How to Fix Scratches in Hardwood Floors

Learn how to repair scratches in hardwood floors or the surfaces of hardwood floors to avoid the high cost of having a professional do a job that you are more than capable of doing!

Things You'll Need

• depending on the type of scratch, you may not need all of these products
• read the article first to determine what you need from this list
• very fine grad steel wool or sandpaper
• 2 small brushes (painting)
• wood stain
• wood finish to match what is already on your floor
• wood filler (a.k.a. wood putty, wood patch
• terrycloth rags
• terrycloth mop (or regular if that is all you have

Instructions

1. MAKE SURE IT IS A SCRATCH! You would be surprised how many times what is thought to be a terrible scratch, is really just a mark on the floor. You can do this by trying to rub it out with a soft rag or terrycloth rag. You can apply a mixture of water and vinegar (little) to the marked area to be sure not to damage the wood with corrosive cleaners, but you should NEVER soak any wood floor area. Slightly damp is all you need. I mention a cleaner at the end of this article that can also be used for this task.

2. So it is a scratch? This is very frustrating, but thankfully, most surface scratches can be handled effectively. The trick is determining where the scratch is, on the finishing agent at the surface of the floor, or into the wood itself. If you are lucky enough to have only scratched the protective finish, you will be happy. These types of superficial scratches can usually be remedied by applying a small amount of the original finish back to the scratched area. You would usually want to use a very fine steel wood or sandpaper to lightly rub the edges of the scratch. This will rough up the area so the new finish can stick more easily to the scratch. After doing this, you need to be sure to clean the area of dust as well as possible to ensure the cleanest looking finish. Urethane finishes can be fixed using a urethane repair kit. For these types of finishes (shellac, urethane, etc.) you may want to apply the new finish with a small brush, so as not to overdue the amount of sealant applied. Floors with a wax finish can be re-waxed and buffed in the damaged area as well. The key here is to use the same finishing agent to repair the scratch.

3. What happens when the scratch has gone deep enough to penetrate the finished surface and actually damage the wood? First, you must use a little common sense. Chances are that if you have a seriously deep gauge in the wood itself, it may never look perfect or close to perfect without the help of a professional. This being said, there is no reason to try fixing it yourself first, gain some experience and save some cash, right? (The first rule of thumb when dealing with wood is that everything you do should go along with the grain of the wood, never against it.) Your best bet here is to try wood fillers. Wood filler (a.k.a. wood putty, wood patch) is available in two basic types: solvent-based and water-based. The usual type used has been solvent-based; however, water-based filler has advanced much over the years and is now as dependable as its counter-part. The advantages to using the water-based variety are: (1) environmentally friendlier, (2) much easier to clean up. Be sure to follow the wood filler instructions exactly, to ensure that you get the best performance out of it. HINT: If you are doing a hardwood floor or other large surface, it is recommended that you use trowel grade grain filler, which is somewhat thinner in consistency and therefore easier to apply. The wood fillers can be tinted to match the stain of the floor.

4. 

   After working with the wood filler, making sure it has come out to your satisfaction, you can then apply the surface finish using the same technique as you would for a superficial scratch. Remember to let the wood filler completely dry before starting any sort of top coat, or you will have problems later on down the road. A lot of articles recommend using Murphy® Oil Soap, which is an excellent product for wood finishes. Another excellent line of products to look for are Holloway House® line of cleaning products. There are varieties for many types of surfaces, but their wood products are just incredible. One of the best wood cleaners (and all around cleaners for that matter) that I have ever used is Holloway House Quick Shine Floor Cleaner (be careful not to confuse this with Quick Shine Floor Finish-which is great for linoleum floors or shiny vinyl to add the shine back, but not used as a cleaner.) The Quick Shine Floor Cleaner makes the wood look natural again, especially after continued use, and really perks the wood up. But remember what I mentioned before, you should never soak a wood floor. You should only have a mop that is lightly damp when caring for wood. I have used this on every wood surface in my home (and of the homes that I have cleaned over the years) and I have never been disappointed by it. It costs a bit more than most cleaners, but you use only a little at a time, so it's really worth the money.
   Good luck to you and your floors!