Step by Step Guide to Getting Rid of Scratches on Almost Everything
As frustrating as they are when you first notice them, not all scratches are permanent damage to your valuable home surfaces. With a little effort, some scratches can be easily covered or removed, depending on the type of material being damaged.
Here’s how to fix scratches on various surfaces.
Parquet floor
You can clean hardwood floors and remove scratches at the same time as black tea. As we mentioned earlier , you just need to bring half a gallon of water to a boil and steep about eight black tea bags for 10-15 minutes. Once the tea has cooled, use a rag and place it on the floor. The secret lies in the tannins of the tea, which enhance the warm color of the wood and help hide minor scratches.
You can also try the good old iron method . Wet the scratch, cover it with a wet cloth, and run the iron over the cloth for three to five minutes. You may need to sand the finish a little after this, but larger dents will disappear just as easily.
Stainless steel
It’s stainless steel, not scratch-free steel – the material your appliances are made of is quite susceptible to visible wear. Luckily, you have several options for removing these scratches.
For minor scratches, stainless steel cleaners are a good choice, according to How Stuff Works , as they polish the surface of your appliances and reduce scratches. You can also try sanding with damp sandpaper if your scratch is a little deeper. Just look up your manufacturer to see which sandpaper they recommend.
Cabinets and other wooden furniture
Don’t go straight to sanding if you have scratches on your cabinets, Kitchen Infinity advises . Instead, try light cleaning first, using a cloth dampened with dish soap and water. Dry it thoroughly after you’ve wiped it off, and you may be surprised to see that the visibility of scratches has been greatly reduced.
You can take a rag or sponge soaked in olive oil over the scratches after this point, as long as they haven’t reduced to your liking. One piece of advice we’ve been following for a long time is this : mix half a cup of vinegar and half a cup of olive oil, then rub the mixture over the scratches with a rag. Wipe with a clean cloth and be amazed.
Marble countertops
Marble is brittle and you don’t want to make the scene worse than it already is, so be careful, but according to Martha Stewart , you can sprinkle some baking soda on the scratch and wipe it down with a damp microfiber cloth. Rub in the direction of the fibers. (You can also try dish soap and water first.) When you’re done, apply some marble polish.
Laminate
For laminate, Martha Stewart recommends using a laminate paste, available at your local hardware store. Choose a color that matches your countertop, then apply it in a thin layer, removing excess with a small knife. You can also try a paste made with a tablespoon of baking soda and water, rubbing it into the scratch with your finger, then rinsing it off with a damp cloth, then wiping it off with a clean cloth.
Windows and mirrors
You have a few different paths you can take if you have a scratched glass surface ( and we’ve covered them here ). Apply a thin layer of clear nail polish and let it dry for an hour, for example. When it dries, use some nail polish remover on the fabric to rub over the surface, removing excess around the scratch.
You can also apply the toothpaste to a slightly damp cloth and gently rub the scratch for about 30 seconds in a circular motion. Wipe off the toothpaste and repeat the procedure until the scratches are gone.