To repair this damage, youll have to color the scratch with a wood stain marker you can buy at a hardware store. Andrana Lefton, Bob Vila, 11 Tried-and-True Ways to Care for Hardwood Floors, 11 Ways to Make the Most of Your Towns Curbside Cleanup Day, What Would Bob Do? Fixing a scratch on your hardwood flooring can be as easy as coloring it, depending on the depth of the scratch. Naturalwood is at constant risk of surface wear, water marks, and deeper damage. Well-maintained wood floors add to your home's aesthetic. Choose a liquid stripping agent, such as low-fume 3Ms Safest Stripper ($14.02 for 32 ounces, available on Amazon). Wait for this to dry thoroughly before walking on the surface again. It is also guaranteed to match well because wood fillers are specially dyed to match the coloring of natural wood. Coarse sandpaper is very abrasive and may significantly scratch up the wood. Encourage friends and family to remove their shoes upon entering the houseespecially women in high heels! Deep Gouge: For a deep gouge, fill the hole with matching colored wood putty. We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Wait five minutes, then buffin gently, using a soft sponge. If your floorboards are showing signs of heavy damage, they may have ridges and other uneven spots. Scratches Conceal surface scratches with a simple stain-filled marker ( Minwax Wood Finish Stain Marker, $8.99; Amazon). If the damage to your floor is severe, you may need to replace the damaged floorboard(s) entirely. ), Or, you can try the walnut method, Mother Natures own wood repair crayon that fills and colors minor scratches. The polish will look luster and have protective qualities so no more scratches will occur on that spot in the near future. The quick tricks to fix your light and minimal scratches wont work if you have a deep scratch on your floor. Helpful DIY 668K subscribers 1.2M views 9 years ago In this video, I show you how to fix gouges, dents, and deep scratches in hardwood floors. I absolutelylove my dining room table. I love sharing the best cleaning hacks, organizing tricks, & money-saving tips. The sealant works by covering the wood surface with a protective coating. Use casters encased with a polyurethane coat to prevent scratches. Rub a walnut over a really light scratch (like a scratch on a hardwood floor) and see if it disappears. This article has been viewed 107,980 times. No need to worry about how to fix deep scratches in wood furniture. This product hides the scratches and needs no sanding before or after application. If the filler begins to dry before you clean it all up, dampen a rag with mineral spirits. The Rust-Oleum water-based polyurethane finish, due to its thickness and double coating, is one of the strongest materials available on the market that works well on wood. Use a putty knife or a flat object to spread it evenly across the damaged area. Intro 3 DIY Ways to Fix a Scratch in Hardwood Floors MrFixItDIY 206K subscribers Subscribe 9.3K 717K views 4 years ago #hardwoodfloor This week I show you 3 DIY ways to fix a variety of. If the entire floor is covered in scratches and gouges, the best option might be to refinish the entire floor. The paint itself is often available at craft stores in addition to some home improvement stores and online. After squirting a small dot on the scratched area, use a flat object like a putty knife to spread it evenly across the scratched area. Any non-abrasive dish detergent works well here. This tip easily fixes deep scratches in wood. If nothing else, your thirsty wood will be very happy.". How To Clean A Pumice Stone Using 2 Ingredients, _________________________________________. Consider, for example, a wood floor installed prior to 1970, which was probably finished with varnish or shellac. Next, use fine-grit sandpaper to sand the filler area to match it to the level of the surrounding area. Let it rest for 2 hours before adding another coat. If you have hardwood floors, you know how frustrating it is to see scratches marring their beauty. Claim home Deep scratches expose the raw wood, stripping away the wood's color. Mix the two and apply the mixture to the scratch. THE FIX: For a deep scratch that reveals bare wood, use fine-grit paper, working with the grain, to sand the scratch. Looks ugly! If the wood was stained but has no finish, you may be able to get similar wood floor scratch repair results by re-applying the stain to help hide the scratch. Water-basedstains are available in many shades, and make for easy application and clean up. Rub a wax stick over the scratch to fill it in. Step 2: Fix Scratches Light scratches and deep scratches require different repair approaches. Rub the filler with your fingers to blend it in along the edges of the scratch until its as flat as possible. There are even tinted options for darker floors, making everything look seamless and good as new. Its a professional job.. This is an easy hardwood floor scratch repair technique that you can do yourself! Apply wax or acrylic floor polish over