How to Get Scuff Marks Off of Wood Floors
Hardwood flooring is an attractive choice that complements a variety of interior decors. While wood floors do not require the vacuuming maintenance of carpet, wood flooring needs to be cared for appropriately in order to keep it looking its best. Even with regular maintenance, a hardwood floor is still a floor and the occasional shoe scuff will appear. These scuffs are even more noticeable on lighter wood shades, but they can be removed with a little elbow grease. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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1
Examine the scuff. Most shoe scuffs are black and rest on the surface of the wood finish. If the scuff is accompanied by a scratch, examine the severity to determine if refinishing is necessary.
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Rub the scuff mark with a clean, dry cotton cloth. This may take repeated rubbing to remove the rubber mark from the floor.
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3
Use a couple drops of wood floor cleaner on a clean portion of the cloth if rubbing alone did not remove the scuff. Rub the cleaner into the scuff to loosen its hold. Continue rubbing until the scuff is removed.
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4
Use a dry section of the cloth to wipe up any residue left behind by the cleaning solution.
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Tips & Warnings
A pencil eraser can remove especially stubborn scuffs. Use the eraser on the scuff as you would to erase a mistake from paper. Follow up by sweeping eraser debris and wiping the area with wood cleaner and a dry cloth.
Waxing can help protect wood floors from shoe scuffs because the scuff will rest on the surface of the wax, not the floor's finish. Remove these scuffs by gently scraping away the scuffed wax with a steel wool pad. Buff out the wax to restore a smooth finish.
Put covers under furniture legs to prevent scuffs caused by furniture use.
Do not use water alone on hardwood floors. Always use a cleaning product designed for use with wood.
References
- Photo Credit wood image by Zbigniew Nowak from Fotolia.com
