How to Repair Scratches on a Finished Wood Floor

Keep wood floors looking new by using simple steps to repair scratches.

Finished wood floors add beauty and warmth to the home, and are also strong and durable. Over time, normal wear will cause scratches on the finished wood; culprits include pet claws, moving furniture or dropping hard items on the floor. Scratches left alone for a long time become embedded with dirt, leaving the scratch a darker, more pronounced color than the surrounding wood floor. Luckily, the homeowner can repair these scratch marks in finished wood floors easily with a few simple items.

Things You'll Need

• Old toothbrush
• Dry, lint-free cloth
• Fine steel wool
• 2 soft cloths
• Mineral spirits
• Matching wood floor finish
• Small artist's paintbrush
• Soft felt pads
• Scratch repair kit

Instructions

1. Dampen an old toothbrush with water and rub the scratch back and forth until the dirt and debris come out. Use a dry lint-free cloth to remove all the moisture left behind from cleaning the scratch.

2. Rub the scratch with a piece of fine steel wool, going with the grain of the wood. Apply enough gentle pressure to buff the scratch out but not hard enough to make the scratch more prominent.

3. Feather the edges of the scratch area with the steel wool pad. Feathering the edges of the scratch area will help the sanding blend into the surrounding wood, allowing for a much more natural look.

4. Dampen a soft cloth with mineral spirits. Wipe the dampened cloth over the scratch area to remove sanding dust. Allow the mineral spirits to dry for five to 10 minutes, depending on how large the scratch area is.

5. Open and stir a can of matching wood floor finish with a wooden stick. Dip a small artist's paintbrush into the floor finish, and brush it onto the scratched area. Use only a small amount of floor finish, just enough to blend the repaired area with the surrounding wood floor.

6. Wipe the repaired area with a dry, soft cloth, and allow it to dry for at least 30 minutes.

Tips & Warnings

• Apply soft felt pads to the bottom of all furniture legs to prevent scratches in the future.

• Home improvement stores have scratch repair kits available for finished wood floors. Follow all directions precisely when using a scratch repair kit for the finished wood floor to avoid creating a bigger problem than you started with.

References

• Creative Homemaking: Tips on How to Repair Hardwood Floor Scratches