Mysterious waterspot(?)

[Ellen Theisen]

I just found this ?waterspot? on my maple windowsill, and I have no idea what could have caused it. I'm pretty confident that there is no water leakage through the window. The finish is simply Profin, yet there is a hard edge to the dark stained area. Oddly, the worst part of the spot was exactly under the telephone and matches the outline.
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It's my 92-year old memory-fading mother's bedroom, so there might have been a spill that she can't remember, but still I can't figure out what would make a stain in the exact shape of the phone.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

[Ron Kellison]

From what I can see in the photo there is also a water stain in front of the phone location that abuts with the window sill, suggesting that the window is involved. Whatever water entered may have pooled around the phone. Could the window have been opened slightly during a rainy period? Perhaps wind blew in some water.

Regards,

Ron

[Kent A Bathurst]

The water stain extends to the left of the phone's location, it appears.

Some water got there, somehow. The window. A bit of a spill from a glass. Somehow. It pooled under the phone and was trapped there, and the stain was concentrated where the water was trapped.

I don't know what happened, but I know this for sure: It could not possibly have been the fault of your 92 year old mother. It simply is not allowed to assign the blame to her.

[Pat Barry]

First question: Is the bottom of the phone discolored, ie: corrosion on the metal base? That would help explain the dark coloration. Second : Does she have a cat? Our old cat has taken to pissing all over the place.

[Dell Littlefield]

Although you didn't ask, a little Oxalic acid would probably remove that stain.

[Brian Kincaid]

Condensation from the window pooled around the phone a drop at a time. Depends on the time of year.
-Brian

[Ellen Theisen]

Thanks for all your thoughts.

The phone sits on little hard rubber feet, and it isn't discolored at all. Puddling under the phone makes some sense, though it seems like it must be something other than water, since the window doesn't open, and it happened in a warm, dry spell. Not cat pee, I'm certain. It isn't about assigning blame, but just figuring it out. White wine, maybe?

Dell, though I didn't ask, I was wondering; this is helpful. Sanding didn't take it down as I thought it would.

Anyway, thanks again, all.

[Stew Hagerty]

I was in the window business and I've seen things just like this before.

When the temperature drops condensation can form on the inside of the window. Most will just stick there, but some of it can run down and onto the sill. Typically, since it is such a small amount, it will just evaporate and be gone. But, the phone sitting there slows the evaporation rate on the moisture under it. Apparently, long enough (with repeat exposure) to cause a water spot.

[Lee Schierer]

From where I sit, it appears that someone had a cup of tea or coffee, note the round stain just to the left of the phone cord. Some of the beverage got spilled and later the cup was removed, but the liquid was left to dry. I would try a damp cloth and see if the stain just wipes up.

[scott vroom]

The butler did it, or was it the upstairs maid?

[Michael Wildt]

I'm with Lee on that one except I think it could have been a flower vase. Maybe it was topped up and a spill occurred at that time.

[ian maybury]

+ on condensation being high up the suspect list. It's surprising how much water it can create...