Acetone and similar solvents dissolve many clear finishes on contact. Blot spills quickly, then repair the finish rather than sanding the whole table by default.
Stop the damage
Blot—do not wipe and spread. Once the solvent evaporates, check whether only the topcoat softened or the stain layer lifted too.
Light finish etching
If the wood color is intact and only the sheen is dull or slightly sticky, clean residue, lightly scuff-sand, then recoat the spot with the same finish type (polyurethane, lacquer, or oil). Feather edges so the patch blends.
Stain or color loss
When solvent pulled color, sand the damaged zone to bare wood, restain to match, and rebuild finish coats. Always test stain on the underside or scrap from the same piece.
Prevention
Keep nail polish remover, paint thinner, and strong cleaners off finished tops. Use trays in craft areas. No common film finish is acetone-proof forever.
For more repairs like this, start in the Furniture Repair hub. If you are working through a related problem next, see Wood Veneer Repair: Professional Tips for a Seamless Finish or Wood Veneer Burnthrough Repair: Fixing Sanding Mistakes.
