I have a wood refinishing issue that needs attention:

The other night, we ended up placing a hot pizza box on our wood dining room table. I LOVE that table, by the way [this is an important fact that you'll need to refer back to in a few moments]....

Anway, upon removal of the pizza box, I noticed the white mark left by the steam. Ugh.

I went on line to find some remedies to the white mark. Some said to rub cigarette ashes into the area. Some said to rub mayonnaise into it. Some said to rub a halved raw walnut in to it.

I took my own advice. Another Ugh.

I had some nice smell-good essential oil (lemongrass scented), and I put maybe a tablespoon or two of the oil onto the water marks. I didn't rub it on or anything; I just let it sit on top of the wood. Big mistake.

When I went to the stain about 15 minutes later to rub the oil in with a gentle cloth, the finish on the table came up, too. :bawl:

The table was better before I effed with it. I'd rather have a water mark, than a jacked up finish there.

Anway, what is the best way to get myself out of this mess? I don't want to have to refinish the entire table, but it looks like that may be my next action. I LOVE that damn table, and I'm really ticked that I messed it up as badly as I did.

Any advice? :love:

You do know if he helps, he's going to refinish it in pink, dontchu...:eyebrow:

I have a wood refinishing issue that needs attention:

The other night, we ended up placing a hot pizza box on our wood dining room table. I LOVE that table, by the way [this is an important fact that you'll need to refer back to in a few moments]....

Anway, upon removal of the pizza box, I noticed the white mark left by the steam. Ugh.

I went on line to find some remedies to the white mark. Some said to rub cigarette ashes into the area. Some said to rub mayonnaise into it. Some said to rub a halved raw walnut in to it.

I took my own advice. Another Ugh.

I had some nice smell-good essential oil (lemongrass scented), and I put maybe a tablespoon or two of the oil onto the water marks. I didn't rub it on or anything; I just let it sit on top of the wood. Big mistake.

When I went to the stain about 15 minutes later to rub the oil in with a gentle cloth, the finish on the table came up, too. :bawl:

The table was better before I effed with it. I'd rather have a water mark, than a jacked up finish there.

Anway, what is the best way to get myself out of this mess? I don't want to have to refinish the entire table, but it looks like that may be my next action. I LOVE that damn table, and I'm really ticked that I messed it up as badly as I did.

Any advice? :love:

Use a men's undershirt...lay it on the white spot...run your iron over it..hot setting with steam.

I've done this and it works. :yay:

Use a men's undershirt...lay it on the white spot...run your iron over it..hot setting with steam.

I've done this and it works. :yay:
At this point, it's not the white spot that is the problem any more. It's the spot where I literally removed the original finish of the table. The essential oils stripped the finish on the spots where I applied it. It's like the oil "melted" the finish. :double waaaahhhhh: :bawl:

At this point, it's not the white spot that is the problem any more. It's the spot where I literally removed the original finish of the table. The essential oils stripped the finish on the spots where I applied it. It's like the oil "melted" the finish. :double waaaahhhhh: :bawl:

Oopsie...:huggy:

I accidentally spilled some of the oil out of one of those Febreeze plug in air fresheners on my desk, I grabbed a cloth to wipe it off, took a big chunk of the finish right off, thankfully it's under my keyboard on the little drawer that pulls out, so no one will really see it.

I have a wood refinishing issue that needs attention:

The other night, we ended up placing a hot pizza box on our wood dining room table. I LOVE that table, by the way [this is an important fact that you'll need to refer back to in a few moments]....

Anway, upon removal of the pizza box, I noticed the white mark left by the steam. Ugh.

I went on line to find some remedies to the white mark. Some said to rub cigarette ashes into the area. Some said to rub mayonnaise into it. Some said to rub a halved raw walnut in to it.

I took my own advice. Another Ugh.

I had some nice smell-good essential oil (lemongrass scented), and I put maybe a tablespoon or two of the oil onto the water marks. I didn't rub it on or anything; I just let it sit on top of the wood. Big mistake.

When I went to the stain about 15 minutes later to rub the oil in with a gentle cloth, the finish on the table came up, too. :bawl:

The table was better before I effed with it. I'd rather have a water mark, than a jacked up finish there.

Anway, what is the best way to get myself out of this mess? I don't want to have to refinish the entire table, but it looks like that may be my next action. I LOVE that damn table, and I'm really ticked that I messed it up as badly as I did.

Any advice? :love:
You can't make it worse at this point.

You may be able to feather the repair in without stripping the entire table if the stain of the wood did not get damaged. I would suggest a french polish. Not the easiest, but doable. I have seen it rescue bad finishes before.

French polish How To (http://www.refinishfurniture.com/french_polish.htm).

You may also be able to get by with lightly sanding the entire tabletop (220 grit wet/dry) then brushing on a couple of light coats of shellac (most likely the original finish on the table).

I would test whatever you do with a non-visible part of the table first (underside of top).

Time for a well-placed doily, BG... :frown:

You can't make it worse at this point.

You may be able to feather the repair in without stripping the entire table if the stain of the wood did not get damaged. I would suggest a french polish. Not the easiest, but doable. I have seen it rescue bad finishes before.

French polish How To (http://www.refinishfurniture.com/french_polish.htm).

You may also be able to get by with lightly sanding the entire tabletop (220 grit wet/dry) then brushing on a couple of light coats of shellac (most likely the original finish on the table).

I would test whatever you do with a non-visible part of the table first (underside of top).
:yeahthat: Exactly what I would try. If it doesn't work out, you're not really any worse off. You would just have to strip it all to refinish.

Thanks, huntr, for the great tip. I'll review the link to see if I can do the technique without too much trouble.

And MissKitty, I still may be calling on you for your expertise in getting this done. I don't know nuffin' about strippin' and stainin' a table.

And Kwillia, hush yo mouf. I was actually hoping that the stain removal mistake was on one of the leaves, so I could just remove it, and wallllllllaaaaaaaaah, no more stain. :yay:

:yeahthat: Exactly what I would try. If it doesn't work out, you're not really any worse off. You would just have to strip it all to refinish.


:killingme:love:

I did not read the link that huntr1 provided, but his comments are right on. One note, if you sand, be sure to use a tack cloth after the sanding and before any application. You can get it at Lowes, Wal-Mart, Dyson's and such and it's nothing more than a sticky piece of cheesecloth that will remove the dust of sanding. Also would not hurt to wipe it down with mineral spirits to help clean the surface.
Good luck.


You can't make it worse at this point.

You may be able to feather the repair in without stripping the entire table if the stain of the wood did not get damaged. I would suggest a french polish. Not the easiest, but doable. I have seen it rescue bad finishes before.

French polish How To (http://www.refinishfurniture.com/french_polish.htm).

You may also be able to get by with lightly sanding the entire tabletop (220 grit wet/dry) then brushing on a couple of light coats of shellac (most likely the original finish on the table).

I would test whatever you do with a non-visible part of the table first (underside of top).