How to: Fix the Everyday Wear and Tear

How to: Fix the Everyday Wear and Tear

If you have wood furniture or floors, like many of us in Bermuda, then you know they don’t stay pristine forever. Even when you’ve taken the time to buy quality pieces that will last for years to come, the wear and tear of everyday life takes it’s toll.

Keeping your furniture hidden is not an option, these pieces are meant to be used and well loved; they are meant to be enjoyed. The trick is to know how to take care of them. Here are some at-home tools to take care of those dents, scratches, worn edges, and overall wear and tear of your wooden pieces:

Lemon Juice – For a minor scratch in the finish, mix equal parts lemon juice and vegetable/olive oil. Using a clean lint cloth apply a generous amount and rub firmly in the direction of the scratch until it disappears. You can try the same thing with white vinegar instead of Lemon juice.

Get A Little Nutty – For deeper scratches that expose the wood, you can fill in the scratch using the meat of an almond or walnut. Rub the meat of the nut into the scratch in the direction of the scratch until it disappears.

White Rings – Put a little toothpaste on a wet cloth and rub the stain gently until the spot disappears. You can also try a mixture of toothpaste and baking soda for a stronger, yet mild, abrasive. Depending on the size of the stain, 1/4 or 1/2 teaspoon of each should do the trick.

Steam Em out? –For dents in wood you can try to steam them with moisture and steam from an iron. First wet the dent, apply a wet cloth or paper towel, with and iron on high apply the iron to the wet paper towel or cloth and make a circular motion, don’t keep it in just one position as this might burn the surface of the towel. Make sure there is a lot of steam being generated. Do this for a few minutes (3-5 max) and check your results. You may want to try sanding and reapplying finish once it’s come up as dirt can get in.

NOTE: BE CAREFUL! SOME FINISHES MIGHT TURN WHITE WHEN EXPOSED TO STEAM. PLEASE TRY THIS IN A HIDDEN AREA BEFORE DOING IT IN A VISIBLE PLACE.

Markers – Felt-tip touch-up markers come in a variety of wood tones to match common furniture finishes. Use them to color large scratches or edges where the stain has worn away. Apply a coat of paste wax over the repair and the entire adjacent surface to impart an even sheen.

Coffee & Tea – To darken a light colored scratch, place coffee grounds or steeped black tea on a Q-tip and lightly dap at the scratch. Apply lightly at first and wait a few hours before applying more. For the tea quickly wipe away excess liquid and apply more as needed until tea matched surface color.

These are only quick fixes so when the everyday wear and tear becomes too much take your pieces into a professional. You’ll be happy you did and even happier you’ll be able to enjoy your pieces for even longer.

Disclaimer: This information is general in nature, and does not take into account your personal situation. BS&R Group Ltd. is not liable for any damage that arises from do-it-yourself projects.