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Take Scratches Out Of Hardwood Floors – In Shakespeare’s “Macbeth,” the main character begins to lose her mind when she thinks about her role in a murder (yes, this has something to do with floors).
Lady Macbeth’s famous line is “Out darned spot!” Since this is a family-friendly blog, the quote is slightly edited.
Take Scratches Out Of Hardwood Floors
Yet our spirit captures the anxiety of a glaring scratch or scratch in an otherwise beautiful wooden floor. The good news is that you may not have to refinish the entire floor to remove the cursed stain.
Should I Refinish Hardwood Floor With Scratches?
Depending on the scratch, we may be able to isolate the area and sand and polish it lightly. Good as new.
The big question is: Will the difference be noticeable? Yes and no. You, the homeowner, want to know where the mark was. If you study it under light, you will probably be able to tell the difference. But for most others, it will seem seamless.
Now we have to qualify this with “it depends.” We need to look at the scratch and be honest with you about whether a repair is recommended.
And if there’s a big stain or a big dent, there’s no quick fix. There is no solution to fix the hole from when you dropped the 45-pound dumbbell in the dining room.
Woman Shares Genius Hack For Getting Scratches Off Wooden Floor Using Walnuts
And here’s a precautionary note: Place felt pads on all solid surfaces that touch your floor. Felt is the key. Plastic sliders will still leave scratches.
The best way to avoid that damn scratch is to prevent it from happening in the first place. This article was co-authored by Mark Spelman. Mark Spelman is a general contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark has specialized in the construction of interiors, project management and project estimation. He has been an entrepreneur since 1987.
There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
Marks an article as reader-approved when it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, several readers have written to let us know that this article was helpful to them, and received it as reader approval.
Reasons Your Hardwood Floors Look Dull
If you have wooden floors, it is inevitable to collect scratches, even if you are careful. Most scratches are caused by moving furniture, pets and tracking in small stones from outside. Restoring your hardwood floor can be relatively easy, depending on how severe the scratch is. With a few simple steps, you can repair and hide nicks and scratches in your hardwood to get the longest possible life out of your floor.
This article was co-authored by Mark Spelman. Mark Spelman is a general contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark has specialized in the construction of interiors, project management and project estimation. He has been an entrepreneur since 1987. This article has been viewed 851,861 times.
Before fixing scratches on wood floors, be sure to clean and rinse the scratched areas first. Then, to fix shallow or superficial scratches, apply a wood stain marker or a thin layer of sealant to them. You can also try rubbing wood wax over the scratches, then buff the wax and cover the area with stain or sealant. For deeper scratches or pits, use wood putty that closely matches the color of the floor. Give it a day to dry, then use a fine-grit sandpaper to get rid of any excess filler before sealing the area. For more tips from our reviewer on how to fix scratches on hardwood floors, including how to clean your floors before you start, read on! The average cost of new hardwood flooring installation in 2020 ran 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 small scratch or scrape on the floor is sure to cause a bit of panic. It’s kind of hard to believe that we spend so much money on something that we just walk around, but you have to admit: Nothing is quite as homely as a slightly squeaky, perfectly shiny, happily lived-in wooden floor.
But there is a difference between normal wear and something a little more dramatic. You may have children playing on the floor with toy cars, leaving a surface scratch in their wake, or dogs running to greet you when you come home from work, leaving a hole in the wood next to the doormat. Maybe it’s the original wood that came with your new house, or maybe you opted for a fancy finish when you built your dream home. Regardless, the sheer stress of the simplest scratch in the wooden floor is the same.
Want Shiny Hardwood Floors? Here’s How To Rejuvenate Them
Before you reluctantly dip into your emergency fund to refinish your entire floor, we’ve compiled a list of budget-friendly ways to fix that huge scratch in your hardwood floor. In the end, it will look like nothing happened.
We’ve got some good news: You might be able to fix a running 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, per Family Handyman. Dab it on the scratch and let it sit; check back after a day and wipe off the mixture. The scratch should now be imperceptible. Note that this option works best for shallower 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. Just let it sit on the scratch for a few minutes, then polish it into the wood. If your floors were unfinished or recently sanded down when they were scratched up, opt for coconut oil instead. Both options should leave the floors looking scratch-free and with a little extra shine.
Essential Tips & Tricks For Your Hardwood Floors
For shallow surface scratches—like a dog or cat might leave on your floor—this old house suggests a product like paste wax. There are even tinted options for darker floors, making everything look seamless and good as new.
All you have to do is let it dry, then rub it into the floor so that the scratch is not detected. Just be warned: Paste wax is not recommended for polyurethane floors, so do your research and know what kind of floor you’re working with before going this route (via Jabaras).
You can pick up a bucket of paste wax at your local hardware store to keep on hand for any additional issues. A one-pound bucket costs less than $7 at Home Depot, and that’s enough to handle any future scratches that may come up—without breaking the bank.
Mixing pencils, pens or markers work like glue wax, but they can be a cheaper and more user-friendly option for repairing scratches. It all depends on what works best for your specific type of floor and finish. Polish Habitat said Minwax stain markers were a lifesaver for her floors, and the difference is clear as day with just one swipe of the marker.
Beginners Guide: How To Fix Shallow Scratches On Your Hardwood Floor
Another pro tip? Unlike paste wax, you can switch between shades of stain with a pencil or marker, allowing you to precisely color match the fibers of your floors. Polished Habitat used a darker marker for some spots and a lighter one for others, elevating this DIY fix into professional-looking territory.
With a blending pen, pencil or marker costing less than $15 on average, this solution is workable for all budget levels, 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 need to go for the most expensive option and completely restore a small section. You might even get lucky using the easiest hack of all, which might be in your pantry right now: walnuts.
BobVila.com explains that since walnuts “contain excellent natural emollients and brown dyes,” they serve as a little-known solution to removing scratches and scuffs from your hardwood floors. Start by warming the oil of the walnut with your fingers, then slowly work it into the problem area on the floor. The process is similar to using coconut oil to repair a scratch. Let it sit for about five minutes, then buff it away with a soft cloth or cloth. If you’re feeling particularly lazy, Wide Open Country also notes that you can crack open the walnut and rub it directly on the stubborn scratch for a quick fix.
Shallow Scratches, Deep Scratches, And Everything In Between — Hardwood Floor Refinishing Services In Chicago
If none of the above hacks have done the trick to remove the giant scratch on your wood floor, you may need to look into refinishing. Fortunately, that doesn’t mean tearing everything down and starting over – chances are you can get the job done on a much smaller scale.
According to Family Handyman, the first step in a case like this is to start with a finish restorer. If that fails, try to match the finish of your floor and give
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