We carry the wonderful Howard Restor-A-Finish line, which we use ourselves.
Stop by to see how this great line can rejuvenate wood finish
repair surface flaws, and conceal stains and scratches.

Tips for furniture care

Caveat: As with all free advice, follow these tips at your own risk.

Removing Stains

Water Marks and Rings: Often, rings are in the wax, not the finish. Cover the stain with a clean, thick blotter, press down with a warm iron, and repeat. Or rub with salad oil, mayonnaise or white toothpaste. Wipe dry and wax or polish.

White Marks: Rub with a cloth dipped in a mixture of cigarette ashes and lemon juice or salad oil. Or rub with a cloth dipped in lighter fluid, followed by a mixture of rottenstone and salad oil. Wipe dry and wax or polish.

Milk or Alcohol: Use your fingers to rub liquid or paste wax into the stain. Or rub in a paste of boiled linseed oil and rottenstone with the grain, substituting pumice for dull finishes. Or rub with ammonia on a dampened cloth. Wipe dry and wax or polish.

Scratch and Nick First-Aid

Dark Wood or Stain: Fill scratches with shoe polish that matches the lightest shade of the finish, or rub with walnut or Brazil nut meat in the direction of the scratch. A child's crayon or felt-tipped marker can also be used.

Cherry: Fill the scratches with cordovan or reddish shoe polish that matches the wood, or apply darkened iodine with a cotton swab or thin artist's brush.

Light Wood or Stain: Fill scratches with a tan or natural shoe polish, or apply darkened iodine diluted 50 percent with denatured alcohol.

We also carry the Howard Restor-A-Finish product line, which we highly recommend and use ourselves.

You may find more helpful tips at How to Mend It.

Ken's furniture care articles appear in the Home and Garden section of The Olympian every 2 weeks.

• "Dust We Must" Tips on dusting (First published 12-10-05)
• "Moving is Hard" How to move furniture without damage (First published 12-24-05)
• "Tracking the Movements of the Enemy" The effects of water on furniture (First published 1-7-06)
• "Oops!" Wood finish care (First published 1-21-06)
• "Cleaning Up the Mess" Cleaning fabric furniture (First published 2-4-06)
• "Whatta Mess" Cleaning exotic stains (First published 2-18-06)
• "Ink is for Squids" Cleaning up ink spills (First published 3-4-06)
• "It's Not Over Until It's Finished" Wood finish basics (First published 3-18-06)
• "What's It Worth" Determining the value of used items (First published 4-1-06)
• "Shopping Case Goods" (First published 4-15-06)
• "Shopping Dining Furniture" (First published 4-29-06)
• "Everything You Know Is Wrong" Dispelling myths about furniture (First published 5-13-06)
• Dangerous Furniture (First published 5/27/06)
• Intro to Interior Design (First published 6/10/06)
• Change in the weather (First published 6/24/06)
• Designer Look (First published 7/8/06)
• Las Vegas Market (First published 8/5/06)
• Color My World (First published (8/19/06)
• Color Wheel (First published 9/2/06)
• Exotic Woods (First published 9/16/06)
• Upholstery Interview (First published 9/30/06)
• Turkish Rugs (First published 10/14/06)
• 10 essential pieces (1st 5) (First published 10/28/06)
• 10 essential pieces (2nd 5) (First published 11/11/06)
• I hate Trading Spaces (First published 11/25/06)
• History of plywood
• Plywood Furniture
• Gustav Stickley
• Postmodern Furniture Design
• Mid-century Modern Furniture Design
• Modern Furniture Design
• "Green cleaning" - vinegar and baking soda
• "Green cleaning" - ammonia and bleach
• Art Deco
• Art Nouveau
• Using stuff up
• "Green" shopping in Olympia
• Auctions as Recyclers
• William Morris - Arts & Crafts in Great Britain
• Home lighting
• Setting up a home office
• Tidying up a home office
• Keeping "Green"
• Introduction to carpeting
• New home stores in downtown Olympia
• Buying Chinese antiques - part 1
• Buying Chinese antiques - part 2
• Placing furniture - part 1
• Placing furniture - part 2
• Finding a focal point
• 4 main styles
• Spring cleaning 1 of 3
• Spring cleaning 2 of 3
• Spring cleaning 3 of 3
• Retrofit for an Eco-home 1
• Retrofit for an Eco-home 2
• Furniture woods - oak
• Furniture woods - maple and cherry
• Furniture woods - mahogany and walnut
• Re-covering dining chairs
• Redoing a small bathroom
• Attending your first auction
• Lights effect on color
• Vegas Market 2008
• Task Lighting
• Entryway Lighting
• Prefabricated Housing
• Minimalism and bedroom design
• Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding Together
• Origins of Denim
• Cutting Utility Costs
• A few recipes
• A response on utility costs
• Fixing drywall patches
• The furniture business and the current economy
• Smoke Alarms
• Reds and blues effect on us

If you have questions about any of these articles, or suggestions for future columns, you can always drop me a line at ken@olyfurnitureworks.com.

We're delighted to bring you more original articles about caring for your home.Jessica Ackerman is a senior staff writer for Wall Decor and Home Accents.com. Stop by for wall decorating ideas, unique iron wall art , wall planters and wrought iron wall decor .