Tips and Tricks for Using Furniture Polish and Scratch Remover

It is inevitable in most homes that wood furniture will eventually become either dull or lackluster, or that the furniture may be subject to abuse and suffer from a scratch (or three.) Furniture that is not regularly maintained can result in severely damaged or neglected furniture that requires refinishing to return it to it's original condition. Unfortunately, refinishing wood furniture can be costly. However, you can keep your furniture in good shape by utilizing scratch remover products or techniques as well as keeping the furniture properly polished.

Tips and Tricks for Removing Scratches on Furniture

The technique used on scratches will vary based on the depth of the deepest scratch. If you are unsure of the depth of a scratch, use a technique for a lighter scratch before trying a technique for a deeper scratch. Also, always be sure to use a soft, clean cloth.

Faint surface scuffs or scratches can often be buffed out with or without the use of a furniture polish. In fact, many common household items can be used to remove these scratches. The DoItYourself.com website recommends using equal parts of lemon juice and salad oil to gently rub scratches away.

Scratches that remove the underlying stain may require sanding down and refinishing. Though this can be costly and take up to several weeks before you'll receive the piece of furniture back.

If you're short on cash or time, you can purchase a furniture touch-up pen, though if the color is not an exact match you may see the mark where you covered the scratch. Other options include using an eyebrow pencil, shoe polish or even crayons. All of these can fill up the scratch and be polished over for a seamless appearance.

Tips for Using Furniture Polish

Polishing furniture does not require the use of a "furniture polishing cloth." Fabrics such as terry towels, cotton knits, cloth diapers or flannel cloths can all safely be used to apply polish to furniture. Never use cloth that is coarse or full of lint, as these can leave small scratches in the furniture's surface.

You don't have to rush out and purchase a polish specifically for oil. In fact, just as with scratches, furniture can be polished using products found in your kitchen. Vegetable oil or olive oil can both be used to polish wood. According to DoItYourself.com, simply mix two parts oil to one part lemon juice and apply using a cloth. The DIY Network, another online website, recommends using furniture polish recipes that contain mineral oil, grated beeswax, and white vinegar.

If you're uncomfortable with using kitchen products on your wood furniture, there are also several products available on the market specifically for polishing furniture.

Lastly, when you're actually performing the task of polishing furniture, always go with the grain rather than against it. Polishing in a circular motion rather than going with the grain can result in microscopic scratches which over time, can build up and result in damage to the wood that requires sanding and refinishing.