Heat damage to wood finish

Debra Peters
by Debra Peters
My husband put a hot plate on the table which resulted is the pictured damage. I know there is an easy fix, I just can't remember. Can anyone help?
  16 answers
  • Jeanne Jeanne on Mar 16, 2014
    I know it sounds goofy but I have heard that mayonnaise will take off white stains. Try some and gently rub, with the wood grain, with "0000" grade steel wool. We use a product that's orange oil and bees wax that we get at Home Depot. Again, apply this product with steel wool and then buff with a soft cloth. Hope it works for you.
  • L L on Mar 16, 2014
    I have also heard of using mayo to the spot. Leave it on for several hours, and then wipe off, and apply a good furniture oil/wax.
  • Jill B Jill B on Mar 16, 2014
    Yup, was going to suggest mayo too.
  • Z Z on Mar 16, 2014
    Mayo is usually used for water rings from moisture from glass without a coaster, though sometimes there's moisture involved with a heat damage so it might work. I can't imagine it would hurt anything. Though I've never had the need to try this, it has been around for as long as I can remember, us plain old fashioned white toothpaste.
  • CC CC on Mar 16, 2014
    This happened to my oak table and I've tried mayo and every other trick...nothing has worked :(
  • Lindsay Jackson Lindsay Jackson on Mar 16, 2014
    I've heard cigarette ashes rubbed in... but that may be for watermarks, couldn't hurt to try though =\
  • The sealer on the top has melted from the heat. Only fix is to lightly sand the entire top and refinish with a new coat of poly. Anything else will only stand out as a repair. The color however was not hurt under the top coat so you should be fine once you reseal it. Just be careful not to sand the color away. Will not take much sanding to prep the surface. A red 3M pad should do the trick.
    • Gina Gina on Jul 01, 2020

      Not true. I’ve fixed mine with an iron. It was like a miracle. I’m trying to find the iron setting and time again because I keep having people who don’t know what hot pads it trivets are for. Help

  • Laurie G Laurie G on Mar 16, 2014
    lightly sand and brush on stain. It's the oniy thing that will fix it nicely. OR have Hubby buy you another one.
  • Bonnie Lewenza Bonnie Lewenza on Mar 17, 2014
    Get some walnuts and rub them into the wood, this really works. I don't know why the oil in the walnuts darken the color but give it a try.
  • Val Roche Val Roche on Mar 18, 2014
    This looks like the table I recently picked up at a garage sale . It has a cream top with dark grey wood-grain type painted lines . It is not laminate . Has also had the surface lifted by hot dishes . it has at some time or in manufacture been sealed the a clear seal . Unfortunately the some of the surface design has been worn off in a couple of places . So will need to completely resurface . Any ideas besides laminate .There's 6 chairs as well , to do.the paint is well worn .
    • Liliana Wells Liliana Wells on Mar 18, 2014
      @Val Roche Re-post your question by clicking on the red button above right where it says "Post & Ask" and you should get several answers. Good luck.
  • Debra Peters Debra Peters on Mar 19, 2014
    UPDATE - Did the mayo thing on my table since there was some moisture on the plate bottom when I picked it up. Used a paper towel and rubbed the mayo on the white spots and now if I look really hard, I can see some damage - ever so slight. I can live with that, for sure. Thanks for everyone's input - I love the Hometalk community!
  • Gail lichtsinn Gail lichtsinn on Mar 19, 2014
    mayonaise peanut butter also works because they have a high volume of oil..since there both thick it doesnt run like pure oil and you can let it set..
    • Debra Peters Debra Peters on Mar 20, 2014
      The mayo worked! With a bit more rubbing (5 minutes total?) All signs of the damage is GONE!! I'm happy, an so is hubby Cruz The next step was sanding and refinishing and THAT was going to be his job!
  • ConnieJoe ConnieJoe on Dec 31, 2014
    I recently purchased a product called Dutch Glow, Amish Wood cleaner. The white is build up of wax that has discolored, not the table. The results in using this product is amazing. I couldn't put the bottle down once I started!!! Old furniture became new and bright again. :-) Here's a link : https://www.dutchglow.com/index/?mid=5316279
  • Glenda D Glenda D on Jan 15, 2015
    @3 results are available, use up and down arrow keys to navigate.debra petersI don't know if it will help but try to rub in some mayonnaise and see if it takes care of it.
  • Anita shull Anita shull on Nov 03, 2016
    Haven't tried this but has anyone heard of mixing the mayo with don cigarette ashes(perish the thought) but I have heard this more than once I guess the ashes would provide a bit of abrasion to the mix. I am curious
  • Carolann Carolann on Nov 12, 2016
    You can also place a clean white cloth over the spot and set a steam iron to mild heat and gently run it across the cloth in the direction of the grain one or two passes then polish the table with regular furniture polish to finish.