The claim

Walnuts. Not only are they high in antioxidants; they can also extend the life of your worn wooden furniture. Got scratches in finished wood? Simply rub a nut along the grooves and watch them vanish before your eyes. So goes the household shortcut commonly cited on those viral life-hack posts breathlessly promising, say, “50 Ways to Simplify Your Life!”

The hypothesis

It sounds too good to be true. Sure, some of the walnut’s oils will likely benefit the wood and help to cover the scratch, but I’m doubtful it will be very good at doing so. What about other nuts? And what about woods that don’t have a typical walnut-coloured stain? We’ll have to investigate.

The tools

Walnuts and wood — specifically, a three-decade-old chessboard that definitely looks its age, riddled with scrapes and scratches. With its battered wood stained in three different shades, it makes the perfect test patient.

Step one: the rub

I put the “meat” of a freshly cracked nut between my fingers and proceed to grind it into the board’s surface, meticulously going over every scratch from multiple angles. After a couple of minutes the nut is whittled down to a nub, and the board glistens with walnut oil.

Step two: the buff

After waiting a few more minutes to let the oil sink in, I wipe down the board with a cloth, brushing away excess oil and walnut dust. Time to admire the handiwork.

The result

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OK, wow, it totally worked. It’s hardly perfect, but the board hasn’t looked this good since I was a kid who groaned about receiving a chess set as a birthday gift.

Other nuts

I also tried to use Brazil nuts and almonds, which both contain oils that theoretically would have the same effect. But both are harder than walnuts, and don’t scrape into the wood as easily. With firmer nuts, there’s also a danger you could further scratch the wood you’re trying to repair.

Other wood

I tried the technique on a patch of hardwood floor with some deep grooves and a faded stain. There was some improvement, but the area was too big and challenging for a wee nut to salvage. Better to do the job with a proper floor polish.

Conclusion

Yes, you can use a walnut to rehabilitate scratched furniture. But it’s best suited to a small surface area and grooves that don’t go too deep. Oh, and be sure you clean away the walnut remnants before entertaining any guests with nut allergies.