How To Get White Heat Marks Off Wood Table

Nobody wants to deal with those awful white heat stains. These marks are caused by the pores of the wood expanding and taking in moisture when something hot is placed on them. As a result, we’re left with horrible white heat stains that we just want to cover up. 

You don’t have to do that, though! Believe it or not, there are some easy methods you can use to get rid of these white heat marks, and you can do it yourself, at home. If you want to find out how, keep reading and try the methods outlined below!

How To Get Rid Of White Heat Marks

Method 1  – Iron Them Out

This one might sound strange, but it works! Chances are, you don’t want to leave a hot iron sitting on your already heat-damaged wooden table – we get it! Instead, get a clean cotton cloth to put between the iron and the table. 

Let’s take a look at the steps you can take for using this method to get rid of those pesky markings:

1. Thoroughly clean the table using a mild detergent that is wood-safe
2. Dry the table fully. You don’t want any water on there when you do this!
3. Get a clean cotton cloth or towel. Make sure the cloth isn’t too thick, or there won’t be enough heat reaching the table.
4. Place the towel over the marks on the table.
5. Get an iron and put it on high heat. Make sure the setting is dry.
6. Once the iron has heated up, place it on the towel, directly on top of the stain. Allow the iron to sit there for a minute, then turn the steam on.
7. Leave the iron to sit there for another minute.
8. When you remove the (now damp) towel, the stains should be gone!
9. Make sure you wipe away any moisture that is left on the table, or else you’ll have to do it all over again! You can even use a little olive oil on the table to act as a nice sealant. It will give your table some extra shine, too!

Caution – This method may not work for all types of woods or finishes. In some cases, adding heat and steam may even worsen the issue.

If your wood is exotic or has some particular type of finish, do some additional research on this method for your specific situation or try a different method. 

Method 2 – Mayo it Up

You never thought you would willingly paste mayonnaise on your wooden table, right? This option is much less dangerous than the one outlined above and poses little threat to your table (or yourself).

For this method, you will be wiping mayonnaise (or something else with high oil content) over the white heat mark. 

Let’s go through the method down below:

1. Clean your table thoroughly and dry it
2. Get a clean cloth or rag, and carefully dish out some mayonnaise onto the white heat mark on the table.
3. Make sure you have enough mayonnaise to get the job done – it doesn’t have to be a lot, but avoid using too little.
4. Allow the mayonnaise to sit on the table for a couple of hours–or overnight for the best results. The mayo needs time to finish the job, so don’t be impatient! 
5. In the morning (or a few hours later), get the clean cloth and simply wipe the mayo off. You might need to buff out the remnants of the stain if there is anything visible. 
6. You can finish off by giving the table a wipe-down and applying a thin layer of olive oil for some extra shine and protection.

NOTE: This method also works well with things like petroleum jelly. Feel free to test it out using petroleum jelly if you think you’re going to need that mayo for your lunch sandwich!

Method 3 – Get It Minty Fresh With Toothpaste

Finally, you can also use toothpaste to eliminate those white heat marks! Is it stranger to use mayonnaise or toothpaste?

Either way, this method works well for those pesky stains that don’t want to budge. If you wonder why toothpaste even works to get rid of these stains, it’s because of its alkaline properties.

For this method, you will want to get basic toothpaste–with nothing fancy in it. The simpler the toothpaste, the better. Find something that doesn’t have any extra colors or flavors – you want the basic stuff. Make sure there is no gel in it, or else all your hard work will be for nothing. 

Let’s take a look at the method below:

1. Get your base bones toothpaste and a bowl. 
2. Add toothpaste and baking soda to the bowl at a ratio of 1:2. This should create a thick paste.
3. When you’ve mixed the thick paste together, smother it onto the heat-damaged wood. 
4. Be sure to only get the toothpaste mixture on the damaged parts of the table! If you spill it on other areas, the finish might be removed. 
5. Allow the baking soda and toothpaste to sit on the stained areas for only a minute or two. 
6. Once this time has passed, wipe the paste off carefully. 
7. You might need to repeat the process several times before the stain is no longer visible. Remember to keep the paste in only the damaged areas!

Final Thoughts

So, although the white heat stains are unsightly, you can get rid of them pretty easily. If you’ve tried any of the above methods, how did they work for you? Let us know in the comments!