How to Fix Scratches in Furniture

Don't throw your scratched and stained furniture away! Make it look new again with these easy tricks that require only household items.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Lint-free Cloths
• Colored Crayons
• Lemon Juices
• Olive (not Virgin) Oil
• Vegetable Oils
• Men's Razor Blades

1. 

   Mix 1 part of lemon juice and 1 part vegetable or olive oil.

2. Apply a generous amount of this mixture to a clean, dry, lint-free cloth.

3. 

   Rub the cloth firmly into the scratch, going in the direction of the scratch until it disappears.

4. 

   Find a crayon the same color as the wood for deeper scratches. Color in the scratch in with the crayon.

5. 

   Remove excess wax using a single-edged razor held at a 45 degree angle to the wood.

6. 

   Wax the entire piece of furniture.

Tips & Warnings

• Remove any pulp from the lemon juice.
• Make sure to keep razor flat against wood and work away from you.

[eandersphd]

on 11/28/2008 Vintage Maple veener dining room table marred with substance from some heat damage and minor scratches. Also, something like a residue? from a long used table protective cover. Doesn't come off with wood soap or Pledge. Any ideas?

[Motanu]

on 5/2/2008 Should I rub the unshelled walnut or the shelled inside?

on 8/8/2006 Rub a walnut over the affected area. This fixes up some types of stains and scratches on wooden furniture.

on 11/22/2005 Mayonnaise can be used as a substitute for the oil and lemon juice (it's essentially the same mixture, with a few extras). It works for scratches as well as water rings.

on 11/22/2005 I am so amazed at how well this eHow tip works (oil and lemon juice). It looks like I have brand-new furniture!