Asked on Mar 01, 2012

Do anyone know how to remove a stain on a dark cherry wood dining room table?

M A
by M A
I place some hot food on a paper plate and placed it on the table. Now the table has white marks where the hot food was. How to I remove the stain without ruining the table. The table is dark cherry wood. (I think it is wood).
  26 answers
  • Madeline C Madeline C on Mar 01, 2012
    There is a product by JASCO called white ring remover. It works, but takes quite a bit of elbow grease (rubbing).
  • Catherine G Catherine G on Mar 03, 2012
    I just read on pinterest a home remedy. Take a hot iron and rub it over some cloth over the stain.
  • KMS Woodworks KMS Woodworks on Mar 04, 2012
    I would not use and Iron...it was heat that caused this ring in the first place. The jasco product works well, as well as the other "white ring removers" Homax is another commercial product. In the homemade arena Mayonnaise can do the trick too. For serious cases I have done some light sanding and "spot" refinishing. The ring is caused by ingrained moisture.
  • M A M A on Mar 04, 2012
    Yeah, I don't think I want to apply heat again. Where do I purchase this Jasco Product?
  • Madeline C Madeline C on Mar 04, 2012
    You can probably find it at any hardware store. You can also probably go to their website and call or email them to find out where to buy their product.
  • KMS Woodworks KMS Woodworks on Mar 04, 2012
    check your local hardware stores...sometimes specialty paint shops carry it as well. and of course you can find it online. http://www.amazon.com/OLD-White-Ring-Spot-Remover/dp/B0000CFM7M/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1330879166&sr=8-13
  • M A M A on Mar 04, 2012
    I'll try the Jasco product and let you know if it works. Wish me luck!!!!
  • Tammie W Tammie W on Mar 07, 2012
    I know this sounds crazy but I tried it on water stains on my antique furnature and it worked amazingly...worth a try. Take a clean cloth ( towel works best) and an iron ( clothes iron) heat the iron on a med/low dry setting. Lay the cloth over the stain and iron away. check it every 30 seconds to see if the stain lifts, if you see it starting to vanih...keep going til its gone....I hope this helps!! Let me know...
  • M A M A on Mar 08, 2012
    It's not exactly a stain. It is like the white marks are into the wood. I use my fingernail to scratch it and it disappear, but after a few minutes its still there.
  • Carolina Custom Garages Carolina Custom Garages on Mar 08, 2012
    I have heard the iron remedy works as well but haven't tried it myself. I think it has something to do w/ wax build-up on the surface?? I used to have a table that did the same thing.
  • Janet D Janet D on Mar 09, 2012
    You would have to strip down the whole piece and start from scratch. Find someone who refurbishes funiture and see what they say or Write to Ask this Old House. You can find there address on line I believe or in the This Old House Magazine which is very interesting. Hope this helps.
  • M A M A on Mar 10, 2012
    that seems like a lot of work for just a small spot on the table. But thanks.
  • KMS Woodworks KMS Woodworks on Mar 10, 2012
    have you picked up the Jasco yet?
  • M A M A on Mar 11, 2012
    Went to Lowes and they did not have it. I went to Ace hardware and they did not have it. I will still check around or try to order it on line. I will let you know when I get it and try it out. Thanks.
  • Wendy M Wendy M on Mar 13, 2012
    Sounds crazy but take a little Mayonaise and rub it lightly on the stain.
  • M A M A on Mar 13, 2012
    Can I use Miracle Whip or does it have to be Mayo? I have ordered a product from Jasco Co called "Homax White Stain Remover" . It should arrive within 3-4 days.
  • M A M A on Mar 14, 2012
    I wanted to let you know that I recieved a product called "White Ring Remover by Homax Company. I tried it on the table and it worked very well. The white rings are gone. Thanks to all who gave advice. This product really works.
  • Madeline C Madeline C on Mar 14, 2012
    Glad it worked for you MA! As I said, it takes some 'elbow grease' but it does the job.
  • KMS Woodworks KMS Woodworks on Mar 15, 2012
    great to hear the ring is gone
  • Marina Fraser Marina Fraser on Feb 21, 2015
    if it just happened por salt on the stain let it sat and after afew minutes rub,.this really works
  • Elaine Elaine on May 11, 2015
    Just take a clean cloth (old sock is best), put some mayo (regular or lite, any brand) on the cloth and rub on in circles and remove. This may have to be repeated. GoodLuck.
  • Margaret Margaret on Sep 01, 2015
    I had the same thing happen I have used several things trying to remove it but I think it is wax from the paper plate. How would you remove that??
  • Florence Florence on Oct 08, 2018

    What do you do to remove dark rings from dining table ? I guess from hot plates. that's all I put on the table

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Nov 03, 2022

    You could try laying Brown paper on top of table and use a warm Iron to take out the damp.

  • Mogie Mogie on Nov 04, 2022

    1. Apply creamy peanut butter directly to the stain. You want a thin layer over the entire white area.
    2. Use the cloth to rub it into the wood like a polish. You may have to rub gently for a while, but eventually, the natural, mild abrasive in the peanut butter should allow the oil to work into the finish to replace the moisture and remove the white discoloration.
    3. When you finish, wipe the surface clean.
    4. Follow with a wood polish.


  • Donna Martin Donna Martin on Nov 11, 2023

    I spilled hand sanitizer on my cherry wood table it made a white stain. How can I remove it?

    • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Nov 11, 2023

      Put your question in the upper right corner of this page where it say

      Ask DIY Question.