The furniture surface is vulnerable to many kinds of damage. Read the article below to learn more on fixing scratches in wooden furniture.

Fixing Scratches In Wood Furniture

Furniture serves many important and essential functions, for people the world over. In the last few thousand years, chairs, beds, desks, and tables, have provided places to sit, eat, talk, work, gather, or sleep. Many people will spend more than a third of their lives in, at, or on furniture. It comes as no surprise, then, that humans have a unique relationship with this group of items they spend so much time around. In some ways, furniture has become a reflection of personality. When choosing furniture for their homes or offices, people are known to concentrate on design, giving it equal or greater weight than function and stability. Many people pass furniture items down from one generation to the next, keeping the item as a family heirloom. No matter whether or not your wooden furniture is old or new, sooner or later signs of extensive wear and use will show through. One day while you're dusting the furniture you'll notice a small scratch along the edge of your dining room table. Or a dent will mysteriously appear in the side of your dress bureau. Getting rid of the dent and scratches is not only important to keep the furniture in good shape but to save your prized possession from becoming an eyesore. To know more, read the article below on how to mend scratches in wooden furniture.
 
How To Fix Scratches In Wooden Furniture 
  • You can effectively hide scratches in wooden furniture by rubbing the meat of walnut, pecan, or Brazil nut on the scratch. The nut oil darkens the scratch and so makes them invisible.
  • Applying hard paste wax with a soft steel wool, stroking gently along the wood grain can also mend the scratch. After applying the wax, buff the surface with a soft cloth.
  • Another method is to mix equal parts of lemon juice and vegetable oil. Now soak a clean lint free cloth in this solution and then rub the scratch until it disappears.
  • If the furniture surface is finished with shellac or lacquer, then painting the area with an appropriate solvent can remove the scratch. You can also use nail polish remover on the lacquer or alcohol on the shellac and lacquer thinner. The thinner should be painted with a brush until it fills the cracks and then leave it overnight.
  • For small scratches, you can use an eyebrow pencil of appropriate color. Use the eyebrow in the direction of the scratch after matching the color carefully.
  • The scratch can be filled with crayons. Select the right color and then rub it on the scratch. Since, the crayons are made of wax they can also be removed later.
  • Shoe polish can be used to hide the scratch. Fill the scratch with the shoe polish. If you are using a liquid shoe polish then use a fine brush to apply it on the scratch.
  • Iodine can effectively hide scratches from mahogany furniture. Use dark iodine for brown or cherry mahogany. For lighter colored, mix one part of iodine in one part of denatured alcohol and cover the scratches. Use a fine brush and then allow it to dry.
  • You can also buy a bottle of commercial stain that matches the color of your furniture and then apply it on the scratch with a cotton swab or a fine brush.
  • Markers are also a good way to fix the scratch. Simply color the scratch with the marker and leave it to dry.
  • If the scratches are, only in the finish, then pour some Danish oil into a fine steel wool and rub the scratch. Always keep the wool saturated with the oil and rub very gently.
  • After removing the scratches, wipe a cloth with mineral spirits.

How to Cite

More from iloveindia.com