I damaged my solid oak kitchen table

[LuckyO]

It's Thanksgiving in Canada and I spent all day cooking. I was running out of counter space so I set a cooked casserole on my oak kitchen table. It had been out of the oven for some time and though warm, it was not hot.
Nevertheless, an hour later when I removed it, I found a white circle on the wood which I can not get rid of.
Any ideas?

[barbszy]

I wonder if the problem is just on the "finish" and not the wood itself.
Have you tried using a paste wax on the table?

[RobertaD]

It sounds like your white ring is smiliar to a wet cup ring on the wood. Some things that I remember people saying that work to remove a white ring from wood are using a plain paste toothpaste and rub in a circle. Another is using a cut lemon and gently rubbing salt on the ring in a circle.

You will want to make sure you rub in a good polish after having cleaned the table.

If those don't work you might have to strip the table top and refinsh. And next time put down a hot pad on the table.

Roberta

[LuckyO]

Thanks Barb and Roberta!
You both have great ideas and will give them a shot (before my husband shoots me!)

[goldeagle1]

I've also heard about the toothpaste method -- even though I've never tried it myself. Whatever you try, if you have any leftover ring try one of the furniture marker/pens. They usually come in a set of 4 colors and work pretty well. You use the marker in the closest color to your table and do several light coats. I was able to save a scratched wood desk chair with this method. Good luck!

[MKS]

I've also heard to rub it with peanut butter. I would try the peanut butter & the paste before trying the lemon & salt.

[Melanie]

I know it's going to sound crazy, but I also heard that mayonnaise works! Rub it in the white mark. Another idea: olive oil.

Good luck!
~Melanie

[Pag36]

Not crazy Melanie I too have heard of it just had forgotten it.

[Pippe]

Hi - I have used a slightly different method with success on some of my wood furniture with the dreaded water circle. I take several pieces of walnuts and gently with my fingertips mash them into the water spot until they are fairly pulverized. Walnuts have a lot of oil and the skin and meat of the nut act as a gentle abrasive (the idea behind the toothpaste). Rub it in for a few minutes and then add about a tablespoon on mayonaise into it mixing it together with the nut paste. I usually cover it with a dish towel and leave it there for a while and go do something else. When I come back I wipe it off and use some furniture polish to clean & restore. If there is still some of the ring left I repeat the nut mixture and leave longer (overnight is fine).
Good luck!

Pippe