The company has confirmed the issue and released a statement

Feb 14, 2018 21:59 GMT  ·  By

It would appear that Apple's recently released HomePod smart speaker is leaving white ring stains on certain wood surfaces that have been treated with wax or oil.

The discovery was made by Wirecutter and Pocket-lint reviewers Jon Chase and Stuart Miles (via MacRumors), the latter noting the fact that during a 20 minute testing period, the HomePod smart speaker left a white discolored ring stain on a solid oak kitchen worktop that was previously treated with Danish oil.

The white ring stain apparently faded after a few days, though it hasn't completely disappeared, noted Pocket-lint's Stuart Miles in his review. He also tested the HomePod on different wood surfaces that weren't treated with oil or wax, and it would appear that the white ring stains couldn't be reproduced.

Apple confirmed the issues and released a statement

Apple has confirmed the issue and told Pocket-lint that it is "not unusual" for a speaker with a vibration-dampening silicone base to leave a "mild mark" on certain wooden surfaces treated with oil or wax. The company believes that the ring stains are caused by some sort of chemical interaction with the treated wood surface.

"The marks can be caused by oils diffusing between the silicone base and the table surface, and will often go away after several days when the speaker is removed from the wooden surface. If not, wiping the surface gently with a soft damp or dry cloth may remove the marks," said Apple in a support document.

Apple recommends placing the HomePod on solid surfaces and use it only indoors. If the HomePod leaves these type of marks on your wooden floor, Apple suggests cleaning the affected surface with the oiling/waxing method recommended by the manufacturer of the furniture, but only if the stains persist.

If this isn't working for you, Apple recommends placing the HomePod on a different surface. Also, the company mentioned the fact that you should place the power cord somewhere where it cannot be it pinched or walked on. More HomePod users reported the same issue on Twitter lately.