How To Remove Dents and Scratches From Hardwood Furniture

By Tobin Dimmitt

It’s a depressing sight to find a highly visible dent or scratch in your authentic hardwood furniture. Although these cosmetic issues usually won’t affect the performance of the furniture, it will reduce its overall aesthetic value. The good news, however, is that there are usually ways to fix dents and scratches in furniture. If you are willing to put forth the time and effort, you should be able to transform your hardwood furniture back to its original appearance; here’s how you do it:

Deep Dents

You might be surprised to learn that one of the best ways to treat dents in hardwood furniture is to fill the area with water. You don’t have to flood it with excessive amounts of water, but instead place a couple drops of water to fill the area. As the water seeps down into the dent, it will swell and “hopefully” pop the dent out. Many owners have reported success using this method on basic dents. It’s important to note, however, that this method isn’t recommended for fixing scratches.

Minor Scratches

There are couple options available to fix minor scratches in hardwood furniture, one of which is to simply rub it down with a piece of medium-grit sandpaper. This will of course wear the finish and surface off the affected area on your furniture, but it should also smooth out the scratch. I know some owners might be hesitant of taking a piece of sand paper to their hardwood furniture, but it’s an effective way to remove minor scratches. When you are finished, you can even go back over the area with a glass finish to mimic its previous appearance.

Another option available for fixing minor scratches is to purchase a repair kit from your local furniture store. Typically, these kits contain a sawdust material along with tubes of glue that you mix and apply directly to the scratch. Simply fill the scratch in and smooth it over for a quick fix. The only problem is that it’s oftentimes difficult to find a kit to match the exact style and coloring of your furniture.

Severe Scratches

When it comes to severe hardwood furniture scratches, the best course of action is to usually hire a professional to do the job for you. You might be surprised to hear that there are companies and individuals out there who specialize in furniture repair. They have both the skills and equipment necessary to fix even the most severe scratches. You can find them either by asking around at various Amish furniture shops in your area or by browsing the internet.

If you can’t remove the scratches and dents and you’re thinking of ways to get rid of old furniture pieces, consider upcycling or recycling them.