Hi all! Surely many of you were interested in how to remove scratches from furniture made of MDF, wood, polished and glossy surfaces.
In principle, all the methods discussed can be used to correct a wooden floor, remove scratches on a piano, the varnished surface of MDF products, etc. We’ll look at how to work on a white table, leather upholstery, and other surfaces in a separate article.
In this case, the priority is wood, or materials that imitate the color of wenge, that is, dark wood. Decide for yourself which method to use. First, you need to at least study the available options and features of the procedures.
How to use specialized products to remove scratches on furniture
Such defects appear during normal operation. The appearance of products made from natural wood is a certain value in itself. For this reason, it is not hidden under additional protective coatings. You can ruin a standard layer of varnish with relatively little effort, a blow, or a sharp object. Let's consider, first of all, how to cover up scratches on furniture using specialized factory products.
Furniture pencil and stroke
Experienced specialists advise using furniture touches that match the tone. According to experienced professionals, such products currently have a number of advantages:
- The preparations are harmless to wooden surfaces, do not corrode varnish and are practically invisible.
- Low consumption allows restoration to be carried out at minimal cost.
- At normal room temperature, the stroke dries quickly.
- The created coating is resistant to moisture and sunlight. It does not get dirty and does not pollute the atmosphere in the room with foreign odors.
- To extend its service life, it can be coated with a layer of varnish.
In the store it is easy to choose a stroke of the desired color. To correct the shade, several drugs are mixed in the required proportions.
For your information! Universal products in this category are suitable for the restoration of products made from solid wood, fiberboard, chipboard, laminate, plywood, cork, and some polymer materials.
Typical algorithm of working operations:
- Contaminants are removed from the damaged part;
- Pre-paint the scratch with a marker to match the furniture;
- shake the bar, unscrew the cap;
- 2-3 layers are applied sequentially;
- leave to dry for 10-15 minutes;
- remove excess with a dampened cloth;
- Apply a final varnish coating to protect and create a shiny, smooth surface.
How to remove scratches on wooden furniture - the sequence of correct actions
If the product is too thick, dilute it with warm water. By the way, the stroke does not deteriorate when frozen. Of course, you need to wait until it thaws before using it. It’s convenient to experiment with mixing different colors on glass. Next, the sample is applied to the damaged surface for visual inspection.
A furniture pencil (marker) is used for pre-treatment of chips and cracks, correction of aesthetic defects without leveling the surface
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How to remove scratches from furniture with wood wax
Suitable consumables are used to decorate deep damage. As in the previous version, they start by choosing the desired shade. After removing dirt, apply wax using a knife or rub into small scratches. Excess is removed with a plastic bank card or other available device. After drying, the surface is polished with a soft cloth. Material with pile is suitable.
Furniture wax in assortment
What other means can you use to paint over scratches on furniture?
Minor defects are eliminated using stain. It penetrates deep into the structure of wooden products and does not change the original texture. These features are better than conventional enamels and paints, which form a single-color continuous layer. To check, a sample is made on the bottom of the tabletop, or another hidden area of the product.
The stain is used separately and in combination with other products.
To select the appropriate restoration technology, experienced specialists perform a preliminary check. Take white spirit, moisten a soft cloth swab with it, and rub it over the damaged area several times. Conclusions are drawn taking into account characteristic reactions:
- The color has not changed, which means that only the surface varnish layer is damaged.
- A slight darkening indicates a relatively small defect. It is quite possible to use a restoration scheme using wax.
- If there is a significant change in tone, the fibers are damaged. Repair is required with the consistent use of several special tools.
You should study in detail how to repair deep scratches on furniture. In this case, you will need acrylic or other specialized wood putty. It is applied with a plastic/rubber spatula.
This product is suitable for correcting complex defects
After the composition has dried, the surface is leveled with zero-grade sandpaper. Next, felt is used to create a perfectly smooth surface. Exact color matching is ensured by adding stain to the mixture or finishing with a coloring agent.
Special devices are used for grinding difficult areas.
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General tips and tricks
Preventing scratches from occurring is much easier than dealing with them later. Deep damage further increases the risk of chips, which will render the furniture unusable.
What products do you use to remove scratches from furniture?
Special Handy
Therefore, the following rules must be observed:
- Do not use sharp objects to clean heavily soiled furniture. For this purpose, soft abrasives are used that do not harm the surface.
- Check furniture for scratches and try to repair them as soon as they are found.
