How do I remove the white heat marks on my dining room table?

I have so many white marks on my wooden dining table from hot dishes or coffee mugs. I’m looking to either remove the marks or refinish the table so that it doesn’t happen anymore.
This is the table in question :)
  11 answers
  • Equal parts olive oil and vinegar and rub into the wood. I've also heard mayonnaise works.

  • Lrs30851832 Lrs30851832 on Jan 04, 2018

    Ashes from a cigarette or fireplace. Use with a damp paper towel.

  • Keely Locke Schumacher Keely Locke Schumacher on Jan 04, 2018

    Take some lemon oil, in a pinch you can use mayonnaise (not fat free) or olive oil. apply on the marks and let sit. Then wipe it off and buff the table with a soft cloth. It should lessen or remove the white marks. If they are severe you may have to leave it on overnight.

  • Dav32306392 Dav32306392 on Jan 04, 2018

    Yes I used veg oil on my cupboard worked well for me

  • Cathy Cathy on Jan 05, 2018

    I have used 1/2 cup oil(any) with 4 tablespoons of salt. The oil acts as a lubricant and the salt acts as an abrasive.


  • Please don't scrub that nice table with salt. It'll seriously f**k up the finish🤤. But ya, mayo works great

  • Lisa S. Lisa S. on Jan 05, 2018

    I have used Howard's Restore -A- Finish for such problems and the marks disappear. Available at hard ware or Home depot stores for about $9.00 a can. Comes in a variety of colors. Wear gloves. Wipe on the area with a soft cloth. Rub in direction of the wood grain. Wipe off with a 2nd soft cloth, until it is clean. Then polish with your favorite polish. Will take off white spots, cover scratches and such.

  • Kim Kim on Jan 05, 2018

    To be honest, I have tried all the above and the results were sporadic. The thing that works best for me is a blow dryer. Yes, a blow dryer. It will take some time, but it does work. The white marks come from the heat from cups, pizza boxes, platters etc. trapping moisture in the finish of the table top. The blow dryer directed at the spot will dry out the moisture. This takes a LONG time as each spot is done individually and some spots are denser than others. Have patience, it does work.

  • Vec21870748 Vec21870748 on Jan 05, 2018

    Use a hot steam iron with a clean dry cotton cloth. Iron with the cloth between the table and the iron. White heat marks are gone. You can follow up with 50% white vinegar and 50% olive oil mixture to clean and preserve the wood table top.

  • Jea7012721 Jea7012721 on Jan 06, 2018

    I have had quite good results ( removing old stains from a rather nice victorian inlaid wooden tray) with a paste made from cigarette ashe and water Friends saved up a good lot of the ashe, and it took some elbow grease, results worth it though!

  • Kmc29692972 Kmc29692972 on Jan 07, 2018

    1/2 and 1/2 baking soda and mayo. Make a paste and rub in circles until the mark is gone. Works on all kinds of wood. Used it on my cherry dining table several times.