Spare the Sideboard

Do your sideboard or end tables have water rings where people have set drinks? You can avoid these unsightly stains by placing coasters under glasses so that condensation does not touch the wood. They don't even need to be expensive store-bought coasters -- a plastic jar lid a little larger than the glass will do an excellent job.

And if you already have some, you can get rid of them without needing to send your furniture off for expensive refurnishing. Just cover the stain with a clean, thick blotter and press down firmly with a warm iron. Repeat until the water stain goes away.

Rubbing the wood with salad oil or toothpaste has also been reported to work. However, you may want to test the effect on an inconspicuous part of the item of furniture first.