the ring nobody wishes for! how to avoid + how to fix
So you just bought a new car, and you park it as defensively as possible to avoid receiving that first ding. Ever so painful! Well, the same worries arise when buying a new piece of beautiful wood furniture. The thought of a guest with a drink and the angst of a white ring on your table top! The most obvious defensive move is to set thick drink coasters on the table and make it a rule for everyone to use them.
I love the drink coasters available at Coco Blanca not only because they are beautiful, but they are thick enough to keep liquids from seeping through to the bottom layer of the coaster. My favorite is the set of four coasters featuring Paris circa 1733 in a neutral color tone. The cork backing makes them sturdy and will protect your furniture while the surface is moisture and heat resistant to 225 degrees and easily wipes clean. Now that’s some kind of defensive driving for any party guest!
If, however, your guest is having too good of a time and happens not to use your coasters, there is hope in saving both your friendship and that beautiful piece of furniture. Here are six tips on how to buff out those water rings left by sweating beverages, each using simple household products:
Salt: Mix 1 teaspoon salt with a few drops of water to form a paste. Gently rub the paste onto the ring with a soft both or sponge and work it over the spot until it’s gone. Then follow with furniture polish to restore the luster of your wood.
Vinegar & Olive Oil: Mix equal parts vinegar and olive oil and apply it with a soft cloth while moving with the wood grain. Use another clean, soft cloth to shine it up.
Toothpaste: Gently rub some non-gel toothpaste on the wood with a soft cloth, like an old cotton undershirt. Then wipe it off with a damp cloth and let it dry before applying furniture polish. If it’s a stubborn stain, try even stronger cleaning power by mixing equal parts white toothpaste and baking soda. Rub the paste parallel to the wood grain, wipe it off, and then polish with lemon oil.
Mayonnaise: Cover the stain with a generous smear of mayonnaise. Let it sit from an hour to overnight. Wipe off the mayonnaise and polish with furniture oil.
Baking Soda: Make a paste of one tablespoon baking soda and one teaspoon water. Gently rub the spot in a circular motion until it disappears, but be sure not to use too much water!
Petroleum Jelly: Apply petroleum jelly and let it sit overnight. The next morning, wipe the watermark away with the jelly.
- About the boutique
Using the soothing color palette of a coconut by the sea—whites, neutrals and splashes of turquoise—Coco Blanca has created a trademark look. Her lifestyle boutique offers expert solutions for home design and women’s fashion—blending a clean, fresh, sophisticated, feel-good style.
210 South Union Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
703.535.8002
2 Comments
will this work on older pre-existing water marks also?
so helpful!!