How to get rid of white marks on table

If the white stains were caused by heat or moisture, e.g., iron, hot dish or wet glass, try this inexpensive fix using common materials found in the home. Supplies to remove white stains and watermarks from wood furniture:

Table of Contents Show

What causes white marks on wood table?
How do you remove white haze from wood?
How do you remove white watermarks from a wood table?

Toothpaste (no gels)
Baking Soda
Soft Cloth (2)
Water
Olive or some other kind of cooking oil.

Instructions to Remove White Wood Stains:

Advertisement Thank You

Squirt a little white toothpaste on your hand or in a small, shallow dish. If you have one mark, use a pea size dab. Use more if you have many blemishes.
Sprinkle about 1/4 teaspoon baking soda (for each stain) on top of the toothpaste and mix.
Dab a baby wipe or moist cloth into the goop and gently rub the stain back and forth. Make sure to rub in the direction of the grain.
Rinse with a clean, moist cloth and refresh the cloth until all residue of the baking soda and toothpaste is gone. Do not drench your furniture.
Finish with a dab of olive oil (any cooking oil with do) on a moist cloth, again wiping in the direction of the grain of the wood.

Why does toothpaste and baking soda work?

First of all, the finish on the wood is probably thin or wearing out and is not repelling moisture. Moisture gets into the waxy top layer and sits there, causing the white stain. New stains can be heated to release the moisture (see iron method below). Older stains may require an abrasive to open the area up a bit. Toothpaste is a mild abrasive and is thick enough to make rubbing it on easy and a cinch to clean up. Baking soda is also abrasive and adds another level of strength to the solution without being too harsh. Just make sure not to rub too long or too hard with any material to prevent damage to your furniture. Short, gentle sessions work best. Depending the age of the piece, consider refinishing it to prevent white marks in the future.

[adrotate banner=”15″]

Other options:

Disclaimer: I am not a furniture care professional and cannot be held responsible for damaged furniture as a result of the proper or improper use of this method. Please do not send me the bill to replace your 1970’s yellow oak coffee table. Thank you 🙂

Plain white toothpaste
Ashes
Mayonnaise (It’s oily and may help but haven’t used it.)
Warm iron through a towel, t-shirt or wax paper. It helps remove condensation. If you give this a shot use the iron on a low setting. Keep the iron moving for 10 to 15 seconds and repeat 3 times.
Baking soda and water.
Salt and water (Seems too abrasive to me – I have not tried this.)
Oil or petroleum jelly. (I tried this and it didn’t take out the white stains.)
“Magic” eraser blocks (These pads work by sanding down the surface just slightly and although I think they correct issues on painted surfaces very well I’m not a fan of this method for white rings on wood.)
Hair dryer – Heat the area about 6″ away and rub with a moist cloth until the stain disappears. Keep the hairdryer moving.

[adrotate banner=”14″]

Check out our new Stock Tank Pool! It was SO EASY to set up. We didn’t even drill holes in the side for the pump!

Please follow and like us:

TAGS
home remedies

Previous articleHow to Compost Acorns

Next articleHow to Make Watermelon Pickles

Cindy Rajhel

https://homegrownfun.com

Cindy Rajhel started Home Grown Fun in 2010 to share fun, peculiar and interesting things related to gardening, nature, home and travel. She volunteered hundreds of hours creating elementary school gardens from scratch, and continues to EXPLORE, EXPERIMENT and INSPIRE through inventive posts and fun, downloadable books and guides.

What causes white marks on wood table?

hazy white stains are caused by moisture trapped between the finish on your table, and the wood itself. They are caused by water or condensation sitting directly on the wood. For example, condensation dripping off ice-cold water glasses, or hot food plates resting on the table.

How do you remove white haze from wood?

Buff the surface lightly and evenly with No. 0000 steel wool dipped in linseed oil. Work with the grain of the wood, rubbing evenly on the entire surface, until the white haze disappears. Then wipe the wood clean with a soft cloth, apply two coats of hard furniture wax, and buff the surface to a shine.

How do you remove white watermarks from a wood table?

In a small bowl, mix equal parts vinegar and olive oil. Apply the mixture to the water stain using a cloth. Wipe in the direction of the wood grain until the stain is gone. The vinegar will help remove the stain while the olive oil acts as a furniture polish.