If you ever get a piece of plastic or paper that is 'stuck' to your countertop or dresser, just add a drop or two of baby oil to the spot and it should lift right off.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
How do I remove dried newspaper that is stuck on my dark wood dining table without ruining the finish? Thanks I am desperate.
By Anthea from Los Angeles, CA
Try spreading on a thin layer of vegetable or olive oil, letting it set for a few, then rub off with an old soft kitchen towel, and wipe clean.
How do I get a piece of wet cardboard that dried on a wood table off without ruining the table?
By Lynda from Kearny, NJ
Hello,
My husband refinished antique furniture. He said to apply some mayonnaise to it and let it sit for awhile and then it should come right off.
Somehow a paper towel got stuck to my white wooden desk a long time ago. I never bothered to try to get it off. But now it's getting on my nerves. How do I remove it?
Use olive oil to moisten the towel, let sit for half an hour and peel off.
We had a label stuck to a table that my hubby removed by leaving a very thin coating of Murphy Oil soap on the label. It came right off after about 10 minutes.
You could try 1 teaspoon of salt, 2 tablespoons of baking soda and enough vinegar (a few teaspoons to make a paste). Let it sit on the towel (it will foam up) for 3-5 minutes then gently massage the paper up and off the table (the salt will act as an abrasive). Be very careful not to let it sit too long or scratch the table. This is a last ditch effort for me since the salt can scratch if you rub it in too hard. Use a clean white rag and be gentle with the process. Post back how it works!
I used paper plates with hot food on my dining room wood table. The plates stuck to the table and left rings that would not wash off. How can I clean this table and remove these rings?
This is a white heat stain. You can remove it by rubbing mayonnaise on the stain, waiting an hour, and wiping it off.
Rub in a paste of salt and olive oil, allow to sit for up to an hour. Wipe off.
Most suggestions from restore books recommend the mayonnaise method but sometimes it will not work do to the type of wood or finish of the table. Also, everything may not work the same on lighter woods.
Mix 50/50 toothpaste and baking soda, rub in. Do not use gel toothpaste for this.
Rub in a paste of salt and olive oil, allow to sit for up to an hour. Wipe off.
Rub in mayonnaise (not Miracle Whip) and wipe off after an hour.
Mix 50/50 vinegar and olive oil and rub into the watermark.
Try straight toothpaste (non-gel). Rub in with the grain then wipe off.
Make a paste with baking soda and a few drops of water. Rub in then wipe off. You can also try salt instead of baking soda.
Rub some Vaseline (or other petroleum jelly) into the watermark and leave overnight. Wipe off in the morning.
Rub in a paste of salt and olive oil, allow to sit for up to an hour. Wipe off.
I had hot paper plates left on my pine table and after consulting a wood refinisher he told me to get some ashes from a wood stove or charcoal ash and make a paste with lemon juice from a real lemon. Rub a small amount over the white heat stain with a white t-shirt material cloth and it disappeared! I had six of these stains and was very happy with the advise.
I have an untreated maple butcher block table that wet paper towels bonded with/ sunk into, and I cannot get it off with anything too strong because it is a food prep surface. I tried salt and vinegar, and they aren't working.
A wet magazine was left on finished table top inadvertently leaving some black words and some red from the magazine. How can I remove the print without ruining the finish?
By E.C.B.
Try using some "Awesome" cleaner from dollar tree. I would try it diluted first and then work up to full strength.
I placed a fragrance sachet inside my linen closet only to find that within a few days it was stuck to the side of the cabinet. To remove it, I tried pulling the paper sachet off the wood surface which destroyed the sachet, but left the paper stuck to the wood.
I have tried label removers, soap and water and have not been able to remove the paper and residue. Any ideas on solving this problem?You could try a little bit of olive oil, allow the olive oil to absorb a little and it should soften the paper.
Good luck!
Use a blow drier to soften the glue
A piece of black crepe paper stuck to my light oak coffee table. It left a large black mark in the groves. How can a try get it off?
Thanks on advance>
Removing Crepe Paper Stain
Step 1
Make a paste of baking soda and vinegar
Step 2
Apply to the stain in a gentle circular motion with a damp sponge.
Step 3
Rinse with warm water.
Step 4
Repeat if necessary
I would try some olive oil on a white rag and gently massage it into the stuck paper. It should come right up. We had some ick stuck on my old Bombay table and we were out of olive oil, so my hubby found Murphy's oil soap and he said it worked faster than oil, but needed rinses off twice and dried to get the smell out. Either way, hope one or the other works for you. Post back to let me know what works!