How to Remove Scratches from Wood Furniture

Wood furniture can add warmth to any design and it’s often a practical and functional choice, too. From headboards and dressers to tables and bookcases, there are likely several pieces of wood furniture in your home. Quality wood furniture is designed to last a long time—and look good in the process—however, scratches in your wood furniture can detract from the beauty of these items.

So, we talked to two experts to discover several DIY methods for removing scratches from wood furniture. Keep reading to find the right method for you.

Water

Believe it or not, water might remove those scratches from your wood furniture. “Try using a damp microfiber cloth first with just a bit of warm water,” advises Alessandro Gazzo at Emily’s Maids. He recommends blotting softly against the scratch to see if that works.

Lemon/Lemon Juice

According to Geoff Waler, superintendent at ASAP Restoration, small scratches can sometimes be removed with a bit of lemon juice. “This can sometimes dissolve the scratch and blend it back together somehow in a process that’ll need a chemist to explain to me, but works often enough to try,” he says. After cleaning the area, pour lemon juice on a microfiber cloth and rub it on the scratches for a few minutes. Or you can rub the lemon itself on the scratches. You should be able to see the scratches dissolve. If not, reapply.

Filler Pens and Markers

One of the easiest ways to remove scratches from wood furniture is to use furniture repair kits with markers or pens. “These pens come in a wide variety of colors and qualities, so there is almost always an option for a medium scratch fix with this solution,” Waler says. For example, a pack of 6 to 13 markers could include several wood tones, like oak, maple, cherry, mahogany, walnut, and black. With these pens or markers, simply clean the area first, use the marker to draw across the scratch, and then wipe off the excess.

Walnuts

Walnuts are more than a nutritional snack. According to Gazzo, a well-known DIY scratch removal method is to rub a walnut kernel on the scratch. “It will release natural oils that ‘melt’ on the surface, and this might help to remove scratches,” he says. He recommends just rubbing the kernel across the scratched area, and wiping with a paper towel.

Waler recommends walnut dust as an option as well. “Walnut dust can also sometimes get out small scratches by essentially replacing the scratched-out material with micro-deposits of walnut shavings that then lodge themselves in the gap,” he explains.

Beeswax

Beeswax is another solution recommended by Gazzo. Just apply a small amount of beeswax, then wipe off the excess.

Shoe Polish

If you can match the wood tone, you may be able to use shoe polish to remove scratches from wood furniture. Apply it over the scratch and then wipe the excess away.

Furniture Cleaners

Another option is to use commercial cleaners. Gazzo recommends trying specific cleaners, like Trade Secret Scratch Concealer, which is a coconut oil-based solution available for both light wood and dark wood, designed to cover nicks and scratches. Simply shake the bottle, apply on the scratched area, and remove excess solution with a cloth.

Another product Gazzo recommends is the Tibet Almond Stick, which is a tightly-rolled cotton stick containing a proprietary formula. It’s colorless, and entails rubbing the stick on the scratches and then wiping it down with a cloth.

Furniture polish is yet another option. Waler says it can sometimes remove small and medium scratches. One popular furniture polish brand, Old English, makes a scratch cover for both light and dark wood. In addition to hiding scratches and nicks, it can help to clean and condition wood, and make it shine.

If you have larger scratches or damaged wood furniture, consider contacting a furniture repair and restoration company.