This DIY Trick Is Nuts

Looking to remove scratches and fill damaged spots on your wooden furniture pieces or decor accessories?

Try this quick and easy way to restore your wood treasures without sanding or staining.

A few weeks ago, I shared the story of how I found an old tray at the thrift store.

It was a lovely piece, lightweight and large.

And although it was completely scratched, I mean, it was icky, and definitely not in any kind of condition to use for service, I thought it'd make a great palette for some kind of artsy wooden sign.

Plus, at two bucks it was a bargain.

So I brought it home.

Of course, if you're familiar with this tale, then you know when I turned it over, I discovered that it was a vintage Toastmaster tray and suddenly I didn't have the heart to paint it.

Oh, but the scratches. Not good.

That's when I brought my dilemma to you, to ask for advice.


And boy did I get some.

In the comments, on Facebook and Instagram, lots of opinions.

Except for a few voices who told me to leave it alone, display it the way it was or refinish it, the response was overwhelmingly in favor of paint or decoupage, to cover the damage, which in all honesty, was my original plan.

However, it was the two or three of you who suggested that I "start crushing walnuts" that got my attention.

Wait. What? Walnuts??

I was told that it could not only cover the scratched areas, but fill the scratches, as well. 

I was intrigued.

Clearly, it was all about the oil in the walnuts, I got that part, but what specifically made it better than olive oil or one of my other refinishing hacks, like gel stain?

And would this simple solution really work? I needed to test it.

After all, the tray couldn't possibly look any worse.



Plus, I had a bag of walnuts in my kitchen pantry. I had nothing to lose...other than a damaged wooden surface.

How To Remove Scratches From Wood With Walnuts

Ok, so this was super easy, and ridiculously quick. It worked without sandpaper or compounding mud or matching stain colors. 

I used it on a wooden tray, but this would work on any type of wooden furniture piece. Think about a dining room table with unsightly scratches, a nightstand, chair or even a wood floor with signs of wear. 

Supplies for this DIY:

Step 1: Wipe Down The Wood

I wanted my tray clean and free of debris. I didn't want to wet it, so I just used a paper towel and dusted it off.


If your wood is really dirty or has a sticky spot you can use water and vinegar in a spray bottle to clean it. However, I would make sure the wood was totally dry before I moved on to the next step.

Step 2: Shell and Crush The Walnuts

I had a bag of crushed walnuts on hand. If you only have whole nuts, you'll need to shell them and then break them into small pieces.


I went even further and peeled away some of the skin before I got started.

I wanted a little bit of the walnut meat to be exposed when I placed it on the tray.

Step 3: Rub The Walnut On The Wood

I decided to begin with a small spot on the top of the tray, by the handle.


Then I set my sights, albeit skeptically, on a scratch and simply started rubbing the walnut over it, diagonally, against the grain of the wood, so that the oil would get into the now unfinished space.

And I watched as the marks just disappeared.

Seriously. It was like I was using an eraser.


I was shocked.

And amused. It became a game. I just moved from scratch to scratch, smiling, as my lovely vintage tray came back to life.

Step 4: Let It Set and Wipe Away The Excess

After I hit each mark with the walnut, I used my finger to push the oil into the wood a bit.

Then I used the paper towel to wipe away any oil that was visibly puddled on the surface...and it did indeed appear to fill in the scratches.

I repeated steps 1-4 on both the front and the back of the tray.


I figured that since the Toastmaster label was on the back, it was just as important for that side to look spiffy.


When I was done, I was absolutely speechless...which, if you've met me in real life, or read my posts, you know that's a very rare occurrence.

But I was truly shocked.

That tray, that two dollar, thrift store throw away, the one that I was going to paint and paper over, looked brand spanking new.

The wood shine was blinding and the finish was flawless. No nicks or gouges. The were gone.

It was a dramatic before and after.


Thanks to a few walnuts.

And a few friends who shared their DIY knowledge with me.

I am forever grateful.

And so is my new show-stopping tray, I'm sure.

The one that has now gained a place of prominence in its unadorned and rich looking state.

How fabulous.

Here are a few quick things I wanted to mention before you go:

• Walnut oil would probably work in the same way, although I haven't tried it.
• Apparently, walnut oil hardens into a satin like sealer and that's how it fills minor scratches. 
• You can polyurethane over it to seal it in, if you like, however it's not necessary.
• I am not allergic to walnuts or nuts of any kind, but clearly if you are this is definitely a DIY to avoid.
• Walnut is also a food safe oil, but again, one to avoid if you're allergic to nuts.
  

Now I still have a big bag of walnuts left and a 1920's cottage full of scratched wood.

So if you'll excuse me, I'm off to remedy that.

😉

Have you heard of the walnut trick? 

I'd love to know!

Happy DIYing, Friends!