How to Fill Scratches on Stairs

Properly maintain wooden stairs.

Wooden stairs provide graceful and elegant focal points that visually enhance foyers and overall home interiors. Scratches on wooden stairs, however, are less than appealing. Like hardwood floors, wooden stairs typically develop scratch marks from foot traffic, particularly sharp-heeled shoes. Dragging heavy objects up the stairs also causes scratches in the wood. Although often unnoticeable, scratches can accumulate and make wooden stairs appear worn and dingy over time. Promptly fill scratches on wooden stairs to restore their original appearance.

Things You'll Need

• Clean cloth
• Towel
• Colored putty stick
• Rubber spatula

Instructions

1. Dampen a clean cloth with water. Wipe the scratched wooden stairs with the slightly moist cloth to collect any accumulated soil and grime.

2. Wipe the moisture off the stairs using a towel. Thoroughly dry the scratched wood.

3. Select a colored putty stick that very closely, if not perfectly, blends with the stairs. Putty sticks come in numerous hues to match any wood grain.

4. Rub the colored stick over the scratches until they are overflowing with putty wax. Apply the putty parallel to the wood's grain lines.

5. Skim the excess putty off the stairs using a rubber spatula. Leave the scratches fully filled with putty, of course.

6. Allow the putty-filled scratches to air dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Substitute a colored wax filler stick for the putty stick.

• Excessive moisture damages wooden stairs.

References

• Danny Lipford: How to Repair a Scratch or Gouge in a Hardwood Floor
• Utah State University Cooperative Extension: Removing Spots, Dents, and Surface Imperfections