How to Remove Heat Stains From Wood: 7 Methods That Work

Hello, my friend, hello again; today we come together to talk about How to Remove Heat Stains From Wood: 7 Methods That Work and hope the blog can help you.

Follow one of these proven methods to remove heat stains and restore your furniture to its original glory.

Heat stains are an enduring concern for both seasoned homeowners and those who have just made their first furniture purchases. Heat stains, unfortunately, are easy to get, especially for home chefs who regularly bring sizzling plates from the grill straight to the table. Heat stains won’t go away on their own, but these pesky blemishes aren’t difficult to remove from wood with the right techniques and tools.

However, the fear of making heat stains worse can be compounded by the sheer volume of online information on the topic. We’ve done the research on how to remove heat stains from wood, so woodworkers and DIYers of all skill levels can hit the ground running and begin mending those irksome imperfections.

RELATED: 17 Types of Wood All DIYers Should Know

What causes heat stains on wood?

Heat stains form when a hot object is placed on a wooden surface, causing the wood to expand and absorb moisture. This moisture then penetrates the wood and leaves a trail of discoloration and stark white heat marks, which remain after the hot object is removed or cools and the wood’s pores reseal.

Unfortunately, even sealed wood is susceptible to heat stains. In some cases, such as with oily pizza boxes, items that create heat stains don’t have to be all that hot; liquids like oil more easily penetrate wood. It’s best to assume that anything warm placed on a wood surface can create a heat stain, especially since different types of wood have different levels of durability.

How to Get Heat Stains Out of Wood: The Best Method

Regardless of what heat stain removal method you use, acting quickly is critical to achieving an ideal result. Heat stains are similar to water stains in that they don’t clear up on their own overtime; in fact, the longer you wait, the tougher they become to remove.

Ironically, with a little bit of added heat, you can reduce the size of—or completely eliminate—wood stains on your wood furniture. It may seem counterintuitive, but applying more heat in an effort to extract the trapped moisture is actually quite effective and can be done with common household tools, such as a hair dryer or clothes iron.

Project Overview

Working Time: 5 to 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 to 15 minutes
Skill Level: Beginner
Estimated Cost: $0 to $45