The kitchen is often one of the busiest areas of a home, and as such faces many challenges when it comes to durability. For this reason, solid oak kitchen cabinets are attractive choices: both aesthetically pleased and hardwearing, timber cabinets really are built to stand the test of time. Unfortunately this does not mean they are impervious to damage.

There’s no need to despair if you notice any small marks in your cabinet frontals, however. Solid wood can often be repaired easily, and as such we have put together this guide to provide you with step-by-step instructions for removing dents from your kitchen cabinets.

Before you start, the first and most important point to consider is the treatment or coating on your solid oak kitchen cabinets. Some paints, stains, lacquers and oils can affect the effectiveness of the repair process laid out below, and – occasionally – can become marked if steam is applied. If possible, it is best to test the repair steps out on a small piece of wood that cannot be seen (such as the inside of a door).

You will need:

• A screwdriver
• Some sandpaper (we’d recommend 120 grit)
• A cloth
• Water
• Paint, lacquer or oil to match your cabinet frontals
• An iron

Instructions

1. Remove the dented door from its hinges with your screwdriver. Put all the screws and fixings in a secure place for safekeeping. Lay the cupboard door on a flat surface, ready to begin.

2. Sand the area over and around the dent to remove any treatment from the wood. This will ensure the steam can work effectively and should prevent the door from being adversely affected by the steam.

3. Taking great care, pour a few drops of water into the dent and place your cloth over the top, which should be folded to cover the entirety of the dent with accuracy.

4. Turn your iron to the highest setting and, when hot, rub in small circles over the cloth, being careful not to place the iron onto the wood directly.

5. Remove the cloth and check to see if the wood has swelled to remove the dent. If not, repeat steps 3 and 4 until the timber sits flush with the rest of the door.

6. Sand the surface down again to ensure the previously-dented area blends with the rest of the door and is ready for paint, oiling or lacquer.

7. Treat your cabinet frontal to match your other solid oak kitchen cabinets and then – once completely dry – rehang the door in its correct place.

This process should work for smaller dents, but might not be effective for more substantial areas of damage. In the unlikely event that your doors are damaged beyond repair, you’ll be pleased to know that brand new frontals can be purchased separately from us at any time – our wide range is sure to suit all your needs.

We hope that this guide has answered your questions; however, if there is anything else you would like to know about solid oak kitchen cabinets, please do not hesitate to contact us via phone (0345 22 22 990) or email () , or on Facebook or Twitter.