From the Mailbox:

How do you remove water marks from a cherry wood dining table?

Thanks so much. Enjoy hearing you on CBC!

Shirley

From Reena:

There are a number of treatments (that have had great success) for water/heat marks:

Lay a thick blotter over the spot and press it with a warm iron until the stain is gone

Rub mayonnaise into the spot, leave for an hour, then wipe. You can also use petroleum jelly, non-gel (non-bleach) toothpaste, or baking soda and water.

Be sure to test every solution on an inconspicuous area first. If the stain remains, then you may be dealing with a stripped finish, in which case the table will need refinishing.

This handy household solution can be found in Reena Nerbas’ book, Household Solutions 1 with Substitutions (page 57).

All solutions are to be used at the risk of the user.

Reena Nerbas is the author of the two National Best Sellers, “Household Solutions 1 with Substitutions & Household Solutions 2 with Kitchen Secrets,” available in stores across Canada. Reena is a columnist and Home Economist in a lab coat (and she’s not afraid to use it). She can be heard on CBC radio programs across Canada.

To learn more about Reena, click here.