How To Fix Scratches On Wood Furniture: DIY Steps That Do The Trick

If you’ve got kids and pets like I do, you’ve probably found yourself staring at scratches on your wood furniture or gouges on the tables. I’ve got some good news: most the time, you can fix scratches on wood with things you’ve already got in the house. That’s right: no tools required.

These methods to fix wood scratches are designed to match the color or tone of your wood.

• Light wood is natural in appearance, and has a visible grain. Think: pine, ash, birch, maple.
• Dark wood has a smoother grain. Examples are walnut, cherry, mahogany and ebony.
• Oak and teak are sometimes dark, sometimes light.

Fixing Minor Scratches in Light Wood

Before you start, clean the area well with a microfiber cloth and warm soapy water to remove waxy buildup then rinse and buff it dry. Now, you’re ready to cover scratches on the wood surface with one of these methods.

Using a nut

Rub a nut (or the nut oil) hard on the scratch, like you’re trying to erase it from the wood. Then firmly press your finger flat over the area to help the nut oil soak into the wood. Repeat the process repeat until you can’t see the scratch anymore.

• For one or two scratches on light wood, match an unsalted and unflavored nut to the color of the wood. Pecans and peanuts work well.

• For large areas like a heavily worn tabletop, use the oil and contents of a jar of all-natural peanut or almond butter—the kind you have to stir together. Mix it well and spread it on with a soft cloth.

Using oil and vinegar

Shake or whisk 1 part white vinegar (balsamic for medium or dark wood) and 2 parts olive oil until they’re completely mixed, then dab this onto the scratch with a cotton swab. Seal it by pressing your finger flat on the spot for a minute and repeat until the scratch is gone.

Fixing Minor Scratches in Dark Wood

Rub one of the coloring agents below into the wood. Use a cotton swab or paintbrush carefully so you don’t get it on the wood around the scratch. Let the color soak in for an hour then wipe with a soft, dry rag. Repeat until you’re happy with the result. Some coloring agents to try:

Fixing Deep Scratches on Wood Furniture

If you can feel the scratch, you can fill the gouge while hiding the scratch by using a crayon or a blendable scratch filler stick. Rub it firmly into the scratch then remove any excess with the edge of a credit card. Seal it by pressing your finger on the spot for a full minute.

Fixing Dents or Gouges on Wood Furniture

Gouges and dents can sometimes be “plumped” back up by adding moisture to the area. So, grab your iron and a towel because we’re going to fix the dent with steam.

1. Put a lightly damp towel over the gouge.
2. Run your iron around in circles for 30 seconds using high heat.
3. Lift the towel and check your progress.
4. Repeat if needed, using a fresh damp spot each time.
5. Wait 24 hours for the wood to dry then rub the area with olive oil to remove any water haze on the wood from the steam if needed.

There you go, a quick and easy way to get scratches out of your wood furniture with things you’ve got around the house. Now head to your kitchen to whip up some of my natural furniture polish to make that wood shine!