Tricks for Restoring Wood Furniture, No Sanding Required

Water rings, scratches and faded stains might make you think your wood furniture is beyond salvaging. Before you throw it out or give it away to your poor college nephew as a hand-me-down, try some of the following easy, no-sanding-required suggestions for restoring wood furniture.

A Good Cleaning
The first step to restoring old wood furniture is to give it a good cleaning with an orange or lemon-oil cleaner. Don’t waste your time with furniture polish, go straight for the good stuff: Murphy’s Oil Soap. Spray or wipe on, let it sit for ten to fifteen minutes and then wipe off. Do this two to three times, allowing the furniture to dry completely between applications.

A Smear of Mayo
If you’ve ever thoughtlessly sat a coffee cup or glass down on a wood table without using a coaster, you’ve probably seen how easy it is for those white water rings to happen. The white rings are caused by the absorbing too much of the moisture and this is one of the most common blemishes you ‘ll find on older wood furniture. Fortunately, in most cases, this blemish is easily correct with just a smear of mayo.  Yes, that’s right, regular old mayo that you probably keep in your fridge for sandwiches. Lightly dab some mayonnaise on the ring and let it sit 30 minutes to an hour before wiping it off.

Oil and Vinegar
It might sound like the makings to your favorite salad dressing, but believe it or not, a little oil and vinegar might be all you need to bring your favorite old wood dresser back to life. Mix ¾ cup extra virgin olive oil with ¼ cup white vinegar and then apply it with a piece of cheese cloth. This mixture will bring a dried out piece of wood back to life and is perfect for furniture that has light water damage but mostly just looks old and worn out because it’s been stored in the garage, basement, or attic for too long.

A Nutty Idea
Once you’ve removed water rings and splotchy stain, your old wood furniture will have taken on new life. For some people, there’s no need to go any further but if your something of a perfectionist, you may be staring down at a scratch or two and contemplating pulling out the sander. Before you break out the power tools, look around and see if you can find a walnut instead. Simply crack open a walnut and rub the meat along any dings or scratches and watch in awe as the dings and scratches seem to miraculously fade from view.

Before You Give Up
Professional woodworkers and restorers swear by Howard’s Restor-a-Finish, a wood product that you can find at most Lowe’s and Home Improvement Centers. According to fans of the product, it will not only remove minor scratches and water stains, but will also remove heat stains and even out the finish.