Sep 04 2007
More White Stain Removal Tips For Wood Furniture
If the last tip for removing those pesky white water rings or steam marks from wood tables and furniture was a bit too aggressive for you, try one of the tips below:
- Mix 50/50 toothpaste and baking soda, rub into mark. Do not use gel toothpaste for this.
- Rub in a paste of salt and olive oil, allow to sit for up to an hour. Wipe off.
- Rub in Miracle Whip (Mayonnaise) and wipe off after an hour.
- Mix 50/50 vinegar and olive oil and rub into the watermark.
- Try straight toothpaste (non-gel). Rub into the stain then wipe off.
- Make a paste with baking soda and a few drops of water. Rub into stain then wipe off. You can also try salt instead of baking soda.
- Rub some vaseline (or other petroleum jelly) into the watermark and leave overnight. Wipe off in the morning.
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Posted in Cleaning Tips | 
( 11 )
22 Jan 2008 at 5:23 pm
I braved it and tried the iron with steam after setting down a bag with Chinese food in foam boxes on the table. It worked great and only took a few minutes.
25 Feb 2008 at 6:31 pm
I tried the iron/towel/steam technique on a wooden table with a similar problem as pictured. It resulted in an iron-shaped singe mark on the table. Not at all helpful. The only thing that fixed it was the olive oil and baking soda trick. Thank goodness that worked! Skip the irons and mayonnaise. Go straight for the olive oil and baking soda. The table is good as new.
25 Feb 2008 at 7:36 pm
tnb928 was it salt and olive oil or baking soda and olive oil that you used? I don’t see baking soda and olive oil on the list and I don’t know how much to use.
17 Mar 2008 at 5:37 pm
I just tried the steam iron with a terry cloth towel on a brand new table and a very old table. The white marks disappeared in an instant. Thanks for the tip.
07 Apr 2008 at 3:13 pm
Hi the toothpaste realy works, it takes a bit of scrubbing but they eventualy disapear.
27 Apr 2008 at 11:09 am
A new coffee maker’s steam left a white mark - actually a trail up the entire kitchen cabinet door. I tried everything from mayonaise and baking soda to salt and furniture oil, hair dryer and oil, etc. It makes no sense to me but what finally worked was a hot iron with steam on held about an inch away from the door. I would blast the steam and then rub the area with an oiled cloth (Old English). It took only a few minutes to erase the weeks of fret and worry over a ruined door. Thank you for the advice!
27 Apr 2008 at 8:18 pm
I’m glad it worked for you Byrd :), thanks for the feedback everyone!
18 May 2008 at 12:27 pm
Crest Regular Toothpaste worked perfectly.
Thanks.
08 Jun 2008 at 5:35 pm
My problem is a little different. I put an heirloom table scarf in the center of my new dark wood table. I then covered that with a sheet of clear plastic table cloth that I bought at W……. I left it on for several months and when I removed the clear plastic there had been a reaction between the table finish and the plastic because of the sunlight. I have tried lots of things like mayo, wd40, oil, goof off, etc. Nothing has worked…any ideas.
06 Jul 2008 at 9:35 pm
I have a black wood table that someone put a hot paper bowl onto– the bowl left a perfect white ring. I tried the iron trick — nothing. I tried the steam iron trick — that took the ring out but added much more staining in the surrounding area!!! I then tried the toothpaste trick — that worked, but maybe I rubbed a little too hard or something, but the finish on the table there looks a lot less shiny than the rest of the table, unfortunately.
13 Jul 2008 at 11:05 am
i have a highly varnished mahogany unit and my daughter actually ironed on it and it has left a massive white heat stain so how can using the thing that caused the stain work ??