How to Remove Heat Stains from Wooden Furniture: These 5 Simple Methods Can Help You

Wood furniture is so beautiful! It creates a warm and inviting atmosphere in any kitchen or living room. However, when it comes to durability and maintenance, wood is not the best material and is susceptible to stains of all kinds – wine stains, water stains, oil stains, etc. Now, heat stains are one of those problems that you may think unsolvable, but you’d be wrong. It is not that difficult to remove heat stains from wooden furniture, and we shall tell you how to do it!

Can You Remove Heat Stains from Wooden Furniture?

Heat stains appear on wooden surfaces from placing hot items on them. And not only from pans and pots that you placed on the countertop or the kitchen table, but also on nightstands, dressers, and coffee tables in the living room – because of hot mugs. These stains are really irritating; they look very unaesthetic, and many people believe that they are impossible to get rid of. Luckily, there are different methods to remove heat stains from wooden furniture, so before you reach for the sanding machine, it doesn’t hurt trying one of them.

Attention! Whichever method you choose, try it out on a small area of furniture first. Make sure that the method works, and then proceed with treating the whole heat stain.

What Causes Heat Stains on Wood Furniture and How to Prevent Them?

We all know that prevention is the best protection, and this rule is valid even when we talk about stains. Placing a hot object on wood results in a heat stain because the wood expands. Wood absorbs moisture, and once it has expanded, it penetrates deeper, leaving white heat stains. Unfortunately, these stains do not disappear even after you remove the hot pan or mug. You’d ask if sealed wood is susceptible to heat stains. Yes, it is. Obviously, it will be wise to try to prevent the appearance of stains on our wood furniture. Using coasters, placemats, wooden boards, or even a mitten placed underneath a hot pot is simply common sense and will keep your beautiful countertop or dining table from being damaged.

Important! Treat the stains as soon as possible. The longer a heat stain remains untreated, the harder it is to get rid of it. Before you start treating heat stains on wood, always clean the surface from dust, debris, grease, food particles, or any other dirt. It is not advisable to try any of these methods if there are scratches on the countertop or table. Some of the methods include the use of oil-based products, and you may cause more damage than good.

Also read: How to Successfully Remove Water Stains from Wood: 8 Methods That Work!

Removing Heat Stains from Wooden Furniture with Mayonnaise

Removing heat stains from wooden furniture with mayonnaise may sound quite exotic, but this is a very good method. If the stain is fresh, you can eliminate it with the help of ordinary mayonnaise, which will soften and absorb it. Here’s how to do it:

• Apply a layer of mayonnaise to the stained spot.
• Leave this mayonnaise layer on the wooden surface for 40-50 minutes.
• Remove the layer gently with a cloth and polish the damaged place.

Also read: How to clean wooden utensils? The simplest tricks and the mistakes you should never make!

The Hair Dryer Method

Is applying more heat an effective method? Does it really work? Yes, you can make heat stains on wood surfaces disappear by treating them with a hair dryer or an iron. Just follow these instructions:

• Clean the surface from dust before you start removing the stain to prevent further damage.
• Turn the hairdryer to the lowest heat setting.
• Slowly move the hairdryer over the heat stain on the wood surface. Make sure to keep it a few inches away from the surface. The hot air will dry the pores of the wood, and after a few minutes, the stain should be less visible.

How to Remove Heat Stains from Wooden Furniture with Clothes Iron?

Using a clothes iron works on the same principle as the hair dryer: applying heat to close the pores of the wood. If you decide to use this method, make sure that your iron is not set on steam mode, as this may cause additional damage and worsen the stain. How this method works:

• Turn on the clothes iron to the lowest heat settings, if necessary, you may increase the heat afterward.
• Place a towel or a thick cloth on the heat stain to prevent accidental burns.
• Start ironing the cloth over the stain. Keep going for a few minutes, then lift the iron. Check the stain, and if necessary, repeat until the stain disappears.

Removing Heat Stains from Wood with Toothpaste and Baking Soda

Using toothpaste is another option that can help you get rid of a heat stain on wood. However, you should not use any toothpaste that contains coloring or gel, but simple white one. This is important because, as you already know, heat stains open wood’s pores and any coloring in the toothpaste can easily penetrate into the surface, which will cause a much bigger problem.

• In a bowl, mix toothpaste and baking soda in a 1:2 ratio.
• Mix well until you get a homogenous paste.
• Apply the paste to the heat stain and let it sit for 3-4 minutes, then wipe it off. If necessary, repeat the procedure.

Use Salt and Vegetable Oil Mixture

Using vegetable oil to remove heat stains on wooden surfaces follows the same principle as the mayonnaise method, but here, the salt works as the absorbing agent. What vegetable oil to use? Olive oil, sunflower oil, or any other oil will do. How to proceed?

• Mix oil and salt into a paste.
• Apply the paste to the stain and let it sit for an hour or an hour and a half.
• Wipe off the paste, and if necessary, repeat the procedure.

Also read: Get Permanent Marker Off Wood Table With These Expert Tricks!