Q. I have an unfinished mahogany door that has gotten water stains. How can I get rid of these stains before finishing?

A.Robert Sanders, an interior remodeling specialist in Pasadena, Calif., responds: Unfortunately, there’s no way to bleach out that stain. You’ll either have to sand down to new wood if possible, or try to match or mask the tone of the stained area with another stain or dye over the entire door.