How to Repair Your Oak Furniture

Wooden furniture brings a real sense of individual character to any room, but it is vulnerable to damage, whether from spilled drinks, accidental knocks or even from the environment itself. That's where this handy guide comes in. These tips will allow you to keep your wooden furniture looking at its best, so if your dining table is looking a bit worn, don't worry, help is at hand.

If you have a lot of oak surfaces in your
home, learning to care for the wood is a must

Before you attempt any repairs, it's a good idea to make sure you know how the wood is finished. If it is untreated, then it will be less resistant to damage, but repairs can be easier as you don't need to worry about how the finish will react to treatment. If it has been finished in lacquer, it's best to allow a professional to repair it as achieving the evenness of finish by yourself can be a challenge. If the wood is waxed, then make sure you have a pot of wax with which to touch up any areas that are in need of repair.

Minor dents

You may be surprised to know that minor dents can be easily repaired using a few drops of water, a cloth, and an iron. Simply allow a few droplets of water to soak completely into the dent, and, when the wood becomes moist, place a clean cloth over the top, then - taking care to be gentle - use a warm iron to heat the area. The heat will cause the oak to expand, and as the water dries it allows the wood to set, keeping the new shape and completely ironing out the dent. Do not attempt this on lacquered furniture, as the heat can cause the lacquer to bubble and melt, and you may find that the cloth becomes stuck.

Scratches

Scratches are especially common on the tops of furniture, like dining tables, sideboards and coffee tables. There is a myth that rubbing a shelled walnut on a scratch will help, but this is not true. If the scratch is not deep, and your furniture is either untreated, waxed or stained, you can try lightly sanding the scratch, if it is not too deep, but you will need to re-stain or re-wax the sanded area. If the crack is deeper, you can buy crack-filling crayons from your local DIY centre. Simply heat the end of the crayon to slightly melt it, apply to the scratch, then buff very gently with a soft cloth. This is ideal when dealing with waxed or stained surfaces as you can get a crayon that matches the colour of the finish rather than the colour of the wood.

Burns

Most burns are tough to remove, and will need to be tackled by a professional, but small burns on untreated oak can be removed with this odd sounding tip. Simply apply a little toothpaste to the burn, leave it overnight then clean it off, polish the area, and you may find that the burn has gone completely. This works as the toothpaste absorbs the oxidised, blackened wood particles.

Fading

beeswax can be used on finished wooden surfaces to enhance the shine. If you want to get your hands on some, check out the Furniture Clinic's range of wood treatment products.

Moisture damage

If your furniture becomes moisture damaged, whether it's a ring stain from a carelessly placed glass or coffee cup or a major spillage, then you need to act fast. It may sound strange, but after mopping up excess moisture with a paper towel, you should apply some mayonnaise directly to the stain, rubbing it in well. Leave the stain for a couple of hours, then wipe the area clean with a damp, lint free cloth.