How to get scratches out of hardwood floors

Wood flooring with good maintenance improves the aesthetics of your house. However, scratches on wood floors are a visible blemish on a room's polished appearance. Minor scratches from pets and activities of young children are practically impossible to avoid. Similarly, furniture accidents and high foot traffic can also cause significant gouges.

The time and labor-intensive procedure of wood floor refinishing may be required when significant wear and tear is evident.

With our tips in this article, you may take the help of some DIY scratch repair tips to lessen or entirely eliminate marks and scratches off your floor, and restore its shine and glory.

Let’s jump right in:

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Start with gentle cleaning

               You should start with delicate cleaning because wood can amplify the look of scratches. Never mop a floor with water or a liquid cleaner, and steer clear of brooms and harsh scrub pads. Dust, hair, and other surface debris should instead be removed with a soft mop or vacuum.

               To clean, combine 2-4 drops of liquid soap with a quart of water in a spray bottle, sprinkle the mixture on your polyurethane-coated floor, and then spread it about with a dry microfiber mop.

               Spray some fresh water on lightly after that, then buff with a soft, dry cloth. There are also commercially available non-toxic wood cleaners suitable for polyurethane-finished floors. A water-based product with a biodegradable cleaning component is your best option.

            2. Sand out the scratches

               Sometimes all it takes to remove scratches from your wood floors is a little elbow grease. You might be able to sand and stain your flooring in patches, or you could need to sand and totally refinish it, depending on how severe the scratches are.

               • For minor and fewer scratches: Sand the floor in the direction of the grain first. Choose a hidden spot (like under the bed, in a closet) to patch-test a wood stain that matches the color of your floor. Finish once you have found the best matching color.
               • For major scratches: Sand down the flooring and refinish it. This works on engineered wood flooring but not on bamboo or laminate flooring.

            3. A DIY solution

               You can concoct a DIY remedy at home to repair minor scuffs on wood floors with a recently applied finish.

               In a small cup, mix equal quantities of olive oil and apple cider vinegar. Apply the mixture to the scratch. Rub it out after letting it sit for the remainder of the day.

               

            4. Walnut to your rescue

               • Walnut: The natural oils in the nut should be warmed up before use by rubbing it between your hands and rubbing into the floor's worn areas using circular strokes. Buff with a soft towel after allowing the oil to sit for a few minutes.
               • Coconut oil: To reduce the visibility of scratches on untreated or sanded flooring, use coconut oil. Simply apply a little layer of oil with a brush and allow it to sit for five minutes. Finally, buff with a delicate cloth.

            5. Formulated scratch repair

               You can attempt a hardwood floor scratch repair product from your neighborhood hardware store if your DIY option didn't work. Without much effort, it can conceal light scratches and scuff marks on the surface.

               Use a soft cloth to gently work the repaired product into the scratched surface while adhering to any further instructions on the product label.

            6. Color repair

               Use a wood stain or blending pencil to conceal your scratches in a creative manner. These are a few choices:

               • Oil-based stain: Bring the richest color and best durability, although they dry slowly.
               • Water-based stains: Widely accessible and simple to apply, although they are not as durable.
               • Combination stains: Designed for polyurethane finishes, including previously painted wood.
               • Blending Pencil: Easy to use, but may need several different pencils and color combinations for a perfect match.

               Allow the color to completely dry as directed on the package instructions.

            7. Use deep gouges

               Use a deeper wood filler for deep holes in your flooring. You may select the ideal stain for your flooring by using wood filler from a range of stain choices.

               Apply wood filler to the gouge with a putty knife, filling the hole in shallow layers. After filling it, totally allow the area to dry before sanding it to flush with the surface. Apply the dye next.

               This solution works well for your hardwood's little but deep cracks or holes.

               

            8. Restore with finish

               Use a urethane finish restorer to repair minor scratches on your hardwood. When fixing little surface scratches that haven't harmed the wood, this product works well.

               You will need to completely refinish your wood flooring by sanding the affected area and restaining it if your scratch has worn out through the finish and damaged the wood itself. It's sometimes preferable to leave this to a hardwood restoration firm because it can be difficult, expensive, and time-consuming.

      Conclusion

      Getting scratches out of a hardwood floor is easy, and there are a variety of solutions you can employ. This is just more evidence of how incredible hardwood floors truly can be.

      Did we miss mentioning one of your favorite ways to rid hardwood floors of scratches? Share with us (and everyone else reading this) in the comment section below.