- If the damage is deep, it makes sense to turn to professionals who can preserve the integrity of the furniture and hide the defect as much as possible.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that not all remedies are effective the first time. Some require daily repetitions
It is important to monitor and maintain your furniture, just like your own health. Incorrectly selected cleaning products, lack of protective mats and tablecloths can speed up the process of scratching
How to remove scratches from polished furniture using improvised means
If you don’t have time to visit stores, you can use the technologies presented in this section. In addition to simplicity, they are characterized by minimal financial costs.
How to remove scratches from lacquered furniture with tea leaves or iodine
Infuse black tea. Using a tampon, apply the product sequentially until the desired tone is obtained. A similar result can be obtained with iodine. Use a fabric that does not leave lint on the surface being treated. Also used:
- cigarette ash;
- a mixture of olive oil and vinegar in proportions of 75% and 25%, respectively;
- matching paint/shoe polish;
- engine and transmission oil.
A thrifty housewife will quickly find a suitable remedy for restoration work in the kitchen.
The photo shows how to remove scratches from dark wood furniture with raw walnut. When fried, this product contains a minimal amount of coloring substances, so the beneficial effect will be worse.
How to cover up large scratches on furniture
You can purchase ready-made mastic or prepare a full-fledged analogue at home using a simple recipe:
- colorless wax (20 g) is melted over low heat in a suitable metal container;
- turpentine (15 g) is carefully poured in with stirring;
- after 2-3 minutes, add alcohol (10 g);
- remove from heat, cool to room temperature.
This product is suitable for various restoration works. By changing the proportions of wax, you can get a thicker composition for sealing deep scratches and cracks. It is applied with a soft spatula, which is not capable of damaging neighboring areas. On a relatively flat surface, use a woolen cloth soaked in gasoline. How to remove deep scratches on wooden furniture with the simplest means at hand? Try using mayonnaise. It is applied to the damaged area in a thick layer. The tree absorbs the greasy composition and swells. Even fairly large cracks gradually disappear. Color can be corrected during the finishing process using the techniques above.
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Coffee grounds
The dye that coffee grounds leave behind can help give furniture that is starting to get scratches and looks aged a better look.
Its use will reduce stains that cover the surface of the wood and will also help fill small dents or cracks.
How to use?
- Moisten coffee grounds with water or add a little linseed oil and apply to surfaces that require care.
- Remove excess with a brush and repeat once a week.
How to remove scratches from a glass table using different technologies
Glass is much stronger and more resistant to external influences compared to wood. However, scratches also form on such surfaces. To eliminate them use:
- specialized kits for restoring car glass;
- clear nail polish;
- toothpaste.
The last resort will require considerable effort. It is used for surface grinding followed by washing.
It is much more effective to use GOI paste
This tool was created in the early 30s of the last century. Despite its considerable age, its consumer parameters are highly valued by professionals and ordinary users. Polishing is done manually, without excessive effort.
For your information! A homemade paste can be made from baking soda and water.
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Wax
Wax is a durable and flexible material that will help you easily fill scratches, cracks and other furniture defects.
Since it combines easily with other ingredients, it can be mixed with paint to give it a wood-like finish.
How to use?
- Rub the desired amount of wax into the surface of the furniture, or use hard wax to fill small dents and holes.
- Use a sponge or soft cloth to polish.
Restoring the appearance of products made from other materials
Leather products are restored using beeswax or specialized wax. If the color is suitable, the scratches are masked with nail polish.
The same result can be obtained after treating leather upholstery with vegetable oil.
Plastic surfaces are softened with a powerful hair dryer. The procedure is performed carefully so as not to deform the product.
Electrically driven tools are used to grind durable metal.
Such products are processed with a consistent reduction in the grain size of the abrasive material. At certain stages you can apply the “GOI” post. If the technological operations are carried out with high quality, you will get a perfectly smooth mirror surface.
Vinegar and oil
Combining vinegar with olive oil gives us an amazing furniture polish that also helps hide scratches.
Both ingredients protect the wood from harmful external influences and remove dust and bacteria.
How to use?
- Combine white vinegar and olive oil in equal proportions and wipe the surfaces you want to polish with the resulting mixture.
- Leave for a few minutes to allow the mixture to soak into the wood and remove any excess with a damp cloth.
Professional anti-scratch products
If the scratches are quite deep or the owners want to be sure to get rid of untidy stripes on furniture, special products will come to the rescue.
Toothpaste and oil
A mixture of toothpaste and oil can be another useful remedy for reducing scratches on tables or other wooden objects.
How to use?
- Add a little vegetable oil to the toothpaste and rub the mixture into the scratches.
- Leave for a while to dry the surface and remove excess with a damp cloth.