No matter how many coasters you have, or how much thought you put in to placing them in convenient spots, there will always be someone who plonks their steaming hot cup of tea, coffee, or condensation-covered cold drink directly on your prized table or sideboard.
The resulting white ring is glaringly obvious and can be very upsetting if the furniture is expensive or sentimental. But don't worry, help is on its way with advice from the Good Housekeeping Institute.
Act quickly and your surface is more likely to be saved! But if you don't notice it until later there’s still a very good chance the mark will come out, follow these easy steps...
How to remove fresh marks
If the mark is less than two days old, set a hairdryer to warm (not hot!) and direct it at the marked area, move it around so the heat doesn’t damage the wood and as the moisture gradually evaporates, the mark should disappear.
Save roughened surfaces
Try gently smoothing roughened surfaces with very fine steel wool dipped in liquid wax polish working in the direction of the grain. Take extra care on veneer.
For smooth lacquered or varnished surfaces
Use a proprietary heat ring remover product such as Liberon Ring Remover or Guardsman Ring and Mark Remover Cloth following the instructions on the packaging.
Alternatively, go to your fridge and grab the mayonnaise. No, we’re not joking! Cover the mark with a generous smear of mayonnaise and leave for several hours or overnight. Wipe off with a clean cloth.
Braving blisters in veneer
You can sometimes flatten blisters by covering them with a thick cotton tea towel and holding a hot iron on the cloth for a minute or two to reactivate the glue. This may need to be done more than once.
If nothing works...
For valuable or sentimental furniture contact your local furniture restoration expert.
Must-have stain removers
Bicarbonate Of Soda
Astonish Oxy Active Non Bio Fabric Stain Remover
Dr. Beckmann Cosmetics & Nature Make-Up, Grass & Mud Stain Remover
No Nonsense White Spirit
