Fix Scratches in Furniture

Wood furniture is attractive and durable, but susceptible to scratches and dents. Minor scratches can be fixed easily at home without resorting to completely stripping and refinishing the piece. Antique wood furniture may require a professional to repair; if in doubt, consult a furniture expert before attempting any repair techniques. Scratches in leather furniture are also best left to an expert.

Steps

Clean the Furniture before Attempting to Repair the Scratch

It is important to thoroughly clean the wood before you begin the repair process.

  1. Make a cleaning solution by adding a capful of mild dish washing soap to 1 gallon (3.8 L) of warm water in a bucket or deep bowl.
  2. Dip a lint-free cloth in the cleaning solution and wring out all the excess water.
  3. Rub the wood to remove all grease, dirt, wax, oil or old furniture polish.
    • Work on a small area at a time and rinse and wring out the cleaning cloth often.
  4. Let the wood air dry or blot it dry with a dry cloth before beginning your repair.

Pick from a Variety of Methods to Repair Your Furniture Scratches

Most wood furniture has a clear finish of lacquer, shellac, varnish or polyurethane. The techniques and products listed below will work on finished surfaces, and can be found at most home improvement and hardware stores.

  1. Try felt-tip markers to color scratches. You can find such markers in a variety of wood tones at a home improvement or hardware store. Apply the marker only to the scratch itself. If any of the color gets on the finished surfaces, wipe it off immediately.
  2. Use black tea to disguise scratches. Do not use herbal or green tea; the black tea produces the color you want to match the wood.
    • Place the tea bag in a cup and pour 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of hot water over it.
    • Let it steep for at least 2 minutes. If your wood is very dark, use a black tea bag that has been steeped for at least 3 minutes. The longer the bag is steeped, the darker the color.
    • Dip a cotton swab into the tea and dab it on the scratch.
    • Use a paper towel to immediately wipe away any tea that gets on the surrounding wood so that it doesn’t get stained.
  3. Apply a paste of instant coffee and water.
    • Add 1 tablespoon (28 g) of coffee granules to a small bowl and add just enough hot water to make a thick paste.
    • Rub the paste into the scratch, taking care not to get the paste on the surrounding wood.
    • Wipe away any excess with a dry cloth.
  4. Rub a shelled walnut into the scratch; the walnut oil makes light scratches nearly invisible.

Tips

  • Wood furniture can be kept clean with a damp cloth. Furniture oils and polishes tend to leave behind a thin film of oil that attracts more dust.
  • Light surface scratches can sometimes be eliminated by rubbing them with a paste comprised of mineral oil and pumice. This method works best if the paste is gently rubbed into the scratch with a piece of extra-fine-grade steel wool.
  • Treat scratches in very dark wood with iodine; simply dab the iodine on the scratch using a cotton swab.
  • No matter which method you use to repair scratches, buff the area dry after wiping off the application substance.

Warnings

  • It’s important to work slowly and carefully, so that you are treating only the scratch and not getting the surrounding wood wet.
  • Wood is not meant to get saturated with moisture of any kind; use all products sparingly and dry them with a soft cloth.

Things You’ll Need

  • Mild detergent
  • Bucket or deep bowl
  • Lint-free cloth
  • Wood-grain felt-tip markers
  • Black tea bag
  • Instant coffee
  • Small bowl
  • Dry cloth
  • Walnuts
  • Fine-grade steel wool
  • Pumice
  • Iodine

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Sources and Citations

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