How to Repair Burn Marks on a Wood Coffee Table

half burned wood board surface
  • 0.5-1
  • Beginner
  • 25-50
What You'll Need
Towel
Lemon juice
Linseed oil
Water
Toothpaste
Rag
Baking soda
Cigarette ashes
Steel wool (0000 Grade)
Small bowl
Rottenstone Polishing Compound
What You'll Need
Towel
Lemon juice
Linseed oil
Water
Toothpaste
Rag
Baking soda
Cigarette ashes
Steel wool (0000 Grade)
Small bowl
Rottenstone Polishing Compound
A wood coffee table is something that can really pull your room together, but between hot mugs, spilled drinks, and regular use, it can also see a lot of abuse in the form of burn marks and stains.
Regardless of which method you end up using, the first thing that you are going to need to do is get your table as clean as possible. Dust, grime, and other easy to remove debris will only get in the way when you're actually focusing on repairing burns. Simply use warm water and a towel to clear these other messes, and make sure that you dry it thoroughly before you begin to work on it.
Once your table is clean, use these tips to help remove those burn marks.

1. Toothpaste and Baking Soda

Mix a generic baking soda and a non-gel variety of toothpaste in a small bowl until it is a sticky paste. Put the paste over the heat mark and give it a few minutes to set. After about five minutes, the heat mark should wipe away with a clean rag. Be sure to wipe away any remaining residue from the paste as well.

2. Ashes and Lemon Juice

If you're a smoker, you can also try a mixture of cigarette ashes and lemon juice. Stir them together until they are thoroughly mixed. Unlike the previous example, do not apply this solution directly to the heat mark. Use a clean damp cloth and place it into the lemon juice and ash. Then, use the cloth to rub it onto the burn until it eventually goes away.
If you're not a smoker but have a fireplace or frequently light candles, you could give those ashes a try with the lemon juice instead.

3. Steel Wool

With your 0000 grade steel wool, rub the surface of your table gently. Make sure that you keep a close eye on the surface after each swipe to see how it is working. You want to make sure that every subsequent swipe is only affecting the mark and not the table.
Do not continue to wipe after the heat mark is gone, or it will damage the wood itself. Make sure to clean the table thoroughly before use.

4. Oil and Polish

Burn marks also come off easily with a mixture that's equal parts linseed oil and Rottenstone Polishing Compound. Mix them in a bowl until a paste is formed, and with a clean rag, rub this paste onto the afflicted area of your wood.
Make sure that you rub along with the grain of the wood as you go. After the paste has been applied, leave it alone for up to five minutes. After it has had time to set, wipe it away with a clean and damp cloth. You may need to continue to do this until the burn mark is gone.
The smell of both of these ingredients is quite potent, so make sure that you clean the area thoroughly before you attempt to use the coffee table again.