How to remove cracks and scratches on a countertop?

Wooden furniture fits harmoniously into almost any modern interior, gives the room coziness and has a special smell.
The appearance of scratches on a countertop, cabinet door or sofa armrest is not a reason for frustration. This is a signal that it is time to act.

How to remove scratches from polished wooden furniture? Recommendations from professionals and advice from experienced housewives will help you carry out restoration work at home.

Nut rub

This is perhaps the most widely known and simplest option. You will only need one or several walnuts (depending on the length and depth of the scratches), or several pecans, which, by the way, both in appearance and in taste, are quite reminiscent of a walnut.

In order to repair uneven surfaces of wooden furniture with their help, it is enough to rub the damaged area with them. As a result, the scratch cavities will gradually be filled with small particles of nuts, and they will be highly compacted, which guarantees the fairly high reliability and strength that such a seal will receive. After rubbing with nuts, wipe the treated surface with a dry cloth.

Wiping with machine oil

Machine oil is best for covering up scratches on dark-colored varnished wood. It will need to be applied to the damaged areas in a small amount (using a cotton pad or cotton swab) and left there for a few minutes. Then these same places will need to be thoroughly wiped with a dry cloth.

Let us once again draw your attention to the fact that very little machine oil is needed. Otherwise, you will simply stain the furniture, and you will have to wash everything off it, and then try to remove the scratches again, from scratch.

Useful tips

Do not remove scratches from antique furniture. In such cases, it is better to turn to professionals. All the methods described are more suitable for restoring a table that has minor defects. It is highly undesirable to apply them to furniture that has historical value.

Before applying any product, be sure to test it on an inconspicuous area of ​​the table.

To prevent scratches on wood, use special polishes and protective films. Also try not to work on the table with sharp objects - knives, needles, scissors, blades and others.

Before you begin removing scratches from your wood table, be sure to wipe it down with a damp cloth to remove dust and small debris.

Applying a mixture of olive oil and vinegar

This method is especially recommended in cases where you need to eliminate not so much scratches as extensive abrasions (caused by frequent mechanical damage, constant exposure to moisture and high temperatures, and so on).

The mixture is prepared based on a three to one ratio, that is, three parts olive oil to one part vinegar. The specific amount of product will depend on how large an area you plan to treat. Dip a cloth into the resulting solution, then rub the worn furniture with pressure. After a couple of minutes, the same surfaces must be carefully wiped with a dry cloth. You will be surprised how much your interior items can be transformed after such simple manipulations.

How to remove scratches from furniture?

The list of products used to remove scratches from furniture depends on the material that was used for its production (chipboard, MDF, solid or polished wood). In general, the following means can be used to return interior items to their original appearance:

• Wax for wood.
• Masking pencils.
• Marker or pencil.
• Vegetable oil.
• Nut.
• Vinegar.
• Alcohol.
• Stain.
• Furniture polish.
• Iodine.
• PVA glue.
• Shoe cream.
• Black tea.
• Paraffin.
• Cigarette ash or ash.
• Nail polish.

In addition, you need to prepare equipment that may be useful during external restoration of furniture:

• Soft sponge.
• Lint-free fabric.
• Paint brush.

Uses of iodine

Iodine can also be used very successfully to touch up damage to dark-colored polished or matte furniture. Some experts advise applying a small amount of iodine to a cotton swab and gently covering the scratch with it, others recommend diluting it with water to a solution with a low concentration and using a brush when applying it to the surface of the furniture. The second option will probably achieve a more accurate result.

Filling with mayonnaise

This method of getting rid of scratches on interior items may seem strange, but it can also be very effective. The reason is that mayonnaise contains some proteins and fats that cause wood to swell. It is suitable for removing small and shallow damage.

Just apply mayonnaise to the scratch, and try to do it so that adjacent areas of the wood are not covered with it, and wait a few days. If the scratch is really not too deep, then during this time the wood will swell and, on its own, will remove the groove that “showed off” on its surface.

Steam treatment

This is perhaps the most radical way to disguise scratches, the use of which should be approached with extreme caution. Just in case, it’s better to first try steaming some inconspicuous area of ​​the damaged furniture to make sure that such exposure will not damage it.

If your piece of furniture turns out to be immune to such manipulation, you will need to place a piece of wet gauze or cotton fabric folded several times over the scratched area. After this, you need to place a hot iron on the wet gauze or cloth. The essence of this method is also to expand the wood: it should swell under the influence of steam and, expanding, remove the scratch.

Deep renovation

Sometimes the damage to the veneer covering is so serious that it is necessary to replace its damaged parts. But it’s still better than buying new doors. It is worth taking care of the material - pieces of suitable veneer from which the “patch” will be made.

