Restoring finish on wood table

MeredithMan · 10-09-2023, 10:09 AM

We have a wood dining table that (mostly) has a nice finish. Recently, my daughter thought she was "helping" by wiping the table down with Lysol all-purpose cleaner with bleach. Now there is this dull film where she wiped it in a circular motion, as well as spray marks from where it was sprayed but not wiped.

A google search seems to indicate hitting it with rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball. I've tried that in a small area and several cotton balls later I'm not sure if it's made a difference, (still filmy...perhaps not as much), but the cotton balls definitely were grimy after rubbing them on the table.

Am I SOL on the finish of the table, or are there other products that might help restore it?

Appreciate any insight anyone might have.

Descant · 10-09-2023, 10:27 AM

Somebody set a bunch of wet glasses on our mahogany table leaving water mark rings. Rubbed them out with mayonnaise per an advice column in the Old Farmers Almanac. Worked fine, not much rubbing. As you mention, try an out of sight spot first.

John Mercier · 10-09-2023, 11:16 AM

The mayo theory is that the oil in the mayo displaces the water. Oil and water don't mix, and water/oil mixtures result in the oil on the bottom and water floating to the top.

She damaged the varnish. Using the alcohol strips away a little bit of the varnish until you reach basically wood. You should be able to refinish with a varnish just following the directions on the can.

10-09-2023, 10:09 AM	#1
MeredithMan Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Bedford, NH; Meredith, NH Posts: 956 Thanks: 263 Thanked 816 Times in 334 Posts	Restoring finish on wood table We have a wood dining table that (mostly) has a nice finish. Recently, my daughter thought she was "helping" by wiping the table down with Lysol all-purpose cleaner with bleach. Now there is this dull film where she wiped it in a circular motion, as well as spray marks from where it was sprayed but not wiped. A google search seems to indicate hitting it with rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball. I've tried that in a small area and several cotton balls later I'm not sure if it's made a difference, (still filmy...perhaps not as much), but the cotton balls definitely were grimy after rubbing them on the table. Am I SOL on the finish of the table, or are there other products that might help restore it? Appreciate any insight anyone might have.

10-09-2023, 10:27 AM	#2
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,383 Thanks: 1,354 Thanked 1,629 Times in 1,061 Posts	Somebody set a bunch of wet glasses on our mahogany table leaving water mark rings. Rubbed them out with mayonnaise per an advice column in the Old Farmers Almanac. Worked fine, not much rubbing. As you mention, try an out of sight spot first.

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MeredithMan (10-09-2023)

10-09-2023, 11:16 AM	#3
John Mercier Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 3,424 Thanks: 3 Thanked 600 Times in 496 Posts	The mayo theory is that the oil in the mayo displaces the water. Oil and water don't mix, and water/oil mixtures result in the oil on the bottom and water floating to the top. She damaged the varnish. Using the alcohol strips away a little bit of the varnish until you reach basically wood. You should be able to refinish with a varnish just following the directions on the can.