light scratches in hardwood floors, but take caution: Over time, such polishes can dull and darken the floor, eventually requiring removal. Tired of scratches making your furniture look old and tired? If your wood consists of a few different shades, match the paint to the lightest one. Wipe it off with a soft cloth to see the satisfactory results. Using a plastic putty knife, fill the scratch with stainable wood filler. Wood filler uses a compound to fill in deep scratches, hardening as it dries to create a tough, durable finish. To fill the scratch you will want to choose the color wax crayon that best matches your stain. Clean the surface with a cloth and then apply a protective coat. It works well on scratches in wood table or nicks in wood. Use a paint brush to coat the bottom of the scratch. Next, sand any rough edges in or . Check out how to fix deep scratches in wood. If you didnt install the floor and arent sure what type of finish it has, you can check here for more details on identifying it. Minwax Hardwood Floor Reviver is a product that brings the beauty of your hardwood floor back to life. This will take you around 30 seconds to a minute and you will see the results instantly. Gently run the wax crayon over the scratch. If youre committed to keeping your hardwoods in tip-top shape, consider the following tried-and-true methods of safeguarding wood against the most common threats to its flawlessness: Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. 1. Buff the wax to smooth it out and restore shine to the floor. Dont worry about spreading the filler material past the crack. Make sure you clean the area outside of the scratches to remove any wax residue there too. Check out how to fix deep scratches in wood. Allow about 24 hours to complete the removal process. If none of the above hacks have done the trick to remove the giant scratch on your wood floor, you might have to look into refinishing. Your best bet is awater-based product with a biodegradablecleaning agent, such as Begleys (sold at big-box home improvement stores and Amazon). Clean The Floor Image Credit: ercan senkaya, Shutterstock Before you treat the area and fix the scratch, you must ensure that the area is clean. Some others are sold in a liquid form in canisters. (Ive used a brown Sharpie to remove hardwood scratches. Step 3 - Repairing Deep Scratches. This is especially great on engineered wood," However, Petrone suggests proceeding with care. Use a Q-tip to remove any excess stain and let dry. But there's a difference between normal wear and tear and something a bit more dramatic. You need to remove dust and dirt around the scratch. Although stain markers seem like they would be easy to use and fix the wood scratches, the stain would quickly wear away and it never did anything to fill the deep scratches and nicks in wood. Either way, the sheer stress of the simplest scratch in your wood floor is the same. Similar to the olive oil with vinegar method, the directions are simple and straight-forward; While mayonnaise can help fix scratches or polish the hardwood, remember that it is not a substitute for cleaning solutions. Heres a link to a step-by-step guide for applying stain pen on the wood surface perfectly. Another option is to use a similarly-colored wood stain. Sanding isnt required, but to achieve best results, you must thoroughly clean the floor prior to application. Develop the tech skills you need for work and life. RELATED:11 Tried-and-True Ways to Care for Hardwood Floors. "For surface marks, the trusty old Magic Eraser is your best friend. Dip a rag or paint brush into the stain, then spread it along the inside of the scratch. Sweep often in order to contain any dirt or grit that manages to sneak in despite your best attempts at barring its entry. This really helps to get any dirt or grime out of the way before you fill the scratch. Before you attempt any repairs, Brian Levy, a Lowe's store manager in Troutman, North Carolina, says that you should give your hardwood floors a good cleaning with a microfiber mop; then, go over them with your vacuum. These inexpensive items hide scratches on hardwood floors and make for easy hardwood floor scratch repair. Overtime, the normal use of furniture and the slight movements it makes can leave very deep scratches in the wood fl. Clean thoroughly with a damp cloth and dry with a towel. Before you reluctantly dip into your emergency fund to refinish your entire floor, we've rounded up a list of budget-friendly ways to fix the huge scratch in your wood floor. Fixing Scratches on Wood Floors, All You Need to Know About Waxing Hardwood Floors, 7 Unusual Tricks for Your Cleanest Floors Ever, All You Need to Know About Parquet Flooring, 8 Easy and Affordable Garage Floor Options. Use a wood stain or a stain pen on the wood filler to make it match the rest of the wood. Make sure the rag isnt dripping, then scrub along the woods grain over the excess wax. Jumpstart your decluttering in just 30 minutes a day. Repairing gouged wood or deeply scratched wood