Furniture scratches: how to clean? Video
Even a small scratch can significantly degrade the appearance of wooden furniture. But do not be upset, damage of this nature can be completely eliminated, or at least made less noticeable. The way scratches are treated depends on their depth and the type of wood on which they originated.
Furniture scratches: how to clean?
Wood is a relatively soft material, just a light touch with some sharp object is enough to scratch the furniture, and in more serious cases even chip. Inspect the damaged area before despairing. You can try to polish very minor scratches with a soft handkerchief or rag. If simple wiping doesn’t work, apply some colorless shoe polish to a rag and rub it thoroughly over the wood. This method works well for light-colored lacquered surfaces. To mask damage on darker furniture, use wood-colored pencils by simply sketching in the scratch.
As a rule, scratches are lighter than the damaged surface, so it is not surprising that it is on dark furniture that they become most noticeable. In this case, a simple staining to match the furniture is quite capable of solving the problem that has arisen. Dip a cotton swab in iodine solution, strong black tea or coffee – the choice of liquid depends on the color of the wood, and just treat the damaged area, wait until it dries, polish with a soft cloth, repeat the procedure again if necessary.
Scratches on walnut furniture can be removed with ground walnut kernels. Just rub the gruel into the damage and buff thoroughly.
Use a furniture polish that matches the color of your furniture. To make sure you get the shade you want, try applying a small amount of polish on an inconspicuous place, such as the bottom of a worktop or the inner wall of a cabinet, and only then proceed to treat scratches according to the instructions on the packaging with the product.
Very deep scratches or even chips cannot be removed by simple polishing; to remove them, you will have to purchase special furniture wax in the form of a paste. Knead a small amount of wax between your fingers, fill the scratch with it, wait for the material to harden, remove excess with a soft cloth, polish the repaired area.
When buying wax, pay attention to its shade, it is necessary that it completely matches the color of the furniture
If none of the above methods worked for you, or you just do not want to experiment with rather valuable furniture, contact a specialist – carpenter or cabinetmaker who is able to professionally repair scratches using special materials and tools.