How to Remove a Stain From My Wood Table

A stain on your favorite wood table can be a real eyesore, especially when the stain is painfully noticeable. Hot items like coffee pots and tea cups, and even water spills that are left to sit on the varnished surface of the wood, can leave rings and cloudy white stains that seem impossible to remove. But a steam iron can be very effective in removing even the toughest surface stains, and the steam will not remove the finish.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Steam iron
• Several soft cloths
• Furniture polish

1. Fill a steam iron's reservoir with water. Plug it in and allow it to heat fully at its highest setting.

2. Wipe the table down with a damp cloth to remove any dust or residue and dry thoroughly with a second cloth. Dry the surface of the table well, removing all of the moisture.

3. Hold the iron approximately 3 to 4 inches above the stain. The iron should never touch the surface of the wood table. Push the steam button and allow the heat from the iron and the steam to penetrate the wood for about 20 seconds.

4. Remove the iron and wipe the table with a soft cloth. If the stain has not yet wiped away, hover the steam iron over it again, and wipe with the cloth afterward. Continue the process until the stain has completely disappeared.

5. Wipe the table dry with another clean cloth, and apply a coat of furniture polish.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are hesitant about holding an iron so close to your table, add a layer of protection in between. Laying a soft cloth over the stain, and applying the heat and steam of the iron to the cloth instead, can be just as effective. Use trivets, coasters and other proactive measures to avoid future staining.
• The steam iron method of removing stains is only effective in removing surface stains. Deep down stains that are from chemical spills or acetone must be buffed away with a fine-grit sand paper, down to the bare wood. The sanding will remove the stain, exposing the raw wood which can then be stained and varnished.

Resources

• Steam irons
• Trivets
• Coasters