Antique end table

Question

I have a antique mahognay end table that I got in a yard sale. It's beautiful or shall I say it was beautiful until my boy friend put some thing hot on it. Now it has white spots where ever the coffee cup went and a plate for breakfast. I love this old table and it was in good shape. It's a two teir, with the top being a cabinet and gold leaf pattern around it. 
can any one suggest how to get the white off. I am asumming it's the old varnish or wax, I do not want to re finish it. Thanks

Molly Evans · Answer

Try wiping it with denatured alcohol -- you get it at Home Depot or Lowe's. Then you might rub on some Howard's Restor-a-Finish in Mahogany and follow up with Howard's Feed-N-Wax. I'm not a rep for Howard's or anything! I just use it alot! It's a very nice line of product. http://www.howardproducts.com/ This is the process I would and have done myself for water rings on antique furniture I'm not inclined to strip and refinish.

Rachel · Answer

Try buffing the areas with a little bit of mayonnaise (weird, I know). It might take a few tries. If that doesn't work, try some furniture polish like Old English scratch cover. I've used that on my dark coffee table and it definitely made a difference.

Cheryl · Answer

thanks all, I'll give it a try

NanaWells · Answer

Mayonnaise or toothpaste works very well I have tried both

Gail lichtsinn · Answer

Those spots are caused by moisture which forms under the coating..Try putting some peanut butter on the places the rings are..let it sit for a while and rub it off..Toothpaste has a mild abrasive in it which will give you vulnerable spots you cant see..The old furniture was coated with either shellac or usually varnish..If its shellac and you use alchohol it will melt the shellac..Try oil first even vegetable oil but peanut butter will color it a little bit.

Cheryl · Answer

I heard that steam will take out the white spots on my table, does any one know how true this is? UTube has a woman put down a towel and then hit it with steam from her iron, the white spot went away. Has any one tried this?

Gail lichtsinn · Answer

all i can say is that if it is veeneer youll loosen the glue and i would try steam as a very last resort..You are most likely dealing with shellac or varnish if its an antique..Why dont you call a few antique dealers and ask..

Cheryl · Answer

thank you, I do not think it's veeneer, looks pretty solid to me and the lady I bought it from told me she had it for many years and was only getting rid of it because she wanted newer furniture. So I gave it what I thought was a good home. I've had other pieces do this and a dresser I just pulled off all the varnish after awhile, but I think to do this to this beautiful table would be wrong. Thanks again for all your suggestions

Antique end table

Suggested Project Book

15 Magazine Worthy Side Tables That Only Look Expensive

Other

More

Antique end table

Suggested Project Book