Use wood filler for holes and cracks in trim, baseboards, and molding

For nail holes, cracks, dents, and gaps in wood trim, baseboards, window casings, and crown molding, use a stainable or paintable wood filler rather than wall spackle. Press the filler into the hole or crack with a putty knife or your finger, overfilling slightly. Let it harden fully, then sand flush with 150 to 220-grit sandpaper. Prime and paint (or stain if using a stainable filler).

Why It Works

Wood filler is formulated to bond to wood fibers and cure to a hardness similar to the surrounding wood. Standard wall spackle is too soft for trim -- it dents easily and does not hold up to the contact that baseboards and door casings receive. Wood filler accepts paint smoothly and, in stainable versions, absorbs stain similarly to the surrounding grain, making repairs nearly invisible.

Tips

• For painted trim: Use a solvent-based wood filler (like Bondo Wood Filler or Minwax High Performance) for the hardest, most durable patch; or use a water-based filler (like DAP Plastic Wood-X) for easier cleanup
• For stained trim: Use a stainable wood filler matched to the wood species; test the stain match on a scrap piece first since fillers absorb stain differently than natural wood
• For deep holes (countersunk screws, large nail holes), pack the filler in two layers to avoid shrinkage
• Solvent-based fillers harden rock-solid and are difficult to sand if you overfill -- apply as flush as possible
• Water-based fillers are softer, easier to sand, and clean up with water, but are slightly less durable
• For gaps between trim and wall, use caulk (not filler) -- filler is rigid and will crack at joints that move
• A small container ($5-10) lasts for an entire room's worth of trim repairs
• Common mistake: using spackle on trim -- it is too soft and will dent or fall out within months in areas that receive contact