ᐅ My KALLAX unit is completely scratched by the vacuum cleaner – what can I do?

Hello everyone,

I have the following problem: my Ikea KALLAX shelf is unfortunately quite scratched, mainly caused by my vacuum cleaner. This happens when I run the floor nozzle along it and accidentally scrape against the frame. The scratches are quite noticeable since the surface is mostly white and smooth.

I don’t want to sand everything down because I don’t want to remove the entire finish. Does anyone have tips on how to at least significantly improve or conceal the scratches? Are there any special polishes, waxes, or household remedies you could recommend?

I’d appreciate any help, as I really want to keep the shelf, but the scratches bother me a lot.

Try using furniture polish for lacquered surfaces or a white wax stick; these work well to mask minor scratches.

Hello nekali,

I can definitely understand your issue with the vacuum cleaner scratches on the KALLAX shelf. The surface at Ikea is usually melamine-coated, which means it is durable but not fully resistant to mechanical damage like scratches.

If you want to conceal such scratches, there are several options:

1. Small surface scratches can actually be reduced with furniture wax or polishing paste for lacquer and melamine. It’s important to apply the polish sparingly and use a soft cloth in circular motions.

2. A white wax stick (specifically for furniture) can help blend scratches if the color matches perfectly. Be careful to match the tone exactly, otherwise it may stand out even more.

3. For deeper scratches, you can very gently roughen the area with fine sandpaper (e.g., grit 800-1000) and then treat the surface with a suitable repair paint or furniture polish.

4. Finally, there are so-called repair kits for furniture surfaces (also for laminate) that include filler putty, repair colors, and wax. These are good for filling small damages.

One question for you: How deep are the scratches approximately? Are they rather superficial marks, or can you feel a clear indentation?

kibutar schrieb:
A question for you: How deep are the scratches approximately? Are they more like surface marks or are they noticeably indented?

Thank you for the detailed response! Most of the scratches are rather superficial; they hardly feel rough to the fingernail but are clearly visible as white line and surface marks. A few are somewhat deeper, but none are very deep gouges.

I would say I have two categories: mostly light and some moderately deep. Naturally, I don’t want to start with sandpaper right away if there’s another way to handle this.

Hello nekali,

Here is a structured guide on how to approach the issue based on the different scratch depths:

1. Surface Scratches:
- Use a soft cotton cloth.
- Apply furniture polish intended for lacquered or melamine-coated surfaces.
- Use the polish sparingly and rub the area in circular motions.
- Repeat once or twice until the contrast is less noticeable.

2. Slightly Deeper Scratches:
- Use a furniture wax or repair stick in the matching color.
- Carefully apply the wax into the scratch and immediately wipe off any excess.
- Allow it to dry thoroughly.

3. If that is not enough:
- Use very fine sandpaper (grit 1000+) to gently sand the surface to reduce unevenness.
- Then apply furniture polish again.

One more tip: Avoid aggressive solvents or abrasive cleaners, as they will only worsen the surface.

If you like, I can also recommend some specific products.

LOJOPAR schrieb:
Avoid aggressive solvents or abrasive cleaners, as they will only make the surface worse.

Good tip, I didn’t know that. I’ve tried using glass cleaner at home before, but it actually made the scratches more noticeable.

I’m very interested in product recommendations. Ideally something I can buy online since I won’t be able to visit a store anytime soon.