How to fix scratches on wood floor?

It’s the wood floor; surely it will get scratches. One cannot prevent scratches by any means. It can be due to daily walking, dog chase, anything dropping, or pulling anything on the floor. So, the one thing that you can do is fix those scratches. But, how to fix scratches on wood floor?

Actually, the scratches can be of three types, superficial, which only affect the floor’s finish, the second one being minor scratches, which have affected deeply but on a small surface, and the third one being deep scratches, which affected deeper and on a bigger surface. To treat all these types of scratches, you’ll need different types of solutions.

In this article, you will know ways to fix various scratches on the wood floor. So let’s get started!

How to fix scratches on wood floor?

Here’s the whole process to fix scratches of different types on the wood floor:

1) Check the Finish of Your Floor

It’s crucial to know what kind of floor finish you have so that you can match it to the new one. Is there a wax covering on the floor? Did you stain or varnish the wood? Is there a layer of aluminum oxide on it?

Make sure you know what the surface is composed of before you begin scratch repair on a wood floor.

2) Clean the Scratched Area

The wood floor around the scratched area must be properly cleaned before any scratch restoration work can begin. Use a soft-bristled brush and a dustpan to remove as much dirt as possible.

Abrasive scrub pads and liquid cleaning should never be used to clean a floor. For dust, hair, and other surface particles, use a soft mop or vacuum with the appropriate attachment rather than using a vacuum cleaner.

3) Assess the Scratches

Now, you should assess the scratches. Check whether the scratches are just on the floor or minor or deep. This will help you give proper treatment to the floor to clear the scratches effectively. Then you can start the treatment of each type of scratch.

Treating Superficial Scratches

When the floor’s finish is scratched, it’s called a “surface scratch.” A DIY home remedy may be your best bet if your floor has a recent finish and you only notice a single scratch when you approach near to it. Here’s how you can remove it:

Take Apple Cider Vinegar and Olive Oil and mix them in equal parts.
Then put it on the scratch and leave it for several hours.
After a few scratches, carefully clear the excess mix, and you will see no scratches.

If this method does not work, try the following method:

Using a soft cloth, clean the scratched area. Use a soft rag and a small amount of hardwood floor cleaner to clean the floor.
Now, clean the surface to eliminate any remaining cleaner and allow it to dry.
Fill in the scrape with a wax stick. If necessary, use a plastic putty knife, press the wax down into the scrape.
Now, using a clean, soft cloth, gently wipe the damaged area back and forth to buff the wax.
Now, you will se a plain and scratch-free area.

Treating Minor Scratches

If you can see the wood behind the protective layer, you’ve got a little scratch. These are the sorts of scratches that can occur when boxes or chairs are dragged over the floor. Because these scratches are small, they may frequently be sanded down by hand to reduce their depth while supplementing with color-blending procedures. Here’s how you can easily treat these scratches:

Wipe off the surface. Using a high-quality wood cleaner is the best way to remove any loose particles.
Use steel wool to clean up the scratch. Only rub the area that has been scratched.
Now, use a wax stick over the scratched area, then wait 10 minutes. It will fill the scratch.
Buff and polish the area using a soft cloth.
If your floors aren’t coated in glossy polyurethane, follow up with a paste wax application.
This can help conceal the scrapes even more.
Following that, rub the scratches out a second time.

Treating Deep Scratches

Deep scratches in wood flooring that go more than 1/16-inch deep are caused by dog claws or by moving heavy furniture and appliances across the floor, which gouges the wood. If there are a lot of deep scratches and you have solid hardwood flooring, sanding the entire floor may be the best option.

However, wood filler is still the ideal method of filling in and blending the deeper scrape for comparatively modest scratches. Here’s how to do it:

Prepare wood filler to use as a filler for the scratch. Gently press the wood filler into the scratch with the putty knife, remaining inside the damaged area.
The moist filler should be sanded down. Use a damp cloth to remove any extra wood filler during the drying process.
Allow at least two hours for the filler to dry.
Sand the wood filler down by hand once it has dry. Don’t sand around the scratch repair area!
Tint the cured filler to match the color of the flooring using wood stain or a stain pen.

If this does not work or your floor has too many deep scratches, then the best way is to Refinish the whole floor.

Refinishing the Whole Floor

This is a wise move if your entire floor is scratched and gouged. A thorough sanding eliminates scratches, but this method is only effective on genuine wood flooring.

A genuine wood surface on an engineered wood floor should never have had its surface sanded. If you sand these floors more than once, the genuine wood below will be exposed.

Unless you have a lot of experience with this kind of thing, you should leave this kind of thing to the professionals.

How to fix scratches on wood floor mayonnaise?

Yes, you read it right. Minor wood floor scratches can be easily fixed with mayonnaise. You just need mayonnaise and nothing else. Here’s the process to make scratches disappear with the use of mayonnaise:

Make sure to thoroughly clean the affected surface by sweeping away any dust or grime.
When cleaning a surface that has to be repaired, use a moist cloth to remove dirt and dust.
With a soft cloth, apply a good amount of mayonnaise to the scratch.
Wait about 3 to 4 minutes.
Use a napkin or cloth to wipe away the mayo.
Mayonnaise will adhere to the crack and form a greasy layer.
Generally, this film will take on the color of the surrounding hardwood floor material, thereby concealing the damage.

How to fix scratches on wood floors without sanding?

You can easily fix scratches on wood floor without sanding. It will just need wood wax & your wood floor will be good to go again. Remember that this process is only good for minor scratches; you should go for the sanding process for deep scratches.

Here’s the process to fix scratches on wood floors without sanding:

To ensure that the floor is free of dust and grime, use a soft rag and a little amount of hardwood floor cleaning.
Now use a wax stick to fill in the scratch.
Use a putty knife to push the wax into the scrape if necessary.
Now, using a clean, soft cloth, gently wipe the damaged area back and forth to buff the wax.
Buffing the wax smooths the damaged area, eliminates extra wax, and restores the floor’s luster.

How to fix scratches in polyurethane hardwood floors?

To fix scratches in polyurethane hardwood floors, you need some mineral spirits and wood putty. It will fill all the scratches and will make the floor look fine. But afterward the treatments, you’ll need to reapply a fresh coat of polyurethane on the area.

Here’s how to fix scratches in polyurethane hardwood floors:

Moisten a scouring pad with mineral spirits to remove scratches from polyurethane coatings.
Now, using the pad, gently massage the scrape.
Allow it to dry, then wipe it clean.
Take a wood putty in the color of your floor and apply it to the scratch area.
Utilize a plastic putty knife to insert and smooth it into the scrape.
After allowing the putty to harden, sand smooth with 150 grit sandpaper.
Restore the area by refinishing it with polyurethane.

How to fix scratches on wood floor from dog?

If you have a dog in your house, your wood floor will probably get scratches. But you can’t do anything to avoid it, but you can surely fix the scratches. You may save the expense of refinishing your wood flooring and furniture by following the outlined methods.

The scratch should be first cleaned with a modest bit of hardwood cleaner on a cloth.
Now, properly fill-up the scratch using wood filler and a putty knife.
Lightly sand the area to remove any exposed wood filler using a sanding block.
Now, fill in the scratch with wood stain in the hue that best fits your flooring or furniture, and then wipe away any excess.
After that, add a layer of shellac or polyurethane as needed.

Bottom Line

Now, you know how to fix scratches on wood floor. Next time you see any scratch on the floor, don’t worry and just start the work to fix or fill it. You can even try unique methods like mayonnaise to clear the scratches.

We hope this article was helpful and informative. Please leave your thoughts & suggestions in the comments!

Good luck with your fixing skills!