Do-it-yourself deep restoration of veneer doors takes place in the following sequence:

1. Veneer is a thin layer of protective and decorative coating, so cutting it is not very difficult. The place where there is serious, noticeable damage must be carefully cut out.
2. Make an element of suitable size from spare material. It is important to ensure that the pattern matches as much as possible, otherwise the insert will be noticeable. Therefore, you should attach a piece to the canvas and see how it looks up close and from afar. Veneer can be cut with a sharp knife or scalpel.
3. If the patches fit, they are fixed to the canvas with glue. Regular PVA will come in handy.

After the restoration of interior veneer doors has been carried out with your own hands, it must be completely coated with varnish intended for veneer. If, after cutting out the damaged coating, there are chips or irregularities underneath, then they must first be puttied. After the composition has completely dried, you can glue the patches.

Professional products

There are also many special products designed to hide damage on the surface of wooden furniture:

• soft furniture wax;
• hard furniture wax;
• the so-called “furniture touch”;
• stain.

Working with some of them requires the presence of certain professional knowledge and skills, with others (for example, with soft wax or a touch) - it allows for the possibility of success even in the absence of experience. The most difficult task if you take on the use of such products will be choosing the right shade. However, it is worth noting that if the scratches on your furniture are very deep and numerous, and “folk remedies” have not helped to significantly improve the situation, perhaps you should entrust the repair of the damage to professional restorers.

Getting rid of damage

You can get rid of traces of mechanical damage on wooden surfaces using professional products and folk recipes. They must be chosen taking into account the color, texture and capabilities of the housewife. If the furniture is expensive, it is better not to save money. There is a risk of damaging the interior item and incurring additional costs.

Wax

Furniture wax can be soft or hard . The first is used to remove shallow defects, the second is used to restore parts with serious damage. An additional plus is the color range, which allows you to restore any wooden product.

Soft wax has a rich palette and is easy to use. Hard is more durable and durable.

The algorithm for working with any type is identical:

1. Clean the wood.
2. Heat the material.
3. Apply to damage.
4. Leave for 15-20 minutes to dry.
5. Polish the surface.

Excess wax must be removed; it is better to use a plastic spatula for this.

This video will show you how to work with furniture wax:

Shoe polish

I don’t always use the product for its intended purpose. Housewives recommend using it to restore wooden surfaces. Shoe polish is convenient to apply with a sponge, but there is a drawback - it is difficult to choose the desired shade.

Mode of application:

• clean the wood;
• apply the product;
• let dry;
• Remove residues with a soft, lint-free cloth.

The method is effective, but temporary; after 2-3 wet cleanings, the scratch will be noticeable again.

Furniture touch

This is a ready-made restoration material that is easy to use. The appearance resembles a clerical touch; you can purchase any shade in specialized construction stores and supermarkets.

Mode of application:

1. Apply the product in several layers to the damaged area using a brush until the defect is eliminated.
2. Remove excess with a hard, but not sharp, object. The edge of a plastic card will do. Polish the surface with a soft cloth or felt.

To match the color, you can use a special marker or cover the area with varnish. It is better to use the product in a spray bottle. When using a furniture touch, it is necessary to take a break between manipulations for at least 15 minutes, otherwise the layers will not dry well.

Using a stroke to restore a wooden product - in the video:

stain

The universal liquid effectively removes microdamage on wood . The composition penetrates deeply into the structure of the material, colors it, but retains its texture. The stain is applied with a brush in several layers and effectively masks surface defects.

To get the desired shade, you need to stain a small area of ​​the product that is not noticeable. After achieving a natural color, you can proceed to the restoration process.

Polish

Wood furniture polishes easily mask shallow scratches, remove stains and add shine to the surface.
The funds may be based on:

• wax;
• oils;
• silicone

Oil – fills scratches and damage, the surface becomes smooth and shiny. An excellent product for removing scuffs and scratches on wooden surfaces.

Silicone is the leader among polishes . It has a more liquid composition and performs several functions:

1. Fills voids caused by mechanical damage (scratches, chips).
2. Cleans the surface from dirt.
3. Protects the surface from moisture.
4. Has antibacterial properties.

Wax – evenly covers the surface with a protective fatty film, which is an organic antistatic agent. As a result, shallow scratches become invisible.

Beeswax polish is not effective on all surfaces. Metal, plastic, glass, and natural stone should not be treated with this product.

Walnut

Walnut masks scratches thanks to the natural dye juglone. The organic compound is present in the juice of the peel and pulp.

Widely used:

• for dyeing fabrics, especially wool,
• as ink
• in the food industry and cosmetology.

Another plus is that juglone is toxic to insects and is an effective herbicide.

Walnut fruit will help to visually hide mechanical damage on wooden furniture. To do this you need:

• split the kernel into halves;
• treat the damaged area of ​​one of the parts without using physical force;
• let the juice soak into the surface;
• remove oily shine with a soft cloth.

Don't expect instant results; the effect will become noticeable after drying. You can replace the walnut fruit with nut oil, which must be applied to a napkin and treated the surface.