help get rid of alcohol stains on wood:

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Vinegar And Water

Vinegar isn’t just for salad dressings; it’s a great cleaner, too! 

Mixing vinegar with water creates a natural solution that can work wonders on alcohol stains. 

All you need to do is combine one part white vinegar with two parts water. Stir it up, and then dip a cloth into the solution. Gently wipe the stained area, being careful not to soak the wood.

Vinegar helps break down the stain without being too harsh on the wood. 

Once you’ve wiped it down, make sure to dry the area completely. If needed, you can follow up with some oil or polish to bring back the shine.

Baking Soda Paste

Baking soda is another awesome household item that can help with alcohol stains. 

To use this, mix a little bit of baking soda with water to create a thick paste. Apply the paste to the stained area, but be sure to rub gently. You don’t want to scratch the wood. 

Let the paste sit for a few minutes and then wipe it away with a damp cloth.

The baking soda will gently lift the stain, and the paste can help even out the wood's finish. 

Once done, wipe off any leftover paste, dry the wood, and finish up with some polish to restore its shine.

Bottom Line

And that’s it! Alcohol stains on wood don’t have to be a big problem if you know what to do.

Start by blotting up the excess liquid, then move on to applying oil, rinsing, drying, and polishing. If that doesn’t work, you’ve got options like vinegar and water or a baking soda paste.

The key is to stay calm and tackle the problem as soon as you notice it. Fresh stains are always easier to deal with than ones that have been sitting around for days. 

And remember, wood is resilient. With a little TLC, it can bounce back from just about anything.