Reduce a scratch on wooden furniture (walnut tip)
A scratch on the living room table? A simple nut can make it disappear visually.
Recommended Materials
- Walnut kernels (or pecans)
- Coffee grounds (for dark wood)
- Beeswax
- Soft cloth
Steps to follow
Step 1
The walnut tip (For light or medium wood): Take a shelled walnut (or a pecan, an almond, a Brazil nut). Rub the flesh of the walnut directly onto the scratch, along the grain of the wood. The oil contained in the nut will nourish the dried wood and the flesh will lightly fill the hollow by becoming colored. Then polish with a soft cloth.
Step 2
Coffee grounds (For dark wood): Mix a little damp coffee grounds with a few drops of water or linseed oil to make a paste. Apply to the scratch. Leave for 15 minutes so that the wood absorbs the color. Wipe off the excess.
Step 3
Black tea (Natural tincture): Infuse a bag of black tea in very little boiling water (to have a very dark concentrate). Apply the wet sachet or liquid with a cotton swab to the scratch. Repeat until you get the right shade.
Step 4
Wax pencil (For deep scratches): If the wood is nicked, use a stick of filling wax (available in DIY stores in all wood shades). Rub the stick over the scratch to fill the hole, level with a plastic spatula and buff.
Step 5
The Oil + Vinegar mixture: Mix 3/4 olive oil and 1/4 white vinegar. Rub the entire piece of furniture with this mixture. It nourishes, cleans and reduces small surface scratches.
Frequently Asked Questions
On melamine or laminate (Ikea) ?
Walnut won't work because it's not solid wood (it doesn't drink oil). Use special permanent touch-up pens or hard wax.
Precautions
- Test the color on a hidden corner.
- Do not use edible oil which goes rancid (except walnut which dries).
