Outdoor Furniture, Patio Furniture and more!

Okay, so now you know how easy it can be to fix a loose rung on a patio chair, garden bench, or picnic table.  It’s always a good feeling to be able to restore a favorite piece of outdoor furniture to its former glory – or, at least, a semblance thereof – without the help of a professional.  Of course, there are times when a beloved old porch swing, Adirondack chair, glider, or outdoor dining table is in need of repair, but only because of a few scratches.

In many instances, you can hide these flaws, using items that you may already have on hand.  If, for example, there’s a scratch in your wood porch chair, a nut may come to the rescue (as is the case so many times in life).  Rub a pecan, or any nut that has a high oil content, over the scratch, and watch it disappear.  Even a bit of peanut butter may do the trick.  The only trouble there is that the aroma may be so strong that you’ll find yourself craving a peanut butter sandwich every time you sit down.  To avoid this temptation, use olive or vegetable oil instead; simply rub it in with your finger, and polish it with a soft rag.

Another solution, which many people find to be a real eye-opener, is coffee.  Just mix one teaspoon of the instant variety with one tablespoon of vegetable oil or water, and work it in gently with a soft rag.  Although this is great for covering scratches on dark wood patio furniture, it is not recommended for use on shellac, or antiques.

Fortunately, there are many other household items that are not nearly as appetizing, which can diminish the appearance of scratches on wood porch furniture; but these should be tested on inconspicuous areas first.  Iodine, for instance, works well on reddish finishes, such as mahogany; and liquid and paste shoe polishes, available in a wide range of shades, can easily be matched to most wood tones.  Felt-tipped markers and softened crayons can be used, too, and you can mix their colors to get the perfect match for the wood.

So, there you have several easy fixes for scratches in your wood outdoor furniture; but, as I said, your options may be limited if the smell of peanut butter is going to drive you nuts. Furthermore, if you’re trying to cut down on caffeine, the coffee suggestion may be out as well.  However, if you can resist the urge to have a cup every time you get a whiff of it, you can have your “coffee fix” and still get to sleep at night!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: adirondack chair, garden bench, glider, outdoor dining table, Outdoor Furniture, patio chair, patio furniture, picnic table, porch chair, porch furniture, porch swing