How to Remove Cat Prints From a Wood Table

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Things You'll Need

  • Bowl

  • Small bucket

  • Clean, lint-free cloths

  • Mild liquid detergent

  • Mineral spirits

  • Furniture polish

Keep your wood furniture clean and shiny.

If you have cat paw prints on your wood table, you may find that you can't simply wipe them away with the usual cleaning products. Your cat likely stepped in something that has lightly stripped away some of the layers of wax or polish on your table -- or the pads on your pet's paws are abrasive enough to have done it. If you want to get rid of the paw prints, you will need to remove the built-up layers of old polish.

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Step 1

Fill a bowl or small bucket with warm water and add a few drops of a mild liquid detergent. Dip a clean cloth into the solution and wipe the entire surface of the table, to clear off any dust or other debris. Dry the table with a clean cloth.

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Step 2

Pour a bit of mineral spirits onto a clean, lint-free cloth. Wipe the entire table down with the mineral spirits. Do not be alarmed if your table's finish starts to turn a bit dull, this is what you want to see. Add more mineral spirits to the cloth, if you notice that the table stays shiny after wiping it.

Step 3

Pour some furniture polish on another clean, lint-free cloth. Wipe the surface of the table with the cloth until the finish looks shiny again. Flip the cloth over, and buff the table to an even shine, to remove any excess polish.

Tip

If you do not have mineral spirits, you can use a solution of equal parts vinegar and water, to strip the excess polish.

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