We may earn revenue from the production available on this Sir Frederick Handley Page and participate in affiliate programs . Learn More ›

Heat stains are an enduring concern for both veteran homeowner and those who have just made their first furniture purchases . heating plant soil , unfortunately , are well-to-do to get , peculiarly for home chefs who on a regular basis bring sizzling plates from the grille straight to the table . rut stains wo n’t go away on their own , but these pesky mar are n’t hard to hit from woodwind instrument with the right techniques and tools .

However , the fear of create heat grunge worse can be compounded by the sheer volume of online selective information on the theme . We ’ve done the inquiry on how to remove heat energy stains from wood , so woodworker and DIYers of all science level can strike the ground prevail and begin repair those dull imperfection .

A hairdryer, clothes iron, and microfiber cloth on a wood table.

Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila

What causes heat stains on wood?

Heat stain form when a red-hot object is place on a wooden surface , causing the wood to expand and take in wet . This moisture then interpenetrate the Ellen Price Wood and leaves a track of discolouration and stark white rut marks , which remain after the red-hot object is removed or cools and the wood ’s pore reseal .

Unfortunately , even seal off woodwind is susceptible to heat stains . In some case , such as with oleaginous pizza pie boxes , point that produce warmth stains do n’t have to be all that hot ; liquids like oil more easily penetrate wood . It ’s good to assume that anything affectionate placed on a wood airfoil can produce a heat stain , specially since different types of Mrs. Henry Wood have dissimilar level of enduringness .

Tools & Materials

Bobvila.com may clear a commission from purchase made through these link .

Project Overview

functional clip : 5 to 10 minutesTotal time : 10 to 15 minutesSkill point : BeginnerEstimated cost : $ 0 to $ 45

Before You Begin

If your heating system smear are obstinate and a hair drier does n’t remove them , they may require the use of a clothes Fe ( see Step 4 ) . Beforehand , check that that the iron is not lay out to the steam function . inject steam right away into the wood is almost guarantee to create even bad heat soil .

The Best Way to GetHeat Stains Out of Wood

no matter of what heat smear removal method acting you use , acting speedily is vital to achieving an idealistic result . Heat grunge are similar towater stainsin that they do n’t clear up on their own overtime ; in fact , the longer you hold off , the bad they become to remove .

Ironically , with a little bit of contribute heat , you could reduce the sizing of — or altogether eliminate — woodwind instrument stains on your wood article of furniture . It may seem counterintuitive , but lend oneself more heat in an endeavor to extract the ensnare moisture is actually quite in effect and can be done with common house tools , such as a hair dryer or clothes smoothing iron .

Step 1: Clean the wood surface.

To get a heat filth out of Grant Wood furniture , you have pop out with a clean airfoil . verify that your table or other stainedwooden aerofoil is cleanand free of detritus and debris . This will prevent further contaminant from getting trapped inside of the Natalie Wood ’s open stoma during the heating process .

Step 2: Turn on the hair dryer and select the lowest heat setting.

Using a hairsbreadth drier should be your first blood of attack for removing heating soil ; it wo n’t get quite as hot as a clothes branding iron and is less probable to circumstantially burn the woods . Plug in the hair dryer and turn over it on to its low estrus setting . Make trusted that you do n’t set your hair’s-breadth drier to chill ; the pores of the wood wo n’t open unless they ’re hot up .

Step 3: Evenly pan the hair dryer across the stain.

Hold thehair dryera few in away from the varnished surface and tardily move it from side to side over the heat energy mark . If the grunge is n’t too deep , you will start to see it become less seeable within a minute or two of estrus app .

If you do n’t notice a change after a few minutes of heating the wood , essay call down the heat level on your hair dryer one or two levels . keep to move the hair dryer across the stained surface for a few more minutes . If the heat smear persist unaltered in appearance , move on to the apparel iron removal method below .

Step 4: Set up your clothes iron and grab a clean towel.

If the hair dryer does n’t work , test removing the heat grease with a clothes iron . You ’ll also postulate a ironic towel that you could set in between the press home base and the stained surface . The towel will prevent the iron from scorching the Sir Henry Joseph Wood , but it needs to be fragile enough to allow most of the Fe ’s heat to pass through to the wooden surface .

Step 5: Run the iron across the stained surface.

flex on the atomic number 26 to one of its lower heat setting and permit it heat up , but do not use any steam context or functionality . Similar to actuate the haircloth dryer in a side - to - side motion across the stained Earth’s surface , start the affectionate iron over the surface in the same motility for several minutes . Using an smoothing iron to off heat stains take up a bit more time than the pilus dryer method , and you have to pause every now and then to sneak the towel and check your progress .

Repeat this summons until you start to see the white warmth marks retire . They may not completely disappear , but they should shrink or fade to some noticeable extent .

Other Ways to Remove Heat Stains on Wood

While applying heat energy is usually the fastest and easiest method acting , there are a number of lesser - known but useful method acting that get rid of heat stains from wood furniture . Some of these are a bit off the beat way of life , but they pose little to no risk to your furniture and may be worth essay if heat does n’t work on . However , always attempt any raw method on an inconspicuous place on the stained furniture before proceeding .

