White marks on varnished furniture

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White marks on varnished furniture

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sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Tue Sep 06, 11 12:42 pm Post subject: White marks on varnished furniture

I've just had a heroic effort and have excavated the dining table from under a mountain of clutter so we can eat like civilized beings rather than always balancing plates on our laps.

Its one of those 1950s dark wood folding type tables that belonged to my grandmother, in itself nothing special but nice and solid. However, over the years its aqcuired many white marks on the varnished tabletop, mostly cup-rings but also some bigger blotches.

I know in the longrun stripping it back and repolishing is the answer, but thats not likely to happen in the near future. Are there any quick fixes that will improve the marks a bit?

Went

Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 6968

Posted: Tue Sep 06, 11 1:40 pm Post subject:

I used this method on a table we bought from Ebay some years ago - it worked spectacularly well but is a bit dangerous so be warned....

This was on an oak table. Ammonia on a cloth - literally hold the cloth over the mark a few millimetres above it and the watermark / ring just lifts out - if persistent gently and quickly touch the mark - worked for us but plenty of ventilation and I really don't need to tell you how dangerous ammonia is....

There are lots of other cures including cig ash, meths, re polish etc but this was the most effective method I have ever known - let me know how you get on if you try it.

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Tue Sep 06, 11 1:57 pm Post subject:
I have ammonia, will give that a go!

alice

Joined: 18 Feb 2006
Posts: 2820

Posted: Tue Sep 06, 11 3:50 pm Post subject:
Failing that, I've used the cigarette ash method and it reduced the marks a bit. I think your table is probably french polished rather than simply varnished.

derbyshiredowser

Joined: 11 Feb 2007
Posts: 980
Location: derbyshire

Posted: Tue Sep 06, 11 7:41 pm Post subject:
We used to use warmed Oxalic acid on water marks on our varnished wooden boat, very effective but best done outdoors

madmonk

Joined: 08 May 2006
Posts: 835

Posted: Tue Sep 06, 11 8:19 pm Post subject:
Pour on a thin layer of methelated spirits, set fire to it watch the white marks disappear then quickly put out the meths. before it melts the polish.

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