Wood furniture is vulnerable to nicks and scratches and other scuffs due to wear and tear. Before you spend money on any wood refinisher to restore the surface, try some effective DIY techniques at home to boost the appearance of your furniture.

A scratch or gouge on the surface of your wood furniture can spoil the look. Fortunately, there are a bunch of easy and inexpensive ways you can revamp your wood furniture, some of which are mentioned below.

Vaseline

Smear vaseline or any petroleum jelly over the scratch and leave it overnight. The petroleum jelly helps the surrounding wood to plump up and it fills in the scratch. The next morning wipe away the petroleum jelly and polish the surface to match the texture and shine of the wood.

Lemon juice

For minor nicks and scratches, mix equal parts of lemon juice and olive oil or vegetable oil. Use a lint cloth, pour a generous amount of the solution into it and clean the surface. Firmly rub in the direction of the scratch to minimize its visibility.

Vinegar and oil

By mixing a half cup of vinegar with a half cup of olive oil, you can produce a concoction that diminishes the scratches and marks on wood and enhances shine. This technique is best suited for bigger areas like wood floors. For applying this solution, use a microfiber cloth or wipe to treat the affected portion of the furniture or floor.

Wax crayon

If the scratch is too deep, raid your children’s wax crayons. Grate part of a crayon into a bowl and rest the bowl in a pan of boiling water to melt the wax. Drip the molten wax into the gouge and smooth it out with a flat knife. You can also add colors to the molten wax crayon to match the color of your furniture.

Peanut butter

Walnuts are known to work wonders on blemished wood. Thus, it is no surprise, peanut butter can apparently serve the same purpose. Offer your wood furniture a striking rehab by rubbing a little peanut butter on the damaged surface of your furniture, leave it on for about an hour, and wipe it off with a wet rag. This will turn your wood furniture as good as new.

Do you also have a technique you swear by when it comes to fixing scratches on wood furniture?