Expert: Greg Scholl - 9/24/2009

Question
QUESTION: My wife bought a beautiful dining room table, which we found out after getting it delivered that the top is a very soft wood. We don't even let the kids do their homework on the table for fear it will mar the table-top. With this in mind we just decided to cover it with a table cloth 95% of the time and just take it off for guests. We had a table cloth that worked fine for quite a while but ended up getting rid of it because we changed our decor.

We purchased a new table cloth which was felt-backed plastic, and it remained on the table for over two months without being removed. Once we finally did remove it, it looked as though the plastic trapped oils or something from the table and now the finish looks like there are greasy spots and lines where irregularities and the folds of the table cloth rested. I figured the marks would come right off, but no about of Pledge-ing, soap and water, or car wax (per her mother's advice) touched it. Is there anything that can be done to this low-gloss top, short of completely refinishing, that will get rid of these "oily" marks?

Thanks!

ANSWER: Hey Matt, I would try using some Mineral spirits on a rag and wipe the whole table down. You want the rag to be wet enough to be able to dissolve all the stuff on the finish, it won't hurt the finish, but will remove all the oil, grease, grime,Pledge, wax, etc. from the finish.Dry with clean rags as you go, and I would do this twice with a 30 min. dry time between treatments. If the lines and marks are still visible after that then it could be from the plasticizers in the table cloth reacting with the lacquer, and further steps must be taken. Please throw out the Pledge, it is full of Silicone and bad for furniture, (no, really), and especially on a low gloss top, it can create problems.There are oil based furniture treatments like Guardsman, Weimans, Old English, etc. that are Silicone and wax free ( they'll say so right on the label), and these are better, but still should only be used a few times a YEAR. Many people over apply these products which will build up and make a smeary mess on the furniture, and can actually shorten the life of the finish.Please post back- Greg

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Greg... We finally had the chance to try the mineral spirits and it seems to have helped, but did not take care of the problem completely. It definitely got rid of most, if not all, of  the oils and waxes as the top now feels squeaky clean. I'm attaching a couple images to show what I've got after the mineral spirits (it was hard to make the blemishes show up with a camera, but I think you'll get the idea).

Any other steps you think we should take? should we try the mineral spirits a couple more times? What else? I really appreciate your time and advice on this matter!

Answer
If you did it twice, that should have removed anything on the surface for the most part. Now that the top is clean, but the marks remain, it could be buffed out with a polishing compound, lacquer buffs out well, the only caveat is that it might make the top a little more shiny. I use 3M's Finesse it III, which is a liquid polishing compound available online or at a good auto parts store, but I would caution you that polishing out lacquer by hand is a skill that needs to be learned....especially on a large surface like a Dining table. Since this is a fine, expensive table, I would suggest that you call in a Pro to evaluate it, armed with our conversations...most, if not all should offer to do this as a free service (to estimate the job), and under no obligation to you....and they should be able to either concur with what I've said, or on closer inspection, offer another remedy for the table. It really has to be inspected by a keen eye that has experience with lacquer, and it's not really possible to do with the limited photos you posted. (not your fault, it's the limit of the site....at least they're providing that now). I would resist applying more "product" to the table until you've had it evaluated, and then you could get back to me if you'd like to talk about the advice you received. Let me know if that sounds like a plan- regards- Greg