surfaces is done with the use of different products, though the applications of using them may be the same. If you're unsure about the stain color of your floors, it's best to start light and gradually go darker. Apply the scratch remover to the surface and buff it over the damaged area. Finally, finish the wood filler. You can also use epoxy glue mixed with sanding dust and/or universal . Sometimes the shade you apply might be darker than the wood surface. Use a marker or blending pencils to cover the scratches. It's easy and only costs a few dollars. If you've tried to fix a scratch but find it still looks deep and noticeable, you have three options: repair, replace, or refinish. Be sure to trim your pets nails regularly to avoid any scratches. Heres how to sand down your floor. Instead, use a soft mop or vacuum (with the appropriate attachment) to remove dust, hair, and surface debris. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. Rub mineral spirits over the sanded area to pick up any fine dust. Still, for smaller scratches, the DIY approach works finewhich is one good reason to keep a walnut handy in your housecleaning supplies. There is some term knowledge to be learned before you get into work on deep scratches. A complete sanding removes scratches, but beware: This only works on real wood floors, not bamboo. 1 Rub a wax wood filler stick over the crack. At such a steep price, any tiny scratch or scuff on the floor is bound to cause a bit of a panic. Another natural at-home remedy is coconut oil. This is a question that plagues just about all owners of these sought-after floors at some point. This will wipe out extra oil on the surface with no unsightly scratches. (Avoid waxes or pastes and cleaners that leave protective coats and shines.) ", Deep scratches and gougesin wood floors take more precision to repair. You will want to remove all traces of dust and grime on the floor before you begin any other steps. No apple cider vinegar in the cabinet? The scratch should now be unnoticeable. I bought it a couple of years ago on clearance from Costco and it is just the perfect size for our family of three. Followproduct instructions carefully to apply, then use fine-grade steel wool, rubbing in thedirection of the grain, to remove any excess stripper. If you don't know what was previously used, work with a flooring pro to determine the best option among the many choices on the market, including oil-based polyurethane, water-based polyurethane, wax coating, varnish, stain, and aluminum oxide coating. Cleaning hardwood floors with a brush attachment is ideal. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Plan to reapply the product every several months and always refrain from using any such treatment on wood laminate or factory-finished floors. Wood putty is similar to wood filler, but it cannot be sanded or stained/painted. Is there an aluminum oxide coating? Be sure to remove all the excess filler with the use of a flat object or the same putty knife. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/jun/30/how-to-mend-a-scratch-on-wooden-furniture, https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-fix-scratches-on-hardwood-floors/, https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-use-wood-filler/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_6Z-yHABq8&t=116, https://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/how-to-remove-scratches-hardwood-floors/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_6Z-yHABq8&t=242, https://www.houselogic.com/organize-maintain/diy-repair/repair-wood-floors-and-erase-ugly-scratches/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vh4Dtd9-ISY&t=44, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vh4Dtd9-ISY&t=65, https://newengland.com/today/living/home-repair-diy/wood-furniture-scratches/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vh4Dtd9-ISY&t=268, https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-fix-scratches-on-wood/. Hi, I'm Julie! The term sanding or sand is also used when you use sandpaper on repairing products, this is normally done so the repairing product on the wood stays on the same level and does not have bumps or inconsistencies. Lightly wipe the floor using a cotton cloth. Deeper Scratches Some scratches, though, are more difficult to deal with and require some additional work. Here are some helpful tips: Don't forget to reapply wood finish. Minimize the appearance of deep scratches with a wood stain, which comes in oil-based, water-based, gel, and combination varieties. Coconut oil can alsominimize scratch marks on unfinished or freshly sanded floors. I haven't had any problems with the wax coming off, wearing away, or transferring onto papers or material. Follow this tutorial from wikiHow for the sealer applying process. This nourishing oil both protects and hides unsightly scuff marks. Another well-reviewed product is OldEnglish Scratch Cover ($4.82 for eight ounces, available on Amazon), available in both light and dark woodtones. If you have a