How to Get an Acetone Stain Off of a Wood Table

Acetone or nail polish remover is a chemical used for taking finishes off things -- such as fingernails. When acetone is spilled on a piece of finished furniture it is not just staining it, it is removing the finish. While there are many old wives' tales and homemade remedies for getting a stain off a table, the best way to reliably replace what has been removed by the acetone is to completely strip and refinish your table.

Things You'll Need

Tarp
Stripper or mineral spirits
Rags
Paint brush
Sand paper

Tack cloth
Wood cleaner
Sponge
Stain or paint

Instructions

- 1
  Take your table outside or to a well-ventilated area and lay a tarp, old sheet or shower curtain underneath it.
- 2
  Strip your table of its finish using a commercial stripping compound or mineral spirits. Use a rag to apply the stripper, allow it to sit according to the manufacturer's instructions and then use an old putty knife to scrape the finish off.
- 3
  Clean the surface with a wood cleaner and rinse with water. Allow the table to dry for at least two hours.
- 4
  Sand down the table top until the finish and the stain are completely gone. If you've only stained a leg or one leaf of a table, you can just sand the finish off of that as long as you are able to get a stain that matches the rest of the table.
- 5
  Wipe the dust from the table with a tack cloth and make sure that the wood is even and ready to receive new stain or paint.
- 6
  Paint or stain your table according to the manufacturer's instructions. Use a brush or rag to stain or paint the table.
- 7
  Sand the first coat and wipe with a tack cloth after it dries completely.
- 8
  Apply a second coat of stain or paint and allow it to dry completely before applying your lacquer, shellac or polyurethane finish.

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