How to Hide a Scratch on Wood Furniture

Walnut meat can help disguise wood scratches.

If you have a great piece of wood furniture that has been damaged with a minor scratch or two, you don't have to spend top dollar to fix it. You can disguise the scratch with a variety of inexpensive, common items around the house. Choose a method based on the depth of the scratch and color of the wood grain.

Things You'll Need

• Instant coffee
• Walnut meat
• Crayon or eyebrow pencil
• Paste shoe polish

Instructions

1. Dissolve 1 tsp. instant coffee in 1 tsp. water to make a paste. Rub the paste gently into the scratch on a dark piece of furniture. Allow it to dry, then buff with a clean, dry cloth.

2. Rub the meat of a walnut into the scratch. Rub in the direction of the scratch and only within the scratch to minimize the chance of discoloring the surrounding wood. Buff the repair with a clean cloth.

3. Color the scratch with a crayon or eyebrow pencil that closely matches the color of the wood. Follow the direction of the scratch when applying. Rub the area with a cloth or finger to blend the wax with the surface.

4. Dab a cotton swab into a can of shoe polish paste. Apply the polish carefully to the scratch. Make sure to choose a color that closely matches the wood finish.

Tips & Warnings

• If all else fails, you can purchase a touch-up marker for wood scratches. They are available at home-improvement stores.

• Be careful when using these methods; keep the substances within the scratch so you don't discolor the surrounding wood surface.

• If a scratch is deep, you may have to use wood filler to get a satisfactory result.

References

• Utah State University Cooperative Extension: Cleaning, Repairing and Reconditioning Wood Furniture
• Yankee Magazine: Repair Scratches on Wood Furniture