Water can be a formidable enemy for freshly sanded wood that has not yet received a finish. Drops of water, sweat, or wet feet can leave marks on the bare wood, lift the wood fibers, and make the surface more absorbent than normal.

To avoid these darker patches, it is important to sand with the same grit paper as used for the final sanding and to thoroughly clean the surface before applying the finish. This will minimize absorption of the stain or coloring oil and achieve a uniform finish.