How to Use Crayons to Cover Scratches in Wood Furniture

Coloring on your wood furniture? Isn’t that something your mother told you not to do? She might have, but if you have light scratches on wood furniture, wax-based crayons will actually help to cover those scratches.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Oil-based furniture polish/cleaner
• Soft cloth for polishing
• A large box of waxed crayons (not metallic)

How to Use Crayons to Cover Scratches in Wood Furniture

1. Clean the furniture, using an oil-based furniture polish/cleaner. Beyond removing dirt and dust particles, it will put moisture back into the wood, preparing it for the coloring.

2. Choose the crayons that are close to the color of the wood furniture. Since wood has varying shades, you will probably need several crayons.

3. Take one of the crayons and color into the scratch. It’s okay if you get outside of the scratch. Use the other crayons and color into the scratch. Expect to get some of the crayons into the scratch; this helps to fill it.

4. Use a dry section of the polishing cloth and rub down the colored area. If necessary, go over the scratch with the crayons again, until the scratch is covered.

Tips & Warnings

• This is not a permanent fix, but it helps cover light scratches and doesn't take long to reapply.
• This does not work on deep gouges in the wood.
• If you have small children, you might want to wait until they are in bed to try cover scratches with crayons. Otherwise, they may get the impression it’s okay to color on furniture.