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10 Genius Ways To Fix Scratches on Any Surface

Restore the look of wood floors, furniture, glass, and more with these remarkable products.

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Finding scratches and gouges on the floors, walls, furniture, or other surfaces in your home can be frustrating, and they can make your home and belongings look aged and worn out even if they aren’t really that old. Fortunately, you can often remove or hide these imperfections with a few simple tricks.

Below are 10 of the best products to fix scratches and help you restore the surfaces in your home to their original splendor without having to replace them.

1. Cabinet and Furniture Restorer 

10 Genius Products for Fixing Scratches and Gouges on Any Surface
Photo: Amazon.com

This cabinet and furniture restorer features a polymer-based formula that works to return wood, Formica, and laminate cabinets, furniture, and other surfaces to their original appearance. Simply wipe the liquid formula over wood surfaces and scratched areas. It will fill in the scratches while also adding shine and offering UV protection. One coat can provide months of protection.

Get the Rejuvenate Cabinet & Furniture Restorer on Amazon for $9.99.

2. Wood Filler

10 Genius Products for Fixing Scratches and Gouges on Any Surface
Photo: Amazon.com

Repair nicks and gouges in wood floors, wood furniture, and other surfaces with this water-based wood and grain filler. Wood fillers, such as this one, make it possible to fill in imperfections. This wood filler doesn’t crack, shrink, or sink for optimal results. It will also accept different wood finishes or stains, allowing you to cover up any evidence of the patch job. You can even mix a pigment or stain in with the filler before using it to repair your item.

Get the Goodfilla Water-Based Wood Filler on Amazon for $10.99.

3. Leather and Vinyl Repair Kit

10 Genius Products for Fixing Scratches and Gouges on Any Surface
Photo: Amazon.com

This leather and vinyl repair kit includes all the supplies you’ll need to restore vinyl or leather sofas, car seats, jackets, and more. It will help you cover up scratches and cracks; patch rips, tears and burn holes; and fix peeling surfaces. The kit comes with 10 repair compounds in varying colors to match different leathers and vinyls to ensure a seamless repair that will blend in with your couch, seat, or other item.

Get the Coconix Vinyl and Leather Repair Kit on Amazon for $17.95.

4. Scratch Cover

10 Genius Products for Fixing Scratches and Gouges on Any Surface
Photo: Amazon.com

Finding scratches on your wood floor or wood furniture can be disheartening. This scratch cover is designed to help restore wood damaged by pets, scuff marks, and more. In addition to helping rejuvenate floors and furniture items, the scratch cover also leaves a protective shield behind on the wood to minimize future damage. It’s available in both a light and dark wood shade to match your home.

Get the Old English Scratch Cover for Light Woods on Amazon for $8.27

5. Toothpaste

10 Genius Products for Fixing Scratches and Gouges on Any Surface
Photo: Amazon.com

One versatile scratch remover may be sitting in your medicine cabinet right now. White toothpaste can work wonders at removing scratches from phone screens, watch faces, car headlights, glass, and more. Before using toothpaste to remove a scratch, it is important to perform a test in an inconspicuous area to confirm that the toothpaste isn’t going to cause further damage. Also, remember that toothpaste is best for surface scratches and won’t work for deep gouges.

Get the Arm & Hammer Sensitive Teeth & Gums Toothpaste on Amazon for $8.64.

6. Epoxy Putty Wood Repair Stick

10 TK Genius Products for Fixing Scratches and Gouges on Any Surface
Photo: Amazon.com

This epoxy putty wood repair stick can help you fix dry rot, furniture gouges, and large gaps. The two-part formula is easy to apply by hand: Knead the putty together to mix the different components, and then use it to even out surfaces or repair items. Once applied, it takes less than 30 minutes to set and will cure in just one hour. The putty can be stained, drilled, or sanded and will not rot or shrink.

Get the J-B Weld KwikWood Wood Repair Epoxy Putty Stick on Amazon for $6.98.

7. Drywall Repair Kit

10 Genius Products for Fixing Scratches and Gouges on Any Surface
Photo: Amazon.com

A hole or gouge in a wall can be unsightly. This drywall repair kit makes it easy to patch the hole and improve the look of your space. The kit comes with a 4-inch self-adhesive patch to cover the hole and a primer-enhanced spackling compound to fully repair the damage. Use the included sanding pad to smooth the surface, let it fully dry, then paint to match the rest of the wall.

Get the 3M High Strength Small Hole Repair Kit on Amazon for $11.98.

8. Stain Marker

10 Genius Products for Fixing Scratches and Gouges on Any Surface
Photo: Amazon.com

Stain markers offer a simple solution to fix scratches on hardwood floors, wood furniture, and other wooden surfaces in your home. This kit includes six wax touch-up sticks along with six markers pigmented to match oak, maple, cherry, mahogany, walnut, and black wood. Begin by marking over the scratches with the touch-up stick, then color over it using the markers, starting with a lighter color and applying multiple coats with the darker colors to match the wood.

Get the Katzco Wood Markers on Amazon for $7.99.

9. Clear Nail Polish

10 Genius Products for Fixing Scratches and Gouges on Any Surface
Photo: Amazon.com

Clear nail polish can be an effective tool for removing scratches from glass. The nail polish can fill in the cracks and small dings, leaving the glass with a smoother finish. To use clear nail polish on glass, apply a thin layer over the scratch and allow it to cure for approximately one hour. Then, dip a clean, soft cloth in nail polish remover and gently wipe it over the area where the nail polish was applied to remove any excess polish from the surface.

Get the Revlon Clear Nail Enamel on Amazon for $5.49.

10. Metal Polish

10 Genius Products for Fixing Scratches and Gouges on Any Surface
Photo: Amazon.com

In addition to removing scratches from metal, metal polish can also be used to remove scratches on glass. After cleaning the glass, put some polish onto a clean cloth and use circular motions to rub it over the scratched area. Work gently, and don’t use too much polish, as doing so may end up leaving more scratches on the surface.

Get the Flitz Multi-Purpose Polish and Cleaner Liquid on Amazon for $8.99.

The prices listed here are accurate as of an update on November 10, 2023.

 
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Deirdre Mundorf

Contributing Writer

Deirdre Mundorf is a former teacher and freelance writer who most enjoys working with topics pertaining to home, family, and pets. She began freelance writing in 2019, after the birth of her first child, and has been contributing to BobVila.com since 2020.

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