Everyone wants a perfect house. Perfect windows with perfect doors fronted by perfect little lawns and hedges; these are the things that every family wants to project. While it may seem shallow, how you project yourself to others is very important in order to maintain your reputation, almost as important as holding a high position in the company or having kids who have graduated with high honors in an Ivy League school. For this reason, every man and woman of the family will always make sure that everything is pristine and perfect, and this includes what’s inside the house.

Furnitures are a very important part of any house. They greatly lend to the whole atmosphere and setting. A good set of furnitures can instantly turn a living room into a zen-like minimalist masterpiece, or a cluttered and utterly tacky garage sale. It is even more impressive if you have antique furnitures. Nothing says class more than an aged three hundred year-old high-backed chair that still looks as if it was made yesterday.

It becomes an issue, then, when certain things happen that tarnish what is an otherwise perfect furniture. One of the most common problems that mar a good furniture’s look are stains. Massive, ugly splotches and shapes, stains are an eyesore, especially if they contrast with the color of the furniture. For example, soy sauce stains on a smooth timber surface is hardly invisible, or some white correction ink on your dark office desk. Among the most common and headache-inducing stains though are white heat stains. They are most commonly found on furnitures made of wood that are always placed with hit stuff, such as your coffee or dining table. Aside from the fact that they are not removed by just conventional wiping and brushing, heat stains are very visible, especially since treated wood is almost always nearly dark in color. White heat stains leave an impression, literally!

The Heat Is On

Heat stains happen when you put a very hot object on top of your furniture, such as a hot pot, pan, or even seemingly harmless things like hot corns on a cob and freshly baked pizza. The white heat stains you see are actually a collection of moisture that has been deposited between the wood finish and the wood itself. Just think of an air bubble. That is why they are particularly hard to remove by wiping or brushing; they are not your average chemical stains that get into the grains.

The problem with wood is that they’re organic. Unlike synthetic materials or metals, wood readily warps or changes when exposed to extreme conditions such as heat. Even treated wood is not immune to extreme temperatures. That is why it is always recommended that you be careful when placing stuff on furnitures made of wood. It is very hard to get stains off organic materials than synthetic or metallic ones. Heat, in particular, is a very notorious stainer, whether it’s actual burn stains or just heat stains. Fortunately, the latter is not as permanent or as hard to get rid of as the former.

Get Rid of White Heat Stains

If your furniture happens to be the latest victim of this insidious stain, don’t worry. There are several things you can do to get rid of them. What’s better is that these treatments will still work even if that stain has been there for several years.

1. Have it brought to a furniture restorer. If you don’t have the time to do the job yourself, have no idea how to do it, or if the said furniture is a valuable antique that you’re afraid to lay your hands on, then just have the professionals take care of it. Professional furniture restorers and handlers will make sure that your white heat stains (or any stains, for that matter) will be resolved without endangering the quality of your furniture.Professional furniture restorers are experienced at dealing with problems in furniture; this includes stains and restorations of antiques that have seen better days. Just make sure that the furniture restorer you will be getting has a good reputation. Inquire with friends or ask around people who had the same problems. They will surely point you to the correct company.
2. Use an iron with steam capability. A lot of people have attested to this working. You will need to have an iron that has steam capability and a white cotton cloth, like a t-shirt or towel. Make sure that you turn your iron to a low or medium setting. Allow it to heat up. Meanwhile, double-fold the white cloth and place it over the stain.Once that’s done and the iron’s heated enough, press the iron back and forth over the cloth. Make sure that the motion and pressing is even and consistent, like you would when you iron your clothes. Afterwards, tap the steam release on the iron so that a burst of steam hits the back of the cloth over the stain. Then, remove the cloth. You should now see that the stains are gone.There may be a chance where the stain will not be removed. Usually, this happens when the stain was deep. But if the stain was caused by something hot placed on the wood for less than 30 seconds, then there’s a fair chance that this method will work.
3. Cover the stains. Sometimes, there are white heat stains that are just so deep that the iron method won’t work. If you have that type and you just can’t afford to have it sent to a restorer, then covering the stains is your only option. There are a couple of ways you can do this; one, you can have it covered by a cloth, or two, have it painted over. The latter is recommended if you don’t mind being messy and if you have some artistic sense. After all, no one would really think that a flaming pink table is good furniture.

Stains are a part of housekeeping. Sometimes, you just need to know the right ways to deal with it. With white heat stains, there is still hope for your precious wooden table or chair.

Click here for more information on how to get rid of white heat stains on wood.