How to remove gray heat spots from a table top

Peg
by Peg
There are gray heat spots on my dining table that I would like to remove. They were probably caused by hot bowls of food set on it.
  16 answers
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Mar 17, 2016
    Try rubbing the spot with mayo and a soft rag or any other oily substance in your home.
  • Patti Ann Rogers Patti Ann Rogers on Mar 17, 2016
    This has happened to me and when I searched online I found that taking Vaseline and smearing it thickly on the gray or white heat spots and leaving it overnight worked in removing the spots. It's worth a shot right?
  • Fuchsiafairy Fuchsiafairy on Mar 17, 2016
    My grandmother used to put mayo on the table and rub it off. Always worked!
  • Kini Kini on Mar 17, 2016
    This worked for me. Olive oil and salt paste. The salt will help absorb any moisture and the oil will help the wood. If that doesn't do it then try very fine steel wool. Lightly sanding with the grain and wipe down with WD-40
  • Pat whitmus Pat whitmus on Mar 18, 2016
    I've used rubbing alcohol in the past and it works on some of those if not all.
  • Jos3456843 Jos3456843 on Mar 18, 2016
    Donna Kinney Trufant, MI This worked on my newly refinished table. Place a white cloth over the white areas and put a hot iron on it for about 30 seconds. Experiment with the time and iron temp. Cleared it up completely.
  • Deanna.Turetski Deanna.Turetski on Mar 18, 2016
    I have never tried this, but I was told that if you make a paste out of cigarette ash and water and rub on the spot it should disappear. This is an old wife's tale but was told it works!
  • Cheryl Toth-Nickerson Cheryl Toth-Nickerson on Mar 18, 2016
    white toothpaste will remove the spots/rings. Apply a thin coat to area and GENTLY rub it with a soft cloth. Works every time.
  • Saskie Saskie on Mar 18, 2016
    An iron on medium heat with the steam turned off and a double layer of white paper towel. Place paper towel over spot, place iron over towel and move iron back and forth for a few seconds. Lift paper towel and check to see if the ring has disappeared, iron until mark is gone, being careful not to scorch the paper towel.
  • Lise Lise on Mar 18, 2016
    I've used salad dressing or mayo and rubbed the spot with a clean soft rag, it could be a facecloth, that'll work! I know that it works because I had the same problem when a guest had spilled a liquid on my wooden table. Even if she thought all the liquid was wiped off, some was missed under some of the items left on the table. So, I was shocked to find the white discoloration after clearing off the table! Don't be afraid to put a fair amount on the stain and let it set for about 15 minutes and then give it a good scrub, until the stain is gone. Then use furniture polish to finish. It would be nice to know if it worked for those that tried it!
  • Flossie Flossie on Mar 18, 2016
    Use the iron method, this works a treat. Good luck
  • CK CK on Mar 18, 2016
    I too have used the steam iron method on a rather large damaged area of a vintage buffet. To my surprise, it worked great! If you search YouTube for "remove heat and water stains from wood" you'll see many links.
  • Tessa Tessa on Mar 21, 2016
    Believe it or not...a Mr. Clean Magic Sponge! I had a heat stain on my kitchen table; wet the sponge, rubbed it around on the stain - gone!
  • Peg Peg on Mar 22, 2016
    DO NOT use alcohol. Takes the varnish off table top!
  • Vicky Vicky on Mar 22, 2016
    Tried all of these. None worked
  • Mot4302287 Mot4302287 on Mar 22, 2016
    Mix a little ash with veggi oil ,rub on ,when wipe off.