The dining table is one of the most well-used pieces of furniture in the home. Whether you’re eating family meals there, or your children are doing their homework.
It’s not a surprise that over time, you will notice that scratches start to appear and there are slight signs of wear and tear.
These scratches are sometimes unavoidable, so we have compiled a list of tips in which you can keep your wooden table looking brand new again.
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Sandpaper
If you’ve got light or surface scratches on your wooden table, then you can remove them by lightly sanding down the area using a sanding sponge or sanding block.
Ensure that you always sand in the direction of the grain. Sandpaper can put scratches into your dining table, so the lower the girt (80, 120) the coarser the paper and the deeper the scratches.
When you go with the grain, this will allow the scratches to blend in with the natural grain.
Light scratches can be removed by using fine sandpaper (180 grit) before using something lighter (240 grit) to blend in and minimise scratches caused by the 180 grit.
If you have deeper scratches then you might want to consider medium sandpaper (120 grit) before this.
You can finish sanding the area using finer sandpaper (240 grit) in the direction of the grain. This will help to blend in and remove the scratches caused by the lower grit paper.
Ensure that you never jump from coarse sandpaper (120 grit) straight to fine sandpaper as you will see the scratch marks from the coarse sandpaper.
Once you’ve managed to remove the scratch or mark, ensure that you clean the dust off the dining table. You can then refinish the table by using oil or wax.
Vinegar
White vinegar usually consists of 5% acetic acid and 95% water. This means it not only makes an ideal cleaning solution, but it also helps to remain minor scratches.
The acetic acid will work into the existing finish around the scratch to help fill it.
Mix 100ml of white vinegar to 200ml of olive oil in a bowl or a cup and mix it well. Use a soft cotton rag and dip it into the cup so the solution gets soaked into it.
Squeeze the rag so that there is no excess product dripping off it. Apply the soaked rag to the table and over the scratched area.
Rub it in a circular motion over the scratches area and finish by rubbing the cloth with the grain. Let the solution sit for at least 2 minutes so it allows the oil to soak into the scratches.
Get a clean rag and wipe off the excess solution, then rub it along the grain. Ensure there is no residue left on the table.
You can repeat this process as necessary. If the scratches don’t seem to disappear then it might be because your scratches are too deep.
If they are deep, then we have listed some strategies and tips below.
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Olive oil
If you’re repairing light scratches then you’ll need a stronger solution of white vinegar than you would use to clean your table.
It’s important to mix the white vinegar with oil, as if it has too high of a concentration of acetic acid, it can cause damage to the tabletop finish. The olive oil will also improve the overall desired result as it will soak into the exposed wood within the scratch.
This will help to achieve a darker colour matching the rest of the finish whilst also protecting the wood. Olive oil is also a natural product that is food safe, so perfect for using on a surface that you’ll be eating from.
Use a walnut
Walnuts have natural oil that will help to fill and expand your table scratches. Rub the walnut over the scratch.
You can also use pecan and peanuts too. The nut oil will darken the exposed wood and make the scratch become less visible.
Once you’re happy with how it looks, press your fingertip over it for a minute. The heat of your skin helps the nut oil to sink into the wood.
Crayons
If you have slightly deeper scratches that vinegar won’t remove, you can try and use children’s crayons. It’s a great way to remove scratches, and here’s why:
Strength
A crayon is made from a selection of different waxes. These waxes have a strengthener added to them to ensure that they are indestructible when used by little hands.
Once they’ve filled the scratch on your table, it will become solid like the rest of the wood.
Colour choice
Crayons come in a variety of different colours, which makes it easy for you to find your perfect match. There are wood colour crayons such as ‘Bisque’, ‘Gold’, ‘Light brown’, ‘Golden beige’, Fuzzy wuzzy’, and ‘Earth tone’.
If you’re unsure of what colour to pick, it’s recommended to always go darker than the actual wood of your table as it will give it a more natural look.
Food safe
Crayons are made so they are suitable for children to use.
As you might be aware, children love putting things into their mouths and so crayons are non-toxic, so using them on your dining table will not be a problem.
Now you’ve learnt all of that about crayons, you might be wondering where to start when using them on your dining table.
Here are simple steps on how to do it:
Ensure that your table is clean and free of debris and dust.
Select the crayon colour that matches your wood, but if you can’t find the right one, it’s best to go for a darker colour as it will improve how the repair blends in with the rest of the surrounding wood.
Rub the crayon over the scratched area sideways and lengthways until the scratch is full of wax. Use a credit card or something similar to gently scrape any excess wax off the table.
Ensure that the table is level where the scratch used to be. Using a clean cotton rag, buff the wax infill as this will help to bend the way into the tabletop.
You can repeat this process several times to achieve a smooth and flat surface. Sometimes, the scratches or voids might be too deep and wide to eliminate using the crayon method.
If this is the case, then we have more tips for deeper wood scratches.
Deep scratches in wood tables
If you have a deep scratch, then you might be panicking about how you can best fix it. The best thing for you to do at this point is to use a specialised wood filler that matches the colour of your table.
You can use your finger or a cotton bud to work the filler into the scratch, ensuring there are no gaps of air.
Use a putty knife or an old credit card to smooth the surface and remove any excess wood filler from the table. Wait for the filler to dry.
Drying times can vary.
Use fine sandpaper (180 grit or 240 grit) on the dried area around the scratch and ensure that it’s following the direction of the wood’s grain. Apply the appropriate amount of oil or wax afterwards.
Scratches in dark wood
There are a variety of tones and colours for dark wood. To cover scratches in dark furniture, choose a colouring agent that matches the wood.
- Mahogany or cherry wood: Use shoe polish or iodine
- Ebony wood: Use fireplace or wood ash mixed with a little water to form a paste.
- Darker woods like acacia: Use damp coffee grounds
- Medium-coloured wood: Use black tea. The darker the wood, the stronger the tea should be.
You should use a cotton swab or paintbrush to apply a thick layer or the colouring agent that you’ve chosen.
Take care not to get it on the surrounding wood. Let it sit for approximately an hour and wipe off the excess. Use furniture polish to set the colour.
How to fix dents or gouges in wooden furniture
If you have a light gauge, try the iron method, then follow the other steps for covering scratches in wood. If you have gouges and dents in painted wood furniture, there are steps for sanding above and refinishing.
Use an iron
To remove dents from wood furniture using your iron. Very lightly dampen a thick white towel and place it over the dent and run a hot iron continuously over the spot for 30 seconds.
Rotate the cloth and repeat. Once you’ve lifted the dent, wait 24 hours to let the wood fully dry and then rub the area with olive oil to remove any haze.
It’s vital for you to care for your wooden table to improve its longevity in your home. We hope that we have given you enough advice on how you can best take care of it if there are any scratches or gauges.
Last update on 2024-03-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API