A Natural Fix for a Scratched Wood Door

Steel Wool

• One of the most natural and cost-effective ways to blend small scratches back into the wood surface is by using 0000 steel wool, which is extremely fine. Be aware that a coarser grade of steel wool will likely compound your problems by adding new scratches. Use the fine steel wool as you would sandpaper, gently rubbing it over the scratch to blend it back into the surrounding wood. Feather out the edges of your sanding area to create a smooth blend.

Alcohol

• In some instances, small marks in the finish can look like scratches because they penetrate only the finish without cutting into the wood beneath. In these cases, some rubbing alcohol and a cotton ball or swab rubbed over the mark helps to dissolve and blend the finish back into the scratch. Use small circular motions over the scratch until it is no longer visible. Do not overdo it, or you may succeed in thinning the finish too much and creating a larger mark.

Finishing

• Once your scratch is blended back in, a bit of matched finish over the spot can help to further conceal it in the instance that you had to use steel wool. This is not always necessary, depending both on the severity of the scratch and the color of the wood. Light finishes are much more forgiving than dark ones.

Markers and Sticks

• If the natural approaches do not work out, purchase commercially-available markers or wax sticks in the color that matches the door's finish. These swiftly and easily color in the scratch, making it all but invisible. Wax sticks are ideal for deeper scratches as the wax acts as a colored filler in the scratch.