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Products To Fix Scratches On Hardwood Floors – The average cost of installing a new hardwood floor in 2020 was between $7,200 and $14,400 — and that’s just for a 1,200-square-foot home, according to HomeAdvisor. At such a high price, any tiny scratch or scratch on the floor is sure to cause a little panic. It’s a little hard to believe we’re spending so much money on something we just walk on, but you have to admit: nothing is as homey as slightly creaky, perfectly shiny hardwood floors that are happily lived in.
But there’s a difference between normal wear and tear and something a little more dramatic. Maybe you have kids playing on the floor with toy cars, dragging a surface scratch behind them, or dogs running to greet you when you get home from work, leaving a dent in the wood next to the doormat. Maybe it’s the original wood that came with your new home, or maybe you splurged on a fancy finish when building your dream home. Either way, the stress of the simplest scratch on your wood floor is the same.
Products To Fix Scratches On Hardwood Floors
Before you begrudgingly dip into your emergency fund to refinish your entire floor, we’ve rounded up a list of inexpensive ways to repair a giant scratch on your hardwood floor. In the end, it will look like nothing happened.
How To Repair An Oiled Wooden Floor
We’ve got some good news: You might be able to fix that pesky scratch without even going to your local hardware store. And, as a homeowner, you probably make enough trips to Lowe’s as it is. So if the scratch seems minimal, it’s probably best to start with a home remedy.
Try making a solution of equal parts olive oil and apple cider vinegar, according to Family Handyman. Dab it on the scratch and let it sit; check again after a day and wipe off the mixture. The scratch should now be invisible. Note that this option works best for shallow scratches on new floors with newer finishes.
No apple cider vinegar in the cupboard? BobVila.com recommends using a combination of baking soda and olive oil. Simply leave it on the scratch for a few minutes and then drill it onto the wood. If your floors were unfinished or recently sanded when scratched, opt for coconut oil instead. Either option should have scratch-free floors with added shine.
For shallow surface scratches — like those a dog or cat might leave on your floor — This Old House suggests a product like wax. There are even tinted options for darker floors, making everything look flawless and as good as new.
How Can I Fix These Scratches On Wood Flooring?
All you have to do is let it dry and then rub it into the floor so that the scratch is not exposed. Just be warned: paste wax is not recommended for polyurethane floors, so do your research and find out what kind of flooring you’re working with before going this route (via Jabara).
You can pick up a bucket of paste wax at your local hardware store to have on hand for any additional problems. A one-pound bucket costs less than $7 at Home Depot, and there’s enough to deal with any future scratches that may pop up—without breaking the bank.
Blending pens, pencils, or markers work like paste wax, but can be a cheaper and easier option for repairing scratches. It all depends on what is more appropriate for your specific type of floor and finish. Polished Habitat said the Minwax stain markers have been a lifesaver for her floors, and the difference is clear as day with just one swipe of the marker.
Another pro tip? Unlike paste wax, you can switch between stain shades with a pencil or marker, allowing you to precisely match the color to the grain of your floor. Polished Habitat used a darker marker in some places and a lighter one in others, which elevated this DIY fix into professional-looking territory.
How To Fix Wood Floor
With a blending pen, pen, or marker costing less than $15 on average, this solution is doable for any budget level, especially when compared to the cost of new or refinished floors.
If you’re in a hurry to remove a small scratch from older wood floors, you don’t necessarily have to jump at the most expensive option and completely refinish a small section. You might even have luck using the simplest hack of all, which might be sitting in your kitchen pantry right now: walnuts.
BobVila.com explains that because walnuts “contain excellent natural emollients and browning agents,” they act as a little-known solution to removing scratches and scuffs from your hardwood floors. Start by warming the walnut oil with your fingers, then slowly rub it into the problem area of your floor. The process is similar to using coconut oil to repair a scratch. Let it sit for about five minutes and then wipe it off with a soft cloth or cloth. If you’re feeling particularly lazy, Wide Open Country also notes that you can crack open a walnut and rub it directly onto a stubborn scratch for a quick fix.
If none of the above hacks have been able to remove a huge scratch on your hardwood floor, you may need to look for a replacement. Fortunately, that doesn’t mean you’ll have to grind everything out and start over — chances are you can get the job done on a much smaller scale.
How I Wrecked My Hardwood Floors (and How I Fixed Them)
According to Family Handyman, the first step in a case like this is to start with a final restorer. If that doesn’t work, try matching your floor’s finish and giving it a fresh coat instead. The same applies to a painted floor: Do your best to match the color so that the edges of this new part blend seamlessly with the rest. A new coat will easily cover the scratch, but you have to be extra careful that it doesn’t end up looking like a rag.
Jabara notes a few extra precautions to take, such as using a scouring pad before going into the finish to smooth out any raised edges left after the scratch. Once that’s done, fill in any recesses with wood filler or putty, then sand it down lightly. While this is one of the trickier items on the list — and more expensive, given the cost of a new finish — it’s definitely worth a try if it saves your prized hardwood floors.
And, if all of this seems like a headache you want to avoid entirely, you might want to consider laminate flooring in the future. If your home has hardwood floors, then repairing scratches is something you’ll have to deal with eventually, no matter how careful you are. It’s just a natural part of caring for a wooden floor and is almost always the result of dirt or sand on the floor or furniture being moved.
Depending on how severe the scratches are, there are several things you can do to repair a scratched floor. But by far the best thing you can do for your floor is to do everything you can to avoid scratches.
How To Clean Hardwood Floors The Right Way
So here are seven ways to avoid scratches on your wood floors, along with some bonus tips on how to remove scratches from wood floors.
Be sure to remove your outdoor shoes before stepping on a floor made of wood or wood, and store wet or dirty shoes in a porch or closet away from hardwood floors. It is also important to avoid walking on wooden floors with pointy shoes such as golf shoes, cleats or heels as this will cause deep scratches.
Installing mats outside and inside your doors will help reduce the amount of water, sand and salt that enters your home. This is another major cause of damage to wood floors.
Moving furniture is another common cause of scratches on wooden floors, and adding felt pads to the base of chairs, tables and sofas will help prevent this. It’s worth having a few extra pads on hand in case one falls!
Diy Way To Fix A Scratch In Hardwood Floors
Cleaning your floors to remove dirt and debris is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of scratches. You can use a soft brush to clean the floor or buy a vacuum that is suitable for hardwood floors. And make sure that when you wash the floor, you remove the excess water to avoid warping.
Our specialist cleaning kits for oiled wooden floors and varnished floors are the perfect way to clean your floors of dirt or sand.
Dirt and sand can easily get stuck to roller chairs or wheels, so it’s best to avoid them if possible. If you have castor chairs, you can install caster cups or place a mat under the chair to protect your hardwood floor from scratches.
Area rugs and carpets are a great option for protecting large areas where furniture is frequently moved, such as a dining room or home office. And likewise
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