Removing White Heat Marks From Your Table Top

The table actually had white marks when we got it. The lady we bought it from said that was why she was selling it. I didn't mind because I was already planning on refinishing it anyway. We got the table and chairs for $125. Bargain!

The white marks you see here have arrived over a long period of time. I get to the point where I hate looking at them and then I do the magic trick! I found this idea way back when on Pinterest and it has worked each time.

That big circle mark there is what pushed me to making the spots disappear this time and I thought I'd document it and share it with you in case you needed to know how to magically remove white heat spots from your table. To repair these white marks, all you will need is an iron that has a steam setting and a smooth kitchen towel.

These pots are created by sitting hot items on the table. Yes, I do use pot holders, but sometimes if the item is hot enough and sits there long enough, it makes the mark due to the steamy condensation that builds up in the top layer of finish that is old and breaking down on our table. The finish on our table is wearing very thin from all the use and the heat marks happen more often now. Ironically enough, you also use hot, moist heat to fix them!

You want to use a towel that is pretty much smooth so you don't give the top layer of your finish any texture while trying to repair your white marks. The towel I'm using has been washed to death and is going on thread bare and I now use it for things like this. I've read that you can also use an old t-shirt or wax paper but this old towel is what works best for me each time.

• Step 1 - Fill your iron with distilled water and set to a medium setting.

• Step 2 - Lay the towel over the white mark and "iron" using slow continuous motions, don't just hold the iron still over the spot, keep moving. It will take just a few minutes to work, so keep checking often to see if the spot has disappeared.

Totally gone now! The very first time I tried this, I was amazed it actually worked. It's magical!

You can still see some very light spots on there but like I said, the finish on the table is wearing thin and it really needs to be refinished. For now, this method works for me one more time until it warms up enough to be out in the shop!

I've recently read that you can also use a hair dryer to remove the marks too, I might try that next time to see if it will work.

Have you ever removed white heat marks from your table before? What is your method? Let me know! :)

Visit our blog by clicking right here for more before and after pictures and also more of my Spring cleaning tips.