How to Remove Scratches from Your Hardwood Floors

Steel wool is a handy tool for hardwood floor touch ups.

A hardwood floor is a desirable feature in any home, but not if it is marred with scratches. There are a few different brands of scratch covers out there that work fairly well, but they tend to darken the hardwood floor that they are applied to, and stick out like a sore thumb. With a slightly more involved technique, you can eliminate a scratch permanently, making the repair blend seamlessly with the rest of your hardwood floor.

Things You'll Need

• Fine steel wool
• Medium-coarse steel wool
• Paint thinner or a deglosser
• 100-grit sandpaper
• Throw-away paintbrush
• Polyurethane
• Rags
• Floor wax

Instructions

1. Saturate a piece of medium-coarse steel wool with the paint thinner or deglosser and rub in the direction of the grain over shallow scratches that do not go deeper than the finish. Never rub across the grain, this will only create more damage to your floors) When you have removed the finish, smooth the surface area with a piece of fine steel wool.

2. Remove the finish as noted in Step 1 to access deeper scratches. Smooth the area with 100-grit sandpaper. Fill the scratch above the floor surface slightly with wood putty, using an old brush. Remove the excess with a straight piece of wood, run level across the area. After the wood filler dries, sand it flush with the floor. Than clean the area with your rag and thinner.

3. Refinish the area after either type of repair. Apply an even coat of polyurethane with a throw-away brush and let it dry overnight. If the spot is glossier than the rest of the floor you can dull it with the fine steel-wool.

Tips & Warnings

• This is an excellent way to save time and money, especially on rental properties or homes you are getting ready to sell

• This finish last for years.

• For a light scratch that you don't have time to refinish, apply a small amount of floor wax to the fine steel wool and rub gently with the wood's grain to remove the scratch. Let the wax dry and buff with a clean, soft cloth.

• Always wear a respirator when using paints or chemicals.

References

• Michigan State University Extension: Wood Floors - Spots and Scratches