All-Natural Wood Scratch Remover

If your wood chairs, stools and end tables are anything like mine, they have their fair share of nicks, scratches and dings. Moving, pets and just everyday use take their toll.

While I don’t mind—and even like—my furniture to look a little worn in and distressed, with certain pieces, especially bare wood, scratches are a bit unsightly.

Luckily, you probably already have everything you need to touch up the scratches in your wood furniture in your kitchen cabinets.

Here’s my recipe for an easy peasy all-natural wood scratch remover that you can make right now.

I love making homemade cleaning supplies from natural ingredients. You don’t have to guess what’s in them. And, when you’re the one making them, you know that there’s nothing harmful for you, your pets or kids.

Making your own homemade cleaners is also more budget-friendly. For this all-natural wood scratch remover, you need just two inexpensive ingredients: white vinegar and oil. While you can use whatever oil you like—olive, walnut or almond—canola oil is a great option because it’s super inexpensive.

What you’ll need:
– White vinegar
– Oil (canola or olive oil)
– Jar

To make this all-natural wood scratch remover, simply combine about 1/4 parts vinegar with 3/4 parts oil. You don’t need to be exact. I didn’t want to make a ton of the mixture, so I mixed together 2 tablespoons vinegar and 1/2 cup canola oil. (For you numbers people, I realize I should have used 3/8 cup oil to make it exactly 3/4 parts, but I was lazy, okay.)

Just combine the ingredients in a jar with a lid. Shake the jar to mix the vinegar and oil together, and you’re done!

Use a soft cloth to buff the scratch remover onto your wood furniture. Check the mixture on an inconspicuous area first. The oil will sink in and potentially darken the color. Your furniture will thank you though. Like a gulp of fresh water when you’re really thirsty, the oil revitalizes and replenishes wood.

See the before and after on the partially polished chair in the image above? The top half is before using the mixture. The bottom half is after. This chair didn’t have too many obvious scratches, but where it did, the mixture helped fill them in and make them less noticeable. For the rest of the wood, it gave it a nice polish and sheen.

See why I have to make homemade cleaners? No sooner had I polished this chair than my curious pup came over to sniff it and give it a lick. Good thing it’s just oil and vinegar!

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