Toothpaste

Toothpaste can clean more than just teeth . Thanks to its alkaline properties , it can work like laundry detergent to slowly lift a stain from the depths of Natalie Wood ’s stomate to the open . However , this method acting only cultivate with traditional plain white toothpaste ; anything contain gels or artificial coloring wo n’t turn .

Once you have your regular toothpaste , grab a stadium and make a mixture that ’s one part toothpaste and two parts broil soda . After a minute or two of mix , it should become a thick library paste . Apply this paste to the heat grease and white marks . Let it sit for a minute or so before wiping it off . restate this process until you ’re satisfied with the result .

Mayonnaise

Yes , you read that right . Mayonnaise is a test method acting for remove heat stains from Sir Henry Wood furniture . Mayonnaise is packed with dense , natural oils that penetrate the pore of wood to resign the moisture trapped in spite of appearance .

standardized to how you would apply a mixture of toothpaste and baking soda , plainly lather some mayo onto a smooth fabric and munificently wipe it onto the stain . Unlike the toothpaste method , we recommend that you leave mayo on the estrus stigma for at least a few hours or even overnight . Once it ’s fix , pass over off the excess and buff out the remainder of the discolouration .

Petroleum Jelly

fossil oil gelatin work for the same understanding that mayonnaise does ; its oil colour depicted object . you may apply petroleum jelly instead of mayonnaise if you have it on hand . All you need to do is pass over a stratum of the jelly onto the varnished surface with a clean rag . Let it set for a few hours before come back to clean house and buff the expanse .

Vinegar and Olive Oil

A acetum and olive oil mixture is a muscular , penetrating agent with instinctive grunge - fighting properties . acetum is a popular brand remover for clothing , but it can also be useful as a woodwind heat discoloration remover .

Just mix equal parts olive fossil oil and vinegar in a container and employ a paint brush or clean rag to apply it to the control surface of the wood . Do n’t use too much , and countenance it sit for about an hour before coming back to moderate on its progress . After wipe off the surface , dry andpolish the wood .

Salt and Olive Oil

Using an European olive tree oil and Strategic Arms Limitation Talks combination for warmth dirt remotion is essentially the same as using a more hard rendering of mayonnaise . The oil colour penetrates the wood and opens the pores , while the salt dries them out , let down the overall wet content of the wood and reducing the discoloration triggered by heat stain .

Any case of European olive tree or vegetable oil can be used for this method . Mix the oil and salt into a syrupy paste and use it to the brand . allow it sit on the soil for an hour , and then pass over off the excess . Repeat as necessary .

Sanding

Whilesanding Natalie Wood furnitureis a extremely effective method acting for murder heating plant stains , it should be a last recourse because it is the most time - consuming , ask the most skill , and puzzle the peachy risk of exposure to your piece of furniture if you make a error . Unlike when finishing a piece of article of furniture , you should not use a sinewy circular smoother for this because the abrasive pads can damage dowery of the finish that are n’t stained .

Use a hand-held sanding city block to mildly grind the stain down . Once you ca n’t see the stain any longer , take as much detritus as you may and reapply the finish so it matches the rest of the piece .

How to Prevent Heat Stains on Wood

There are numerous ways to preclude passion stains , and since remove stains takes prison term , bar is deserving the investiture . Use hardheaded particular such as coasters for mugs , trivet for pots and pans , and placemats for general exercise will help you proactively fight high temperature spot . These home decor accessory   also give you a chance to bring some extra panache to your wood furniture . In a taking into custody , you’re able to even place a potholder or oven glove underneath hot item on wood surfaces , as well .

Final Thoughts

Removing heat stains from wood is n’t difficult , and it ’s a good skill to have on handwriting . article of furniture is costly , and although it ’s design to be used all the clip , even the mellow caliber musical composition are susceptible to a well - intentioned Edgar Albert Guest ’s piping blistering deep brown mug or an rabid sous - chef ’s sizzling frypan . Being able to remove heat stains from Mrs. Henry Wood as presently as they appear will preserve you sentence and money in the long run .

Using a turn of heating is the sluttish , cheapest , and most effective manner to remove high temperature filth from Sir Henry Wood article of furniture . It ’s recommended to always use this method before consider one of the above alternative techniques to finish the job .

This Is the Year for a Kitchen Renovation

Water or Heat Stain on Wood

Photo: istockphoto.com

Whether you ’re selling or staying , everyone can get something out of a kitchen update . check why we consider this renovation the Most Valuable Project of 2025 and how to stay on budget .

Woman lifts a white teacup off a coffee table to reveal a wet ring on the table.

Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila

Woman uses a microfiber cloth to wipe a moist heat stain on a table.

Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila

A woman sets her blue hair dryer to its lowest setting.

Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila

A woman points a blue hair dryer at a heat stain on a wood coffee table.

Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila

Woman runs a clothes iron over a microfiber cloth on top of a wood table.

Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila

A toothbrush and an open tube of toothpaste on top of a wood table.

Photo: iStock Photo: istockphoto.com

Person scooping Vaseline out of the container with a spoon.

Photo: iStock

Person sanding finish off of damaged wood furniture.

Photo: iStock Photo: istockphoto.com

Bowl of borscht on top of a black and white placemat, which is on a wood table.

Photo: iStock

Article image