HomePod leaves ugly white rings on wood tables

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Apple HomePod smart speaker Listening History
Think twice before leaving HomePod on your wood table.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

HomePods are already making their mark in new homes across the country — but not in a good way.

Apple customers started noticing that HomePod can damage wood furniture by leaving a white ring after resting on a table for just a few minutes or days.

It’s unclear exactly what causes HomePod to mark its territory on wooden tables. Some HomePod owners on Twitter report that the ring can form in just 20 minutes. It appears that most of the markings go away after a few days.

Apple confirms HomePod white rings

Apple confirmed the problem today in a statement to Wirecutter saying “the marks can improve over several days after the speaker is removed from the wood surface.” Apple also suggested owners “try cleaning the surface with the [table] manufacturer’s suggested oiling method.”

If the white rings don’t disappear, Apple says you can just refinish the furniture. Considering most people’s furniture costs more than the $350 speaker though, that’s not a very satisfactory solution.

Apple also recommends putting the HomePod on a coaster if you’re worried about the speaker damaging your table. We’ve reached out to Apple for more details on what causes the white rings to appear. We also asked what type of tables customers should avoid. We’ll let you know when Cupertino divulges more info.

For a full rundown on all the tips, tricks and hidden features on HomePod, check out Cult of Mac’s ultimate HomePod guide.

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