In part two of our list of hints for keeping your solid wood furniture stain free we look at some of the more extreme examples of wood marking.
Light Cigarette Burns:
Rub the stained surface with scratch-concealing polish. If that does not work you could try rubbing it with a paste of linseed oil and rottenstone with the grain until the burn mark is completely gone.
Nail Polish:
Try to blot the spilled nail polish as soon as possible while it is still wet. If it has become dry, rub it with fine steel wool dipped in bees wax. Wipe the surface dry and wax or oil.
Heat Marks:
This may be slightly tricky. Rub gently with dry steel wool soap pad or a cloth dampened with camphorated oil or mineral spirits. Be careful not to cause scratches. Use the finest steel wool available. Wipe the surface clean and wax or oil.
Paint Marks:
If the paint is still wet, it can be removed with water or oil-based paint solvents with mineral spirits. If it has become dry, put some boiled linseed oil on the stain and wait until the paint softens and scrape carefully with a knife or wipe with cloth dampened with boiled linseed oil. Wipe the surface dry and wax or polish.
Scratches:
Rub a shoe polish closest in shade into the scratch. This is a very effective and easy solution. You could also use a felt-tip pen of a matching shade to fill into the scratch.
One way to guard against noticeable marks, without having your lovely furniture permanently covered up or hidden away, is to buy what’s known as ‘rustic’ furniture. Generally more common on Indian wood pieces, this effect is created by the craftsmen deliberately aging brand new furniture by selectively denting, chipping and filling different parts of it. Whilst it may sound severe, done correctly the furniture will look naturally aged meaning that any minor mishaps you may have will just blend in.
Hopefully we have helped with some of the most common marks, but if anyone has any more tips feel free to post them in the comments box.
Tags: Handy hints, Oak furniture, Rustic
