We've all been there - you're moving your furniture around, and suddenly, there's a big scratch in the wood. Or your cat decides to use your dresser as a scratching post. Luckily, it's not too difficult to fix up those scratches and have your furniture looking as good as new again. In this blog post, we'll show you a few simple methods for getting rid of scratches in wood furniture. Keep reading to learn more!
Method 1: Use Walnuts
Although it sounds strange, nature has provided an excellent wood repair tool! Walnuts can be used to cover light damage on hardwood furniture. Crack the nut open and rub the interior of the nut against the furniture scratches. Rub the walnut oil into the scratches repeatedly until it completely fills them. Once you've finished, gently clean up any remaining material with a small, soft cloth. This nutty trick will help cover those unsightly marks.
Method 2: Use some Black Tea
This might sound like an odd method, but surprisingly, it works well! Brew a cup of black tea and let it cool. Once it's cooled, dip a clean cloth into the tea and use it to rub over the scratches. When attempting to repair a scratch in wooden furniture, try to match the tea's color to the wood's stain. The excess tea should be rapidly removed using a paper towel to prevent further staining of the wood around the scrape. If necessary, repeat this procedure several times to obtain the desired color on the scratch. It's important to remember that this technique only works well for surface-level scratches; while it may conceal deeper damage, it won't exactly repair them.
Method 3: Use a furniture repair marker
If the scratches are small and not too deep, you can try using a furniture repair marker to cover them up. These markers come in a variety of colors, so you can find one that closely matches the color of your furniture. Simply color over the scratch with the marker and let it dry for a few hours. Once it's dry, you can use a bit of sandpaper to buff out any rough edges. And that's it - your furniture will look good as new!
Method 4: Apply a wood filler
If the scratches aren't too deep, you can try filling them in with a wood filler. You can buy wood filler at any hardware store, and it comes in different colors to match the shade of your furniture. Once you've chosen the right color, simply apply the filler to the scratches with a putty knife. Let it dry for a few hours, and then sand it down until it's flush with the rest of the furniture. Once you're finished, you can apply a new coat of paint or varnish to the piece, and it will look as good as new!
Method 5: Sand and refinish the furniture
You might need to sand the item down and refinish it if the scratch is significant, deep, or located in a prominent area. Depending on how serious the damage is, you can do this in a variety of ways. You might need to remove the wood's finish if the entire piece is scratched. After it is finished, you can remove the scratches with a sander, sandpaper, or even steel wool. Once these are gone, you can paint or refinish the item, and it will once again appear brand new. This is definitely the most time-consuming option, but it will make your furniture look brand new again.
Polishing Your Wood Furniture
Once you've gotten rid of the scratches in your wood furniture, you'll want to keep it looking its best. One way to do this is by polishing your furniture regularly. But before your grab the polish, check your manufacturer's instructions for specifics. If your wood furniture can take a polish, just use a clean cloth to apply a small amount to your furniture. Rub in circular motions until the entire piece is covered.
You should also avoid placing hot items directly on your wood furniture. Use coasters under glasses and mugs to prevent water damage. And, if you're going to be moving furniture around, be sure to lift it instead of dragging it across the floor.
When It's Time to Replace the Wood Furniture
Next time your furniture gets scratched, you can use these handy methods to fix it quickly and easily! But even with the best care, your wood furniture can eventually become too damaged to repair (at least not without some serious effort and tools). Thankfully, Van's Home Center has a great selection of wood furniture! So, if the damage is extensive, stop by or shop online for your new favorite piece. And if you have any questions while shopping, just give us a call or stop by! We're happy to help.