Simple Repairs  

Hardwood furniture damage can be repaired quickly and effectively with the right materials, a bit of elbow grease, and some careful attention to detail. More complex repair or refinishing jobs are best left to professionals, especially if the piece has one of today's "super finishes".

Scratch and nick

Always test an less visable area when you plan to fix a nick or scratch. Make sure the mixture will not affect the finish.

Finish Treatment

You can use shoe polish to Fill Stains on Dark Wood scratches use a shoe polish that matches the lightest shade furniture finish. Walnut or Brazil nut meat can be rubbed into a scratch in the direction of the scratch to fill a scratch as well. You can also use a crayon or a felt tipped marker. To fill cherry wood scratches use cordovan or reddish shoe polish to match the woods color, you can also apply dark iodine with a cotton or thin brush. To fix Light Woods or Stains use tan or natural shoe polish to Fill the scratches or use dark iodine diluted with denatured alcohol fifty percent.

Removing Stains

Today's finishes require careful and special attention when it comes to removing stains. There are numerous remedies for a stain, some can damage the finish on your furniture. If you're not sure, a professional refinished should be called.

Common stains can often be treated yourself. But keep in mind to always test your method on a small area to make sure that it removes the stain and does not damage the finish.

Treating Stains

Water Marks and water Rings are most often rings in the wax and not rings in the finish. To repair water rings cover the ring with a clean and thick blotter, use a warm iron and press down on the blotter repeat this until the ring fades. Another way to remove a ring is to rub it with mayonnaise, salad oil, or white toothpaste. Once the treatment fixes the problem wipe it dry and polish or wax.

A good method for removing white marks is to use a mixture of cigarette ashes and salad oil or lemon juice and rub it on the white mark with a cloth. Lighter fluid can also be used, followed by a mixture of salad oil and rottenstone. After treating the stain wipe it dry then wax or polish. Another way is to rub boiled linseed oil and rottenstone made into a paste on the mark going with the grain, you should substitute rottenstone for pumice for use on dull finishes. You can also use ammonia and a dampened cloth. Wipe dry and wax or polish.

Other Home Remedies

During everyday use, your hardwood furniture may be subjected to mishaps and spills which temporarily mar its finish.

Problem Treatment

Cigarette Burns (light) Rub with scratch-concealing polish, or with a paste of linseed oil and rottenstone, working with the grain until the burn mark disappears.
Heat Marks Rub gently along the grain, using a dry steel wool soap pad or a cloth dampened with camphorated oil or mineral spirits, or rub gently along the grain with extra-fine (0000) steel wool. Wipe clean and wax or polish. Nail Polish Blot the spill immediately, then rub with fine steel wool (0) dipped in wax. Wipe dry and wax or polish. Paint Marks If fresh, remove latex paint with water and oil-based paint with mineral spirits. If dry, soak spot in boiled linseed oil, wait until paint softens and lift carefully with a putty knife or wipe with cloth dampened with boiled linseed oil. Residue can be removed by rubbing along the grain with a paste of boiled linseed oil and rottenstone. Wipe dry and wax or polish. Sticking Paper Dampen the paper thoroughly with salad oil, wait five minutes and rub along the grain with extra-fine (0000) steel wool. Wipe dry and wax or polish. Wax or Gum Harden the substance by holding an ice cube wrapped in cloth against it, then use your fingernail or plastic credit card to remove it. Rub the area with extra-fine (0000) steel wool dipped in mineral spirits. Wipe dry and wax or polish.

Keep Your Furniture Looking Great

Furniture is made to be used and enjoyed and accidents happen, especially when there are small children at home. Take these steps to keep damage from everyday life to a minimum:

Unless your furniture has a new "super finish" to protect it, use coasters to prevent spills, stains and damage from hot dishes. Blot all spills immediately. Keep solvents, alcohol, nail polish and polish removers away from your furniture surfaces. When dusting, always lift lamps and other objects - don't slide then across the furniture's surface. Always lift furniture to move it - don't drag it. Open and close doors, drawers and lids gently.

 

Please call Al's Finish Carpentry at: 714-664-8824

 

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