Rubbing a Walnut on Scratches Sounds Strange: Here’s What It Really Does to Your Furniture

Furniture made from wood becomes very unsightly once it develops scratches. Most homeowners, however, search for ways of eliminating scratches using methods that are affordable and do not involve the use of costly equipment and expensive labor. Among some of the remedies that have attracted much attention over time is the walnut remedy. The solution is based on rubbing the inner parts of a walnut in order to reduce the scratch marks on the wooden material.

The concept behind the walnut remedy is that there are natural oils in walnuts, and applying them to scratched wood helps in minimizing scratch marks by blending with them. According to some experts, however, the solution works on a cosmetic basis only.

Why walnut oil gets attention

Walnut oil is said to have health-promoting benefits, which can be attributed to its presence of bioactive substances and polyunsaturated fatty acids, which exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.


Walnut oil has been tested in research studies for its biological significance, specifically for its use in skin care applications and anti-inflammatory properties.

Nevertheless, these health-promoting benefits cannot necessarily be used for treating the condition of wooden surfaces. While the oil might be able to moisturize the wooden surface, it will not be able to regenerate the wood fibers or reconstruct the wood structure back to its original state.

According to another study conducted by PubMed researchers, although walnut oil has biological importance, there is no sufficient scientific evidence that it can be used in repairing furniture. In other words, the usage of walnut oil in repairing wooden furniture is based primarily on observational data and not scientific research.

What actually happens when you use a walnut

When rubbing the walnut onto the scratch, the oil penetrates the microscopic grooves on the surface, modifying the reflection of light from the surface. The contrast difference between the scratch and the other part of the wood is thereby reduced, making the scratch less visible. This effect is comparable to when one applies a polish to give the wood a shine.

According to scientific findings available through ScienceDirect, oils have the ability to modify the surface properties of the wood by filling micro-level gaps.

Therefore, the walnut method will only work for superficial scratches but not deep cuts. The enhancement provided by the oil is temporary because it may be absorbed or evaporated from the surface of the wood.

Why is it not a real repair

Although the walnut solution is quite easy to use, it will not give a permanent solution since the product does not have materials that can help repair or maintain the wood. There are no polymers or binders in the walnut solution that will allow the wood to be repaired, since such materials are available in professional products to fill scratches.

In studies carried out on coatings for wood, it has been found that tung oil is quite effective in protecting the wood since it can create a layer that makes the wood more durable.

In another study, it was also found that wood surfaces treated with tung oil are stronger than surfaces only coated with oils.

Things to keep in mind before trying it

Although this hack is relatively safe, there are some precautions that you need to take into consideration before using it. Walnut oil might darken the color of your wood, making it hard for you to match the shade with the lighter finish. Before you decide to try this hack, you need to first test it on a small area that isn’t visible.

Since this technique involves the use of walnuts, you should never try it if you have any nut allergies, since it might cause a serious reaction.

Additionally, experts discourage people from using this hack on expensive furniture pieces since they might end up decreasing their value.

Better options for long-term results

For individuals interested in more permanent fixes, experts recommend using wood repair pens, wax pencils, or fillers specifically designed to complement the furniture in question in terms of color and grain.

Wood treatments made from tung oil serve as an alternative for people who would like to repair wooden furniture the natural way. It should be noted that these methods have been scientifically proven to work better than other approaches. The walnut treatment is a smart and simple DIY technique that allows for quick concealment of small scratches, but it is certainly not to be confused with a proper repair procedure.

The efficiency of the walnut treatment consists of visual improvement and not in the actual elimination of the problem.