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House and home

Really bad stain on coffee table

(28 Posts)
glammagran Tue 02-Sept-25 13:57:24

Last Christmas I bought a personalised, rubberised black barmat for our light coloured coffee table which we got 2 years ago. The table wasn’t cheap at £750.

When I removed it a while back it had left a black residue which has proved impossible to remove. AI suggested a rubber pencil eraser and then baking soda mixed with an equal amount of water and then isopropyl alcohol but all to no avail.

Do any Gransnetters have some ideas?

SueDonim Tue 02-Sept-25 14:04:14

For a coffee table of that expense, I think I’d ask a professional restorer. What a shame, though!

crazyH Tue 02-Sept-25 14:05:51

Oh dear - such a beautiful table! I have no suggestions but I’m sure one of our clever Grans, will come up with a solution- good luck !

Sago Tue 02-Sept-25 14:38:36

Get a magic eraser, dampen slightly and rub very gently.

Sago Tue 02-Sept-25 14:41:07

Just in case you don’t know what they are.

glammagran Tue 02-Sept-25 16:06:09

Sago

Just in case you don’t know what they are.

I’ve ordered one from Ocado (our Tesco doesn’t stock them) which will arrive tomorrow.

Judy54 Tue 02-Sept-25 16:47:34

I would either leave the black bar mat there or buy something pretty to cover the stain and to keep permanently on the coffee table.

glammagran Tue 02-Sept-25 17:10:08

crazyH

Oh dear - such a beautiful table! I have no suggestions but I’m sure one of our clever Grans, will come up with a solution- good luck !

It’s also extremely heavy! I can barely lift one corner so it’s a 2 man job to move it for cleaning.

J52 Tue 02-Sept-25 17:46:11

I would also recommend a professional has a look at it. Anything that you use on the wood may damage it further. The whole top might need refinishing to remove the damage.

Mt61 Tue 02-Sept-25 18:48:32

Have you got accidental on your insurance? I think I would get a quote from a furniture restoration place first, then weigh up is it worth claiming for the damage.
You could try a little WD40 (Eee pushing this WD40 today). Good luck 🤞

Aldom Tue 02-Sept-25 18:52:45

If you decide to try anything recommended I suggest trying it out on a hidden part of the table.....just in case.

mabon2 Wed 03-Sept-25 13:51:12

Rub it down with glass paper. I did that with a book case top then gave it a coat of Ronseal Interior Varnish. Looks like new.

karmalady Wed 03-Sept-25 14:59:45

Use a professional, having said that and knowing me, I would do it myself

I actually stripped down a vintage spinning wheel using meths and fine wire wool but that had been coated in polyurethane. Then I had to go back to basics with very fine layers of stain, each time sanding gently ie several layers and ending with briwax. The spinning wheel looks good to this day. However I would pay a professional for that table

Bazza Wed 03-Sept-25 15:45:34

Another voter for DW40. Even if it doesn’t work it won’t harm the wood and worth a try.

Vintagegirl Wed 03-Sept-25 16:03:07

Magic eraser is my 'go to' for tricky things and should not damage the base material. Remember to use damp ... so wet the sponge and squeeze out excess. I use serated knife to make smaller pieces for small jobs. It will shrink as used.

4allweknow Wed 03-Sept-25 16:05:31

Try WD40 or Avon Skin so Soft. Both are great at removing stains and sticky stuff. Other tgan that a professional who would be able to strip the stain and revarnish the surface.

Flutterby345 Wed 03-Sept-25 17:06:01

Make a similar stain other end of table and then another one in.the middle?

Lahlah65 Wed 03-Sept-25 17:09:18

Do you know what the top of your table is made from? It looks like wood, although the grain pattern is quite unusual? The top of the table seems to be veneered?

Magic erasers are mildly abrasive and have to be used wet - I definitely wouldn’t use them on wood, unless I knew it had a polyurethane lacquer that was waterproof.

I suspect that dye from the bar mat has discoloured the table. (There was probably some horrible small print somewhere that advised not to put it on a light surface in case of colour transfer.)

I’m normally a fan of DIY repairs, but in this case, I think you need professional advice. I suspect that this is going to need sanding and refinishing, and you would have to be very careful sanding it as the top layer will be very thin. Given the cost of the table, I’m not sure I’d want to chance it.

Mikkima Wed 03-Sept-25 17:33:45

Barkeeper's Friend - shifts nearly everything

FranP Wed 03-Sept-25 18:29:18

I would contact the manufacturer. Different solutions work on different surfaces. Not all are the same.

glammagran Wed 03-Sept-25 19:59:08

Lahlah65

Do you know what the top of your table is made from? It looks like wood, although the grain pattern is quite unusual? The top of the table seems to be veneered?

Magic erasers are mildly abrasive and have to be used wet - I definitely wouldn’t use them on wood, unless I knew it had a polyurethane lacquer that was waterproof.

I suspect that dye from the bar mat has discoloured the table. (There was probably some horrible small print somewhere that advised not to put it on a light surface in case of colour transfer.)

I’m normally a fan of DIY repairs, but in this case, I think you need professional advice. I suspect that this is going to need sanding and refinishing, and you would have to be very careful sanding it as the top layer will be very thin. Given the cost of the table, I’m not sure I’d want to chance it.

It was only after removing the mat I noticed a tiny sticky label on the back about 1cm x .5 cm which I couldn’t read even with a magnifying glass so I suspect you are right. Obviously a disclaimer. I got my magic eraser today so will try again tomorrow.

Bestgrammaever Thu 04-Sept-25 05:38:33

In the US we have this product called Goo gone. It works wonders on everything.

Mt61 Thu 04-Sept-25 10:04:05

Mikkima

Barkeeper's Friend - shifts nearly everything

I love this stuff. Used it to bring up the granite around my sink that had gone dull.
I don’t know if I would use it on polished wood though.

Aldom Thu 04-Sept-25 14:40:31

I don't think you should use Barkeepers friend on your table.
The table is unusual and has a finish which I imagine would be damaged by the product....used mainly for work tops, pots and pans.... stainless steel etc.

AmberGran Thu 04-Sept-25 15:10:33

If you have a kook on YouTube there is a channel called Mayfield Restoration run by a lovely man called David. He is self taught and if you watch some of his videos does a lovely job. You could contact someone like him - it sounds as if the top lacquer/shellac/glaze needs to be replaced, but the wood finish may not be damaged. Someone like David could probably give you a more informed idea of what to do - and how much it would cost to repair.