Water stain? Reach for the bleach.

Byline: Brian Nelson

Dear Henri: I have a handcrafted maple table that has no finish on it. Unfortunately, a vase on it had water that overflowed, staining the wood a green color. I believe it is too deep to remove with sandpaper.

A: If the table is a valuable antique, it is best to take it to a professional furniture restorer. Otherwise, try to remove the stain with chlorine bleach. First, apply the bleach full-strength to the stain, and then follow this by applying it immediately over the entire tabletop with a clean white cloth. This will prevent a bleached area where the stain used to be. If some of the stain remains after 20 minutes or so, apply more of the solution to the stain.

But if this does not remove the stain, try oxalic acid. Buy a small amount of the crystals in a paint store, dissolve them to saturation in very hot water in a glass container (never use metal with oxalic acid, a very caustic chemical) and apply the solution to the entire top as above.

Allow the solution to work for 20 minutes or so, and neutralize the acid by wiping the entire top with a solution made of a very small amount of ammonia (about one tablespoon) to a quart of water. Wipe the wood dry with a clean white towel and rinse the tabletop again with clean water. Dry it with a clean white towel.

Use rubber gloves and skin protection.

Any solution applied to the wood will cause the grain to raise slightly. Sand the tabletop lightly with fine sandpaper.

You should consider applying a sealer to the tabletop to prevent a recurrence.

Q: We are doing a renovation project that has used a lot of wood -- poplar for trim, sheets of bead board made from MDF on the walls, and lauan for ceilings.

Fairly large gaps have appeared in some of the seams (up to 1/8⅛inch in places) from the dry winter air.

We are now preparing this wood and trim for painting with latex paint.

What is the best technique for filling these gaps before painting, and when is the best time to do it?

A: I suggest you wait until the summer's humid air...