The cloudiness on wooden tables occurs due to the buildup of the loose wax layer. The issue comes when you place hot or cold utensils directly on their surface. Moreover, the issue also comes due to entrapped moisture or steam in its finished layer.
How to Remove Cloudiness From a Wood Table? You can remove the cloudiness from the wood table using a mixture of vinegar and water, iron, commercial stain remover, toothpaste, dishwashing degreaser soaps, and petroleum jelly. In addition, you can also try a mixture of vinegar and olive oil, ammonia and water, vegetable-based enzymatic cleaner, cigarette ash, tea bags, and linseed oil.
Use the table runners, coasters, and placemats to put hot and cold utensils so they cannot damage the wax layer. Do not put water glass directly on the wood table because the entrapped moisture forms cloudy stains.
Use iron
You can use the iron if stains come due to moisture or steam. For example, white spots come on the table surface when you place a cold glass of water or beverage on it.
Remove the entrapped moisture with the heat of the iron. Do not directly place the iron on the wood surface because it can damage its furnished layer.
Take a clean white towel and make a thin layer of this towel on the affected area. Set the iron from low to medium heat and turn off the steamer because it can cause more damage.
Constantly move the iron and do not place it on one side because heat damages wooden furniture.
Vinegar and water
The hazy spots on the table also come due to the melting of the waxy and furnished layer. Use white vinegar to remove this damaged wax layer from your furniture.
The vinegar has mild abrasive or strong acidic properties that help remove this greasy layer.
Mix the water and vinegar in an equal ratio to make a homogenous liquid. Spray the liquid directly on the affected surface and rub it with a soft cloth.
You have to rub it carefully because aggressive rubbing can produce scratches on the wood table. Move the cloth gently toward the grain to avoid unnecessary marks.
Commercial stain removers
These commercial stain removals are suitable for removing all kinds of spots from the wood table, including watermarks.
These are also helpful in getting rid of heat, moisture, and cold hazy stains. However, you cannot use them directly on the affected area because these cause additional damage.
Conduct the patch test on the hidden area to ensure it does not damage your furniture. Spray this cleaner on the spotted surface and rub it with cloth toward the wood grain.
Wipe off the excess mixture with a dry cloth and apply wood finishing polish to restore shine after removing the dull layer.
Vinegar and olive oil
Vinegar and olive oil mixture is also known as lemon oil and home-based furniture polish. You have to mix both of these ingredients in 1:3, respectively.
It means you are taking 1 part of white vinegar or apple cider vinegar and mixing it with 3 portions of olive oil.
Vinegar is helpful in breakdown the greasy film, and olive oil acts as a moisturizer to darken the original finish.
Spray the mixture on the cloth and buff the wooden table with it. Rub the surface until the cloudiness disappears from the surface.
Petroleum jelly and Hair dryer
Petroleum jelly is essential to simply buff or darken the wood grains. It is not used to remove the damaged wax layer, but you can use it to clear water stains.
Apply the petroleum jelly to a hazy area and rub it with a cloth. I always use the hair dryer to clear the entrapped moisture.
The heat from the dryer absorbs the excessive moisture and makes it clear. The average time for these procedures is about 10 to 15 minutes and also depends on the extent of spots.
Ammonia and water
Ammonia has an acidic property, and you can get rid of cloudiness from the wood table by using it. Treat the damaged greasy film with a mixture of ammonia and water.
Take one portion of the ammonia solution and two portions of water to dilute the mixture. Avoid direct application of this solution on wood grains.
Spray the solution on the cloth and then buff the table with the cloth. You also have to use lemon oil as a moisturizer after applying ammonia because it has abrasive properties.
Toothpaste and degreasing dishwashing soap also work like this solution.
Vegetable-based enzymatic cleaner
Vegetable-based enzymatic cleaners contain chemicals that break down the bonds of the wax and help remove this damaged layer.
It is costly because you have to purchase them from the market, and their cost ranges from $10 to $20, depending on different brands.
Spray the enzymatic cleaner on the affected surface and then rub it gently in the direction of the wood grain to protect against any damage.
Wipe it off and see that cloudiness disappears from the table. Now polish the surface again and apply wax for sealing purposes.
Cigarette ash
Cigarette ash is a powdery material that helps remove white cloudy water marks from the wooden table.
It sucks the moisture from the finish and makes it smooth and clear. You can make a paste of cigarette ash by adding some drops of water.
Apply this paste on the water rings or hazy areas to absorb the excessive moisture. Leave it for a few hours, then wipe it with a dry cloth.
Apply the dry ash again if spots are still present, and repeat the above procedure.
Tea bags
Tea bags can remove the table’s dull and damaged waxy layer and reveal its original finish. The active ingredient in tea bags includes tannins that help remove this dull layer.
Its color is also beneficial to darken the wood and make them shiny again. Dip 2 to 3 tea bags in warm water and boil it until the color of the water becomes brownish black.
Boil the tea bags without any sweetener or flavor and allow them to cool. Dip the cloth in the water and now put this cloth in a cloudy area.
Leave it for a few minutes so tannins can react with the dull layer and break them.
Linseed oil
Remove the moisture spots and water rings by using linseed oil. The linseed oil polishes the wood and restores its shiny layer.
Apply the linseed oil with cotton wool to stain the wood after removing the wax layer. Rub the hazy area with cotton wool treated with linseed oil.
Cotton wool is mildly abrasive and breakdown the wax built up on the surface of the wood table. The linseed oil provides a new and fresh finish after removing the dull layer.
Mineral spirit
Mineral spirit is used to remove the old paint coat from your wood table. Sometimes the cloudiness is hard to remove, and these spots are larger.
You can use the mineral spirit to remove the old coat and furnish your table with a new layer of paint.
Purchase mineral sprite and buff the cloudy surface of the table with cloth dipped in mineral spirit.
Rinse the top surface with clean water to remove the residues of grease. Leave it to dry, and then add the polish of the new paint and seal it with wax.
Related Articles:
