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Fix Light Scratches On Wood Floor – According to HomeAdvisor, the average cost of installing new hardwood floors in 2020 was between $7,200 and $14,400, and that’s only for a 1,200-square-foot home. With such a high price tag, you might panic a bit if your floors get even a small dent or scratch. It’s kind of hard to believe that we spend so much money on stuff that we walk all over. But I have to admit it. Nothing feels more like home than slightly creaky, perfectly polished, happily lived-in wooden floors.
However, there is a difference between normal wear and tear and something more dramatic. Maybe your kids are playing on the floor with their toy cars, you’re dragging scratches on the surface in their wake, or your dog runs up to you when you get home from work and leaves marks on the wood next to your doormat. Maybe it’s the original wood that came with your new home, or maybe you showed off some fancy finishes when building your dream home. Either way, the stress caused by the simplest scratch on a wood floor is the same.
Fix Light Scratches On Wood Floor
Before you reluctantly dip into your emergency fund to refinish your entire floor, we’ve put together a list of budget-friendly ways to repair major scratches in your hardwood floors. In the end, it will seem like nothing happened.
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There’s good news. This means you can fix ordinary scratches without having to go to your local hardware store. And as a homeowner, you’ve likely made plenty of trips to Lowe’s as is. So if your scratches seem minor, it’s best to start by treating them yourself at home.
Try making a solution of equal parts olive oil and apple cider vinegar, according to Family Handyman. Tap lightly on the scratch and leave it alone. Check again in a day and wipe off the mixture. Now the scratches will be less noticeable. This option is best for shallow scratches on new, recently finished floors.
No apple cider vinegar in your cabinet? BobVila.com recommends using a combination of baking soda and olive oil. Leave it on the scratched area for a few minutes and then buff the wood. If your floors are unfinished, scratched, or recently sanded, choose coconut oil instead. Either way, your floor should look flawless and have some added shine.
For shallow scratches that your dog or cat may leave on the floor, This Old House suggests products like paste wax. There are also tinting options for dark floors, so everything looks smooth and good as new.
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All you have to do is let it dry completely and then rub it on the floor to make sure no scratches are found. Please note: We do not recommend using paste wax on polyurethane floors. So before you choose this route (via Jabara’s), do your research and find out what type of flooring you’re working with.
You can purchase a can of paste wax from your local hardware store in case you run into any further problems. A one-pound bucket costs less than $7 at Home Depot, and it’s enough to take care of any scratches that may occur later without breaking the bank.
Mixing pencils, pens or markers works like a paste wax but can be a cheaper and more user-friendly option for scratch repair. It all depends on what is more suitable for a particular type of floor and finish. Polished Habitat says the Minwax stain marker has been a lifesaver for her floors, and she says one swipe of the marker and the difference is as clear as day.
Do you have another expert tip? Unlike paste wax, you can switch shades of stain using a pencil or marker, allowing you to accurately match the texture and color of your floor. Polished Habitat takes this DIY fix into professional territory by using a darker marker in some spots and a lighter marker in others.
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Costing less than $15 on average using a blending pen, pencil, or marker, this solution is viable at any budget level, especially when compared to the cost of a new or refinished floor.
If you’re in a hurry to remove minor scratches from your old wood floors, you don’t necessarily have to go for the most expensive option and completely restore the small area. You might get lucky by using the simplest hack you probably have in your kitchen pantry right now: walnuts.
BobVila.com explains that walnuts serve as a little-known solution to removing nicks and scratches from wood floors because they ‘contain excellent natural emollients and brown dyes.’ First, warm the walnut oil with your fingers and then slowly apply it to problem areas on the floor. This process is similar to using coconut oil to repair scratches. Leave it on for about 5 minutes and then wipe it off with a soft cloth or cloth. If you’re feeling particularly lazy, Wide Open Country points out that you can crack a walnut and rub it directly on stubborn scratches for a quick fix.
If none of the hacks above did the trick to remove huge scratches from your wood floors, you may need to refinish them. Fortunately, this doesn’t mean sanding everything down and starting over. The possibility is that the task can be completed on a much smaller scale.
Inexpensive Ways To Fix The Huge Scratch In Your Wood Floor
According to Family Handyman, the first step in cases like this is to begin work on restoring the finish. If that fails, match the floor finish and apply a new coat instead. The same applies to stained floors. Do your best to match the colors so that the edges of this new section blend seamlessly with the rest. A new coat will cover the scratches without a problem, but you must be especially careful not to expose them like a patch job.
Jabara writes that you should take some extra precautions, such as using a scouring pad before finishing to smooth out any raised edges left by scratches. Once completed, fill the grooves with wood filler or putty and then lightly sand. This is one of the trickiest items on the list and will cost more when you factor in the price of a new finish, but it’s definitely worth a try if it saves you precious hardwood floors.
And if this all seems like a headache you’d like to avoid altogether, you might want to consider laminate flooring in the future. If your home has hardwood floors, scratch repair is something you will eventually have to deal with. No matter how careful you are. This is just a natural part of wood floor maintenance and is almost always caused by dirt or sand on the floor or moving furniture.
There are several things you can do to repair scratched floors, depending on the severity of the scratches. But the best thing you can do for your floors is to do what you can to prevent scratches in the first place.
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Here are 7 ways to prevent scratches on your hardwood floors and some additional tips on how to remove scratches from your hardwood floors.
Take off outdoor shoes before stepping on engineered or hardwood floors, and store wet or dirty shoes in a hallway or cupboard away from hardwood floors. It is also important to avoid walking on wooden floors while wearing pointy shoes such as golf shoes, soccer shoes, or stiletto heels. These shoes can cause deep scratches.
Installing entry mats on the outside and inside of your door will help reduce the amount of water, sand and salt entering your home. This is another major cause of damage to wood floors.
Moving furniture is another common cause of scratches on wooden floors. Adding felt pads to the bottom of chairs, tables, and sofas can help prevent this from happening. It’s a good idea to have a few extra pads on hand in case you run out of pads!
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Cleaning your floors to remove dust and debris is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of scratches. You can use a soft brush to sweep the floor or purchase a vacuum cleaner suitable for hardwood floors. And when you mop the floor, be sure to remove any excess water to prevent warping.
Our professional cleaning kits for oiled wooden floors and lacquered floors are the perfect way to keep your floors free of dust and sand.
Dust and sand can easily get caught in chair rollers or wheels, so it’s best to avoid these if possible. If you have a chair with rollers, you can install wheeled cups or place a mat under the chair to protect your wooden floor from scratches.
Mats and rugs are excellent options for protecting large spaces where furniture is frequently moved, such as a dining room or home office. And not only
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