Cleaning and Stain Removal - Water spot on dining room table

I have a dining room table and chairs that I just bought slightly used off someone. It's an Ashley wood table with a factory finish. On the top is a ring where a cup has been set. In some places it feels rough, almost like the cup was hot when it was placed on the table and it melted the poly. Of course, I don't know if this is exactly what happened but it's obviously a water spot. What's the best way to go about fixing the water spot? I tried putting a dry towel over the spot and placing a dry iron on the towel, which didn't work. I also tried rubbing the spot with a damp towel and toothpaste and that didn't work either. My boyfriend suggested lightly sanding the spot with a very fine sandpaper or steel wool and then using a clear, satin finish wipe on poly. Any suggestions? Thanks!

If damage to finish has penetrated the finish, it will require refinishing. Refinishing questions can be posted in the Finishing Forum.

Typically heat or water marks leave a white stain on finish. They do not feel rough, as if heat melted or raised the finish.

Some folks report success placing a dry towel over stain and giving a burst of steam from steam iron to remove white spots. That's medium heat with steam. Hold iron for only a few seconds at a time.

Mineral spirits will not harm lacquer finish. Test first in inconspicuous place. Sometimes using #0000 superfine steel wool and mineral spirits, rubbing in direction of grain.

In certain spots I can feel it but most of it is smooth. There is a definite dulled appearance when you look at the spot. It's not very noticeable overhead, but when you bend down and look at the table from an angle it's very noticeable. I don't know if it has actually penetrated the finish.

Here's a pic of it from an angle:
http://kris10.smugmug.com/photos/302369688_9v8Hs-L.jpg

Twelvepole gave you good advice, I just wanted to add one thing - most commercially made furniture is finished with lacquer, not polyurethane.

I have a dining room table and chairs that I just bought slightly used off someone. It's an Ashley wood table with a factory finish. On the top is a ring where a cup has been set. In some places it feels rough, almost like the cup was hot when it was placed on the table and it melted the poly. Of course, I don't know if this is exactly what happened but it's obviously a water spot. What's the best way to go about fixing the water spot? I tried putting a dry towel over the spot and placing a dry iron on the towel, which didn't work. I also tried rubbing the spot with a damp towel and toothpaste and that didn't work either. My boyfriend suggested lightly sanding the spot with a very fine sandpaper or steel wool and then using a clear, satin finish wipe on poly. Any suggestions? Thanks!

i would try a good furniture cleaner first. water spots are SOMETIMES caused by a discoloration in the WAX that has been applied to the piece. try cleaning it well with a wax remover/cleaner first and then re-wax(if you use wax).

just a thought!

Mayonnaise Hope I Spelt It Right Ring Comes Right Out Crazy Good Luck!!:)