How to Remove a Heat Stain From a Dining Room Table

Heat stains can create a white, milky smear on your wooden dining room table. Most people think that once the wood is damaged, it cannot be repaired. However, there are some instances in which the stain can be lightened or even erased. Often, it is the furniture polish that becomes discolored, and in these cases, you may be able to lighten or remove the stain.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Lemon juice
• Iron
• Cotton cloth
• Antibacterial, multisurface cleaner
• Furniture polish
• Cleaning rags

1. Rub the stain with lemon juice. Saturate a cloth and rub using circular motions and firm pressure. Many times, the citric acid will diminish the appearance of the heat mark.

2. Heat your iron. Set it to the "cotton setting," which is usually medium-high or high. Iron the table through two layers of cotton cloth. Lay the cloth flat on the table and iron firmly and repeatedly. Go over the cloths and the stained area at least 12 times. Then, check the stain to see how it looks. If it appears to be fading, then repeat the process. This can remove the stain completely. If it does, then you are ready to start polishing.

3. Clean the table with an antibacterial, multipurpose cleaner. This should remove the furniture polish from a wooden table. By removing the polish, you also will remove the white, milky stain.

4. Polish the table with plenty of furniture polish. Usually two coats will do it. The cleaner will have removed all the old polish, so depending on how you like your table to look, you may need to go heavy on the polish.

Tips & Warnings

• Lots of people swear by a combination of mayonnaise and ashes.

References

• A forum on removing heat stains from wood.
• Comprehensive guide to removing wood stains.