How to Fix Scratches on Wood Furniture in One Step

A scratch on a wood table or a nick on a dresser doesn't mean refinishing the whole piece. Most surface scratches can be colored in and sealed in a few minutes.

First: is the wood stained or painted?

If you can see the wood grain, it's stained. Use stain. If the color is solid with no grain, it's painted. Use touch-up paint instead.

Step 1: Clean the scratch

Wipe away dust and furniture polish with a dry or barely damp cloth. Let it dry.

Step 2: Pick the closest color

Go slightly lighter rather than darker. You can always add a second coat to deepen it, but you can't lighten it.

• Espresso: dark brown, modern and dark-stained furniture, dark floors
• Golden Oak: warm honey tones, oak trim, doors and traditional furniture

Step 3: Stain and seal in one pass

Brush along the grain over the scratch. Stain colors it in; polyurethane seals it. A combined stain + poly does both in one step, so there's no separate clear coat. Mr. Brushable Wood Stain + Poly has the brush built into the bottle: squeeze and brush.

Step 4: Let it dry, then judge

Stain looks different wet. Let it dry and add a second light coat only if it needs to be darker.

Quick answers

Will it fix deep gouges? It colors and seals them, but won't fill the dent. For deep gouges, fill first with wood filler.

What about pet scratches on stairs and floors? Same method; brush along the grain and let it dry before walking on it.

Moving damage? Perfect for the dings that show up after the movers leave.

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