By Karl

Some Furniture Scratch Fillers can be Made of Regular Household Products

Scratch fillers are available for purchase in many local hardware stores, but did you realize that it is possible to fix a scratch in your wood furniture using items such as lemon juice, olive oil, nuts, crayons, make-up, shoe polish and iodine? Depending on the type of wood, the color of the finish, the depth of the scratch, and the location of the scratch, fixing the problem can be very simple.

How Deep is the Scratch?

Before you can determine how to fill a scratch you will have to figure out its depth. Has it just scratched the surface or the finish? Or, is the scratch very deep and goes into the actual wood?

Following are some easy scratch fillers that can be attempted on simple scratches with inexpensive materials:

Wax and Polish – If the scratch is contained to the finish, a simple waxing and polishing may do the trick. Apply wax and polish with a clean cloth and buff the area until the scratch disappears.

Lemon Juice Mixed with Vegetable Oil – It sounds more like a salad dressing than a substance that can erase a scratch from a wood finish, but the acid from the lemon juice mixed with the oil is an excellent combination for eliminating scratches in wood finish. Simply apply the mixture using a clean cloth and rub in the direction of the scratch. In many cases, the scratch will be eliminated.

Nuts – Many different types of nuts can be used as scratch fillers and nuts are inexpensive items that can be bought at most grocery stores. Simply crack open a walnut or an almond and rub the nut meat onto the scratched area of the wood. Make sure to rub in the direction of the scratch. The natural oils and the nut material will fill the scratch nicely.

Women’s Make-Up – Most women have old eyeliners or eyebrow pencils in their bathrooms. But if not, they can be purchased at most stores for a few dollars. Use the correct colored make-up to fill in scratches.

Crayons – Furniture scratch repair crayons can be purchased at local hardware stores, but regular old children’s crayons can just as easily be used as scratch fillers. A box of 64 Crayola crayons is only a few dollars and will most likely contain a color that will match the wood.

Shoe Polish – Shoe polish comes in different consistencies – usually either wax or liquid. It also comes in various shades. Make sure to choose the best possible color that matches the furniture and apply it to the scratch using a very small brush or a Q-tip.

Iodine – Iodine can be used to fill a scratch that penetrated the wood. The color intensity of the iodine can be diluted with denatured alcohol to match the color of the wood. Use a very fine paintbrush to apply the iodine to the scratched area. A second or third coat can be used if the resulting color is not dark enough.

Besides all of the methods listed above, there are also several items sold in stores that might do the trick such. Popular items include scratch repair pens and markers. If you are unsure about what products to use you should consult with a professional.

Scratch fillers are more effective on certain types of woods and finishes than others. For example, finishes made of Polyurethane are much more difficult to fix than scratches in lacquer finishes. Nonetheless, a scratch in wood furniture is not the end of the world. As you can see from the above suggestions, there are many materials that are commonly used to repair scratches on furniture and if none of them work you can always re-finish the furniture to restore it to its original pristine condition.