How To Repair Scratched Hardwood Floors
Hardwood floors can make a room look elegant, rustic, historic and quite expensive. They are often selling points for home buyers and can potentially increase the value of your home. This, of course, is assuming that the floors are in great condition. If you notice scratch marks on your otherwise lovely hardwood floor, you will want to find a way to get rid of these unsightly marks as quickly as possible.
To repair minor scratches on a hardwood floor, try cleaning and buffing, using a fine grit sandpaper, or purchasing a wood floor scratch kit. Also try natural methods like rubbing walnuts on the scratches, using coconut oil or a combination of baking soda and olive oil. For deeper scratches, camouflage them with a wood stain or blending pencil. Add wood filler for deep gouges, or sand down and refinish the floor.
There are all sorts of ways to remedy a scratched hardwood floor. If you notice some scratches, don’t panic, even though hardwood floors are quite expensive. Instead, read this list of the 10 best methods to repair scratched hardwood floors. While not every method is ideal for every type of scratch, there is something for every type of issue. Best of all, there is a good chance you already have many of the materials you need to help reduce and remove the appearance of these marks.
10 Ways To Repair Scratched Hardwood Floors
1. Buff Out Stains With A Little Elbow Grease
The first step you should try when you notice minor scratch marks on your hardwood floors is to simply clean the area. This will help you determine if these light scratches can be removed with some elbow grease.
The key here is to use non-abrasive materials and no harsh chemicals. Try a water-based natural cleanser spray and apply it to the area. Use a microfiber cloth (nothing that will leave marks or more scratches) to wipe the area. Buff it in a clockwise motion and with the grain as well. See if this helps remove or reduce the appearance of these scratches.
2. Purchase A Wood Floor Scratch Repair Kit
If you want to fix minor scratches right away and don’t want to over-think the process, consider buying a wood floor scratch remover solution or kit. There are a variety of products available, so choose the one that is best for your wood floors based on the finish and size of the scratches.
3. Use A Combination Of Baking Soda And Olive Oil
If you’re a fan of natural remedies and DIY, then it’s time to grab your baking soda and olive oil. A combination of baking soda and olive oil can help clean out and remove the appearance of scratches.
To apply this method, first you need to clean the area well and allow it to dry. Then mix baking soda (one tablespoon at a time) with a few drops of olive oil until it forms a paste of sorts. Apply this paste to the scratched area and let it sit for at least five minutes. Then you can use a microfiber cloth to buff out the paste and clean it off. With hope, you should see noticeable improvement.
4. Purchase A Wood Filler For Deep Scratches And Gouges
Some scratches go far beyond the surface. If there was an incident that involved something making deep contact with the floor causing a noticeable divot or hole, then you need to fill it. The best way to fill a hole or giant scratch in your hardwood floor is to use wood filler.
Once you apply wood filler, you need to sand it down and shape it accordingly. To help the filler look like the wood, you can sand, paint or stain it (or a combination of these). This is the best alternative to replacing the entire flooring section with new wood.
5. Try A Finish Restorer To Blend Out Scratches
Another common cleaning solution that works well to remove light to medium scratches on a hardwood floor is finish restorer. Products like Restor-A-Finish are very common for antique furniture pieces, but can also work well to remove scratches on floors.
These products essentially penetrate through the existing finish without removing it. This allows you to buff and blend out imperfections without having to completely refinish the floor.
6. Use A Blending Pencil To Hide Scratches
There are blending pencils that are made specifically to darken scratch and scuff marks to blend in with the natural color of the floor. The idea here is that if you color the scratch the same shade as the wood itself, you can’t see the scratch.
The key is to find the right color blending pencil, or correct combination of colors, to best hide the scratch marks.
7. Use Fine Grit Sandpaper To Remove Scratches From Hardwood
If you have localized scratches (as opposed to scratches all over) consider sanding a specific area. You can use fine grit sandpaper to remove the finish, and smooth out any small, medium or even major scratch marks on your hardwood floors.
The trick here is you need to refinish the area. Ideally, you can use the exact same finish you used previously. Otherwise, test out the finish and see what it looks like dried before applying it to a noticeable area on the floor.
8. Try Walnut Or Coconut Oil To Reduce The Appearance Of Scratches
Another popular DIY and natural method is to use natural oils to help absorb into the scratches to reduce the appearance of scratches. You can try coconut oil, rubbing small amounts on the affected area.
A more popular and very effective way to treat light to medium scratches is to use walnut oil from an actual walnut. Rub a walnut piece with your hands to warm it up and activate the oils. Then rub the walnut itself onto the scratch, and watch as the oils from the walnut help to remove the appearance of scratches.
9. Camouflage Deeper Scratches With Wood Stain
You can also try to use wood stain to remove the appearance of scratches. You need to find a wood stain that closely or perfectly matches the wood. For best results, use a water-based stain, as they are easy to wipe up and apply, with more wiggle room if the color is slightly off.
Simply apply a bit of wood stain with a Q-tip to the scratched areas, and then wipe the area clean. This allows the stain to touch the scratched areas and change the color a bit without fully soaking into the whole floor.
10. Refinish The Floors
Lastly, if your floor is very scratched due to pets or just normal wear and tear, you can consider refinishing your entire floor. After all, floors need to be recoated every 3 to 5 years, and usually refinished every 10 to 20 years. If it is time, then you might want to consider biting the bullet and starting the process of refinishing all your hardwood floors.
Sealing Up How To Repair Scratched Hardwood Floors
There are all sorts of ways to repair scratched hardwood floors. For minor scratches, consider using natural oils, scratch repair kits or even using a blending pencil to hide the appearance of the scratches.
For deep scratches and damage, use wood fill and stain to help hide the damage. If, however, you have lots of scratches on your floors and they have not been treated in some time, it might be a good time to refinish your hardwood floors.
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Tom Gaffey is an expert writer who currently resides in Washington D.C. Tom has a passion for real estate and home improvement writing, as well as travel and lifestyle writing. He lived the last twelve years in Hawaii where he worked closely with luxury resorts and event planners, mastering his knowledge of aesthetics and luxury products. This is where he found his passion for home improvement and a keen interest in DIY projects. Currently, Tom resides in Washington D.C, and also working on his debut fiction novel.
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