The Simple Trick That Will Help Get Every Dent Out Of Your Wood Surfaces

A table covered in dents is the last thing you want to see when sitting down for dinner. Wood is durable, but even your floors or sturdy furniture can become damaged. Hardwood is the most robust option over softwood floors and laminates. Unfortunately, all it takes is dropping something heavy for you to have an unsightly dent on your hands. If you have children or pets, it's more likely for your furnishings to become damaged from thrown toys or long nails. Even your favorite high heel shoes can leave imperfections on your flooring.

Luckily, there's a quick fix for restoring wood. However, before using this simple trick, it's best to know what type of wood you're working with. If your floor is dented, you may have hardwood or engineered wood. At the same time, furniture is more likely to be made from solid wood or particle board. As long as you're not trying to repair particle board, you should be able to easily use an iron to steam out the dents.

First, you will need to prep the area. You can start this process by cleaning it with some soapy water. You don't want anything getting in the way while you're steaming the dent out. How you clean it depends on what surface needs to be fixed. For example, a quick wipe-down is necessary if you're working on a table. Alternatively, hardwood floorboards require more elbow grease, as all dirt should be scrubbed clean. Then it's time to determine if you need to sand the area.

Lifehacker explains that sanding is essential when working with finished wood because certain finishes prevent steam from reaching the wood grain. The amount of sanding depends on your surface. You should use a range of 300 to 600 grit sandpaper that you can use by hand or with an orbital sander. The latter is a better option if you're fixing a large area with lots of dents. Always start with the finest grit to prevent accidentally sanding the surface too much. However, don't forget that you'll have to reapply the finish once you're done steaming out the dents.

Water, an iron, and paper towels are all you need to take the dents out of your wood surfaces. The water and the iron work together to create steam that penetrates the layers of wood and causes them to expand back to how they were initially. If you don't have a paper towel, you can also use any old rag you have lying around or shop towels.

Autodesk Instructables recommends using just a drop of water for minor dents. If it's any more significant, you should use enough that it covers the mark. Then place the paper towel or rag over it and allow it to absorb some moisture. Next, set your iron as high as it can go and leave it to warm up. Once it's hot, press into the dents, moving your iron in small circles. All you need to do is add more water and iron the area until your wood surface looks as good as new.