How To Repair Scratches In Hardwood Floors

9 Tips for Removing Scratches from Woods Floors

Check out these tried-and-true methods for banishing marks, gouges, and scuffs to revive the beauty of wood floors.

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Wood floors bring beauty and value to a home—as long equally they are well-maintained. Natural woods is at abiding chance of surface wear, water marks, and deeper damage. Prevention, of course, is key: Utilise expanse rugs and soft protective pads to move furniture, remove shoes as much as possible, and keep pet nails trimmed.

Photo: istockphoto.com

Your floor'south terminate works to protect it from everyday clothing and tear, but information technology'southward important to know what kind of finish you've got in society to maintain information technology. Consider, for case, a wood floor installed prior to 1970, which was probably finished with varnish or shellac. Y'all can add luster to such a finish with paste or liquid wax, or oil. If your older cease is noticeably scratched, it tin can exist stripped or sanded downwards, so refinished with a polyurethane-based product—a highly durable finish, resistant to chafe and easy to clean—just be sure to apply but a water-based silicone polish on polyurethane-finished floors.

RELATED: 11 Tried-and-True Ways to Treat Hardwood Floors

When widespread clothing and tear is visible, the time- and labor-intensive process of total floor refinishing may be necessary, and in most cases, that's a job best left to the pros. Fortunately, you tin can minimize or fifty-fifty completely eradicate less serious marks and discoloration with the scratch repair tips below—and restore your wood floors to their former glory.

1. Clean hardwood floors gently.

Lackluster wood tin can magnify the appearance of scratches and worn areas—not to mention that dirt particles footing into hardwood floors can atomic number 82 to worse scratches—then your first line of action should be thorough merely gentle cleaning. Avoid brooms or abrasive scrub pads, and never soak a floor with water or liquid cleaner. Instead, use a soft mop or vacuum (with the advisable attachment) to remove dust, hair, and surface debris. To clean, add two to iv drops of liquid soap to a quart of water, mix in a spray bottle, and mist your polyurethane-finished floor, then distribute the solution with a dry out microfiber mop. Next, lightly spray with fresh water and buff with a soft, dry fabric. Commercial non-toxic wood cleaners safe for polyurethane-finished floors are also available. Your best bet is a water-based product with a biodegradable cleaning amanuensis, such as Begley's (sold at big-box home improvement stores and Amazon).

2. Sand out the scratches in the wood floor.

A little elbow grease can bring life back to wood floors. A fine-grained sandpaper is all y'all need to buff out damage. First, sand the floor in the direction of the grain. You'll demand to reapply stain that you lot've buffed away in the procedure, and so choose a subconscious surface area (under the bed, in a closet) to patch-test a wood stain that matches your floor color. Afterwards you lot find the correct stain, patch exam a urethane finish.

A water-based urethane (view case on Amazon) dries rapidly, with a clear, shiny finish ideal for newer floors—simply it may create besides much contrast if floors have darkened with age.

Oil-based urethanes (view example on Amazon) are strong-smelling, merely they dry with a yellow tinge that darkens over fourth dimension, which may better adjust the color of an older floor. Make sure your sanded area is smooth and thoroughly clean before you stain and finish.

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3. Rub walnuts over scratches in the wood to camoflage them.

Walnuts comprise excellent natural emollients and brownish dyes that both repair and enhance the await of worn, scratched wood. Warm upwards the oil in the nut with your fingers, then rub into worn areas of the floor using pocket-size circular motions. Allow the oil sit down for a few minutes, then buff with a soft fabric. Coconut oil can also minimize scratch marks on unfinished or freshly sanded floors. Employ a thin coat of coconut oil with a brush or sponge, let it dwell for five minutes, then vitrify with a soft cloth for richer-looking wood.

4. Make an effective refresher from pantry ingredients.

A combo of baking soda and olive oil tin can assistance reduce and remove scratches from wood. Vacuum your floor thoroughly, so apply baking soda moistened with several drops of olive oil to marred areas. Wait 5 minutes, and then buff in gently, using a soft sponge. Clean thoroughly with a damp cloth and dry with a towel.

5. Consider wood floor products designed for scratch repair.

Good for scratch repair on both forest and laminate floors, Scratch Away ($x.99 for viii ounces, available from Lumber Liquidators) cleans, polishes, and reduces the appearance of scratch marks caused by clay, shoes, pets, and article of furniture scrapes. Another well-reviewed product is Old English Scratch Cover ($4.82 for eight ounces, available on Amazon), bachelor in both low-cal and dark wood tones. This nourishing oil both protects and hides unsightly scuff marks. All you need is a soft fabric to utilise on clean wood surfaces.

Photo: istockphoto.com

half dozen. Colour in scratches with a wood stain.

Minimize the appearance of deep scratches with a wood stain, which comes in oil-based, water-based, gel, and combination varieties. Oil-based stains dry slowly and tin be difficult to piece of work with simply provide the richest, longest-lasting color. H2o-based stains are bachelor in many shades, and make for like shooting fish in a barrel awarding and make clean up. Combination stains are designed for polyurethane finishes, while gels don't penetrate and then tin exist used on a variety of materials, including previously painted wood.

Cull the right stain formula for your wood's finish, and fill up in the scratch completely with the liquid color. Use a Q-tip to remove whatever excess stain and allow dry. You can also detect stain markers and blending pencils, though you may accept to play with color combinations to detect the perfect match for your flooring. Apply to the scratch according to package directions, wipe away any excess, and allow to dry thoroughly.

7. Smoothen and revive with a specialized care production.

Minwax Hardwood Flooring Reviver ($24.97 for 32 ounces, bachelor on Amazon) can help restore dazzler and luster to hardwood floors without sanding or buffing. Make clean the surface of dust and debris, and then apply a single glaze with a clean pigment pad (similar this product) and permit dry. Available in both high- and low-gloss—choose the sheen that'due south correct for you lot—and formulated to terminal iii to six months.

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eight. Strip off the end and get-go anew.

If woods floors are in pretty pitiful shape, covered by layers of polyurethane, wax, or even paint, you tin strip them to reveal their unfinished beauty. Choose a liquid stripping agent, such every bit low-smoke 3M'due south Safest Stripper ($14.02 for 32 ounces, available on Amazon). Follow product instructions advisedly to apply, then apply fine-grade steel wool, rubbing in the management of the grain, to remove any excess stripper. If you intend to strip just a pocket-sized section of your flooring, make sure you've also patch tested a matching stain and polyurethane blanket to employ after the stripping procedure is consummate.

9. Patch and mend deeper scratches in wood floors.

For deeper gouges in your woods, endeavor a product similar Bondo ($18.xv for i ounce on Amazon)—a woods filler that can be sanded and stained, or painted. You tin as well use a pre-colored latex forest filler similar DAP Plastic Wood ($9.48 for 32 ounces from DAP). Fillers come in a variety of colors and may need to be composite to match your floor exactly. This pick is best for small, deep holes that tin can then exist filled, sanded, stained, and finished, leaving your floor flawless one time more.

Demand help with hardwood flooring?

Find licensed flooring experts in your area and go complimentary, no-delivery estimates for your project.

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Source: https://www.bobvila.com/articles/wood-floor-scratch-repair/

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