![]() Oil-based stains dry slowly and can be difficult to work with but provide the richest, longest-lasting color. Minimize the appearance of deep scratches with a wood stain, which comes in oil-based, water-based, gel, and combination varieties. All you need is a soft cloth to apply on clean wood surfaces. This nourishing oil both protects and hides unsightly scuff marks. Another well-reviewed product is Old English Scratch Cover ($4.82 for eight ounces, available on Amazon), available in both light and dark wood tones. Good for scratch repair on both wood and laminate floors, Scratch Away ($10.99 for eight ounces, available from Lumber Liquidators) cleans, polishes, and reduces the appearance of scratch marks caused by dirt, shoes, pets, and furniture scrapes. Consider wood floor products designed for scratch repair. Clean thoroughly with a damp cloth and dry with a towel. Wait five minutes, then buff in gently, using a soft sponge. Vacuum your floor thoroughly, then apply baking soda moistened with several drops of olive oil to marred areas. Make an effective refresher from pantry ingredients.Ī combo of baking soda and olive oil can help reduce and remove scratches from wood. Apply a thin coat of coconut oil with a brush or sponge, let it dwell for five minutes, then buff with a soft cloth for richer-looking wood. Coconut oil can also minimize scratch marks on unfinished or freshly sanded floors. Warm up the oil in the nut with your fingers, then rub into worn areas of the floor using small circular motions. Let the oil sit for a few minutes, then buff with a soft cloth. Walnuts contain excellent natural emollients and brown dyes that both repair and enhance the look of worn, scratched wood. Rub walnuts over scratches in the wood to camoflage them. Make sure your sanded area is smooth and thoroughly clean before you stain and finish.ģ. ![]() Oil-based urethanes ( view example on Amazon) are strong-smelling, but they dry with a yellow tinge that darkens over time, which may better suit the color of an older floor. After you find the right stain, patch test a urethane finish.Ī water-based urethane ( view example on Amazon) dries quickly, with a clear, shiny finish ideal for newer floors-but it may create too much contrast if floors have darkened with age. You’ll need to reapply stain that you’ve buffed away in the process, so choose a hidden area (under the bed, in a closet) to patch-test a wood stain that matches your floor color. First, sand the floor in the direction of the grain. A fine-grained sandpaper is all you need to buff out damage. Sand out the scratches in the wood floor.Ī little elbow grease can bring life back to wood floors. Your best bet is a water-based product with a biodegradable cleaning agent, such as Begley’s (sold at big-box home improvement stores and Amazon). Commercial non-toxic wood cleaners safe for polyurethane-finished floors are also available. Next, lightly spray with fresh water and buff with a soft, dry cloth. To clean, add two to four drops of liquid soap to a quart of water, mix in a spray bottle, and mist your polyurethane-finished floor, then distribute the solution with a dry microfiber mop. Instead, use a soft mop or vacuum (with the appropriate attachment) to remove dust, hair, and surface debris. Avoid brooms or abrasive scrub pads, and never soak a floor with water or liquid cleaner. Lackluster wood can magnify the appearance of scratches and worn areas-not to mention that dirt particles ground into hardwood floors can lead to worse scratches-so your first line of action should be thorough but gentle cleaning. Fortunately, you can minimize or even completely eradicate less serious marks and discoloration with the scratch repair tips below-and restore your wood floors to their former glory. ![]() When widespread wear and tear is visible, the time- and labor-intensive process of total floor refinishing may be necessary, and in most cases, that’s a job best left to the pros. RELATED: 11 Tried-and-True Ways to Care for Hardwood Floors If your older finish is noticeably scratched, it can be stripped or sanded down, then refinished with a polyurethane-based product-a highly durable finish, resistant to abrasion and easy to clean-just be sure to use only a water-based silicone polish on polyurethane-finished floors. You can add luster to such a finish with paste or liquid wax, or oil. Consider, for example, a wood floor installed prior to 1970, which was probably finished with varnish or shellac. Your floor’s finish works to protect it from everyday wear and tear, but it’s important to know what kind of finish you’ve got in order to maintain it. ![]()
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