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How to Fix a Rubbing Alcohol Stain on a Tabletop

Although wood tabletops are designed to endure wear, they occasionally acquire stains. Inadvertently spilling rubbing alcohol or alcohol-based perfumes or beverages on tabletops leaves wood blemished with white marks. Rubbing alcohol is capable of dissolving finishes such as shellac and varnish and permanently damaging wood. The longer rubbing alcohol stains remain on wood, the more damaged tabletops become. Promptly fix a rubbing alcohol stain on a tabletop, using basic supplies.

Things You'll Need

  • 4 clean rags
  • Boiled linseed oil
  • 2 oz. rottenstone
  • Bowl
  • Spoon
  • Furniture polish
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Instructions

    • 1

      Wipe up any fresh rubbing alcohol that may be on the tabletop, using a clean rag.

    • 2

      Moisten another clean rag with linseed oil and rub the alcohol stain to remove as much of the stain as possible.

    • 3

      Inspect the tabletop for the alcohol stain. If the blemish remains, add 2 oz. of rottenstone to a bowl. Pour 2 drops of linseed oil into the rottenstone and mix the paste thoroughly.

    • 4

      Rub the paste onto the alcohol stain, using another clean rag to rub with the wood grain.

    • 5

      Spray the tabletop with furniture polish. Using another clean rag, buff the table until it shines.