Learn how to get rid of those pesky heat stains on your wood table once and for all!
A couple of years ago I set down a hot dish on our dining room table. Even though I used a hot pad the dish was hot enough it caused some terrible heat stains in the wood.
It looked just awful, but there was nothing that I could do to fix the heat stain.
Over the last couple of years, I have tried multiple different tricks without any luck. I tried the toothpaste trick, the mayonnaise trick, and the iron trick.
The iron trick actually made the heat stain even worse.
I finally just gave up on being able to fix the heat stain and instead used a table runner to cover the faded spot.
Recently, I finally found the best way to remove heat stains from wood. I was so thrilled with the difference that it made. I couldn't wait to share this with you guys!
This little trick isn't just for wooden tables, but can be used on any wood furniture.
What You'll Need
How to Remove Heat Stains From Wooden Tables
Just as a preface, you can see the photo below of what my table looked like before using the heat stain remover.
STEP 1: Carefully remove the cloth from the packaging. You may find that there is a little bit of a smell and the cloth feels sort of sticky.
Pro Tip: It comes in a resealable so you can reuse it over and over. So don't throw it away!
STEP 2: Gently rub the cloth over the heat stain in a circular motion for 1 minute.
After one minute, if the stain is still there, repeat once more. This time using a little more pressure. Rub until the stain disappears.
After that, the heat stain will slowly start to disappear over the next minute or two. My stain fully disappeared after about 2 minutes of rubbing it. I am amazed at the difference that it made. Check out the spot after using the watermark remover cloth.
I am happy I no longer need to use a table runner to hide my heat stains. If you are dealing with heat stains on wood furniture, I highly recommend this easy tip.
It's simple and cheap. Plus, you can use the cloth again and again. If you have watermark stains, it says it works for that too, although I don't have any water stains right now, so I can't confirm it.
Are There Other Ways to Remove Heat Stains From Wood?
I have heard about other tricks such as a DIY mixture using toothpaste and using an iron. However, I haven't tried those and found this method to be super easy and very cheap!
Common FAQs
White stains on wood tables are often caused by moisture trapped in the wood's finish or by heat damage.
Here are a few common causes of white stains on wood:
Water rings: Water rings occur when moisture penetrates the finish of the wood and leaves a white mark. This can happen from placing a wet glass directly on the table surface.
Heat damage: Hot dishes, mugs, or other objects placed directly on the table can cause white marks known as heat stains. These stains are caused by the moisture and heat reacting with the wood's finish.
Wax or polish buildup: Using certain cleaning products or applying too much wax or polish can lead to a cloudy, white residue on the wood surface.
Mold or mildew: If the white stains have a fuzzy or powdery appearance and are accompanied by a musty odor, it could be a sign of mold or mildew growth. In this case, it's important to address the underlying moisture issue and consider using a mold and mildew cleaner specifically formulated for wood surfaces.
Terri says
Thank you for your advice on how to remove heat stains...and maybe water stains too with 'Guardsman water mark remover', but as you are an American site and I live in France, can I buy this produce on the Amazon site?
Julie says
Yes, you should be able to follow the link to buy this on Amazon.
Joyce says
Glad to hear about this product. I have had great success removing water spots with just a clean cloth and a steam iron with followup of a tiny bit of olive oil. Completely removed large water stains on both a piece where the mark was decades old and on a another piece with a more recent stain. Both completely gone and it cost zero.
Julie says
Thank you for sharing! I have heard that a cloth and steam iron will work, but I had no such luck. I am not sure whether the finish is what makes a difference or what. Hopefully, if the product doesn't work for some people maybe the steam iron will. Thanks!