Asked on Apr 13, 2015

How do I remove white watermarks from wood furniture?

Alison
by Alison
I'm looking for a product to remove the white rings and stains left on wood furniture from when drinks were placed without coasters.
  13 answers
  • Plsdenver Plsdenver on Apr 13, 2015
    I just used Klean Strip Denatured Alcohol to remove the ring on my dining table. Some of the rings were very old. I bought it at Walmart in the paint department. I had tried paste wax, wood cleaners and toothpaste. This was so easy.
  • Jackie Gfeller Jackie Gfeller on Apr 13, 2015
    I have used a walnut meat to rub over the ring. It seems to replace the oils that enhance the color of the wood and fills the grain. Cheap to try, might work for you.
  • Tammie Stalnaker Tammie Stalnaker on Apr 13, 2015
    old school tootpaste
  • Clythe Greenwood Clythe Greenwood on Apr 14, 2015
    An old remedy not sure whether it will work with modern furniture finishes. Place a piece of brown paper over the mark and place a warm iron on the brown paper. Sounds crazy but it worked for me in the past....like 20 years ago !
    • Duv310660 Duv310660 on Apr 15, 2015
      @Clythe Greenwood Not crazy at all! Rings are moisture that has moved into the top layers of finish. Heat forces the moisture to move out, and dries the finish.
  • Karen Silbernagel Karen Silbernagel on Apr 14, 2015
    Most kinds oil will work. I have used a lemon peel also.
  • Sabina Philipsz Sabina Philipsz on Apr 14, 2015
    I agree with Clythe. It sounds crazy but I used the same technique a couple of times to remove white rings left by hot cups. The rings vanished completely. I placed a white pillowcase on top of the rings and ironed. It's best to apply heat slowly and keep checking the ring as you go. Use a medium heat setting. If your wood has varnish high heat could melt the varnish.
  • Steffany king Steffany king on Apr 14, 2015
    Blow dry the spot on your table
  • Lacey Lacey on Apr 14, 2015
    I've heard using a blow dryer works great. I've also heard about using walnuts to "color" off the stain works as well.
  • Darlyene Spann Darlyene Spann on Apr 14, 2015
    To remove white rings left by wet glasses on wood furniture, mix equal parts vinegar and olive oil and apply it with a soft cloth while moving with the wood grain. Use another clean, soft cloth to shine it up. To get white water rings off leather furniture, dab them with a sponge soaked in full-strength white vinegar.
  • Trudy Trudy on Apr 14, 2015
    I have heard you can cover it with mayonnaise and let it sit, may be even over night. Then just wipe off with a paper towel.
  • Linda Fraser Linda Fraser on Apr 14, 2015
    some say mayo will take it off
  • Eli mackewich Eli mackewich on Apr 14, 2015
    the problem is you will just get new ones, so the entire surface needs to have the wax build up ( that is what causes the white ring when it gets wet) Use Formby's furniture cleaner and extra fine steel wool and and get rid of the extra years of wax from cleaners, and etc. You will not have to resurface as it just melts the gunk which you get rid of with the steel wool. I do this to all my antiques pieces before I ever bring them into the house.
  • Alice Alice on Apr 15, 2015
    I have always used mayo. It w what my mother used