Removing White Rings
- , by Trudy Chuoke Trudy Chuoke
I must have received a dozen phone calls about moisture rings on furniture in the last week. You know those annoying stains that appear on wood furniture when someone doesn’t use the coaster you gave them. This abundance of calls tells me two things...one, you have been partying! And two, you were too tired to pick up all the leftover glasses before you went to bed. Secretly I’m jealous, I was in bed by 10 on New Years Eve.
White rings on furniture are caused by moisture sitting on the surface of wood and left long enough will penetrate the varnish, causing it to lose its transparency. A hot dish can do the same thing. When the mark is white, the mark can be removed easily by using White Ring Remover by Homax. White Ring Remover is a solvent based reusable cloth that comes in a zip lock bag that removes moisture rings, heat marks, latex paint, permanent marker and can remove surface scratches. It can be used on varnish, lacquer, and shellac finishes. There are not many rules when using White Ring Remover, you just need test in an inconspicuous area to make sure it will not harm the finish. Then fold the cloth and rub across the stain IN THE DIRECTION OF THE GRAIN OF THE WOOD. Use a light touch first. If the mark is not removed, rub across the stain again, using a heavier hand. Then after removing the stain, use another soft cloth and remove the oily residue.
I want to recommend that you remove a white ring stain as soon as you see it. These stains start out white or hazy, but if left will turn dark. When they turn dark, the water has penetrated to the wood finish. Then this easy project becomes a refinishing project. You will need to strip the finish and sand out the mark and then re-stain and varnish.
I heard from quite a few of you this week and I was so pleased you took me up on the offer of a phone call to the store- if you have a question, it’s really the fastest way to an answer. I’m here most days – 210-341-1573.
Now to the email……
Question: My car was acting up, not starting and when I took it in the shop…. they said that they could tell there had been rodent activity on the cables of my batteries and other places in the engine. Well, $2500 later, I wanted to ask you about the rodent repellent that you like. What is the name and how do I use it?
Answer: Same thing happened to me, and it just made me sick. Back then I had to call a pest control company that cost me about $1200. Now, you can use Morgan’s Repellent to keep rats and mice out of your garage and causing all kinds of damage. I made it my #1 product in the new book that we just printed because it’s that good. I use it in my store, and we never see rodent activity anymore. It’s the only reason that we can sell birdseed in the store. So, it will work for you. I don’t like to recommend poison. It is safer to repel. Have you ever had a rat fall down in the wall and die? The smell is horrible and lasts for weeks. Call me and let me explain the best way to use it in your home.
Question: What was the name of the electrical outlet that comes on and off with the cold weather? We have all our plants in a greenhouse, and I would like for the heat lamp to come on by itself. Last year I lost so many plants because the cold weather caught me off guard and I didn’t turn on the heat lamp.
Answer: What you are looking for is called a Thermo Cube. Just plug your heat light into the cube and when the temperature goes below 35 degrees, it will turn on your heat lamp. When the temperature heats up to 45 degrees then Thermo Cube will turn off. You won’t have to worry about our freaky cold weather. Better yet, you can leave for the weekend and not lose all your plants. Use it in RVs, sheds, boat houses, well houses- anywhere you need to turn on a light or device with the temperature.