For the most part, wood furniture is easy to maintain. We do, however, need to ensure that liquids are not spilled, because they can cause discoloration.

If you've ever spilled or dripped on wood, you may have noticed it turning white afterwards. This is a water mark. Many people think irreparable damage has been done to their furniture, but this isn't necessarily true. In many cases removing water marks from wood is easily corrected if one acts quickly enough.

As soon as the damage occurs, take a soft cloth and softly buff. Don't apply too much pressure as you don't want to work the water into the wood. Use just enough pressure to wipe the stain off the surface. If minor damage has been done, however, try buffing the stain with an oil-based furniture polish. Read the label to be sure the product can be used for this type of stain and with your particular finish.

A cloth diaper works best for polishing wood because it doesn't leave much lint behind. When rubbing the stain, do your best to go with the grain. Most importantly, nothing abrasive should be used to clean wood furniture.

For heavier cleaning, use a product containing oxalic acid. Many furniture restoration professionals sell these products and may even be able to help you select a product best suited for your needs. Oxalic acid is a wood bleach so be aware that once the water mark is removed, you'll probably have to refinish the piece. It might be a good idea to test any chemicals on a hidden spot, such as under a table or on the bottom of a chair leg to make sure no more damage will be incurred. If the damage is beyond that which surface cleaning can repair, you can sand the surface of the piece and refinish.

If chemicals and manual labor aren't your thing, here are a few home remedies:

• Apply a generous layer of mayonnaise onto the mark and leave over night. In the morning, wipe with a thick cotton cloth such as a cloth diaper.
• Polish the mark with toothpaste until it disappears. Be sure to use white toothpaste for this, not a gel.
• If there's a smoker in the house, rub the mark with cigar or cigarette ashes until it disappears.
• Rub a paste of baking soda and water into the stain. Leave overnight and wipe off in the morning with a cotton cloth.
• Before the stain has a chance to dry, blow a hot air hair dryer over it. With luck, the liquid will dry up before it has a chance to leave a mark.

If you have a messy accident on your wood furniture, don't panic. It's easy enough to clean. Who knows? You may even find some of your cleaning supplies in the fridge.