small, single scratch thats only noticeable when you get close (like a scratch caused by an excited pet) and your floor has a relatively new finish, try a DIY home solution first. The wood fillers can take anywhere between 15 minutes to 6 hours to dry depending on the depth of the damaged surface, since you are only fixing deep scratches, waiting a minimum of half an hour should do the trick. Instead, make sure the scratch looks well-hidden. Also, allow ample time for the finish to dry. "You can rent a sander from your local hardware store and sand the floors yourself. Rubbing Olive Oil with Vinegar You can fix a small scratch on your hardwood floors with this additional method. For deeper gouges in your wood, try a product like Bondo ($18.15 for one ounce on Amazon)a wood filler that can be sanded and stained, or painted. The scratch on your hardwood flooring should have disappeared with satisfactory results. Another option is to use colored wood putty and fill in using a plastic putty knife. Know what the surface is made of so you know how to start your wood floor scratch repair. Seeing scratches in your hardwood floor? Take a damp microfiber cloth and clean off the table or whatever wood furniture you are working with. Commercial non-toxic wood cleaners safe for polyurethane-finished floors are also available. Clean hardwood floors gently. Step 4: Dealing With Large Scratches. Claim your home to stay up-to-date of your homes value and equity. 1. Let the table and the scratches completely dry after wiping it down. This is similar to using walnut on the floor, the only difference is that the olive oil will seep into the wood to heal the scratch instead of almond natural oil. P.S. You can also find stainmarkers and blending pencils, though you may have to play with color combinations tofind the perfect match for your floor. Finish restorers are designed to help treat faded finishes or light scratches distributed across a wide area of your hardwood floors. Leave it for the rest of the day, and rub it out. The new coat will cover the scratch without a hitch, but you want to be particularly careful to make sure it doesn't come across like a patch job. Polished Habitat used a darker marker for some spots and a lighter one for others, which elevated this DIY fix into professional-looking territory. In many cases you can make those imperfections go awayor at least make them less visible. I use it every day as a computer desk. Walnuts can help fix the small scratch that you have on your hardwood floor. These will prevent scratches if any object were to fall. One of the easiest ways to fix deep scratches in wood is to use a wax filler stick. [1] Let the oil sit for a few minutes, then buff with a soft cloth. Warning: Steam can turn some floor finishes white, so test this method on a hidden part of the floor first. Because it is right off the kitchen and living room it gets so much use. Repair. THE FIX: For a deep scratch that reveals bare wood, use fine-grit paper, working with the grain, to sand the scratch. Wood filler is a substance that can be used to fix hardwood surfaces. Copyright 2023 This Old House Ventures, LLC. If so, don't panic. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 107,980 times. Apply it with a small brush or even a cotton swabjust be sure to wipe away any excess before it has the chance to dry. Remember to clean up any areas with spilled filler as well. Jump To: Repair Minor Scratches | Repair Deep Scratches | Readymade Products | Prevent Scratches. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. These wood filler for scratches work so much better than the markers. Just be warned: Paste wax is not recommended for polyurethane floors, so do your research and know what kind of floors you're working with before you go this route (via Jabara's). For tips about how to finish the wood with polyurethane or another sealant, keep reading! After all that hard work getting rid of scratches in wood floors, you'll want to prevent future blemishes. I always try to keep it free from clutter and I love using this trick to keep the wood free from dust and shiny. You can add luster to such a finish with paste or liquid wax, or oil. Flooring putty can be a great way to fill gouges and deep scratches in wood floors. To remove wax buildup on the table, dampen a rag with mineral spirits or a little bit of vinegar. The Best Way to Clean Hardwood FloorsRevealed, 8 Things You Should Get Rid of Before Moving Into Your New Home, According to Organizing Experts. If youre the creative type, you can color in the scratch with graining pencilsand artistically re-create the wood grain. And, as a homeowner, you likely make enough trips to Lowe's as it is. 03, 2023 Do you have ugly scratches in your wood floors? Some other options are stain markers and blending pencils. Thisoption is best for small, deep holes that can then be filled, sanded, stained, and finished,leaving your floor flawless once more. Is your finish oil or water based? At such a steep price, any tiny scratch or scuff on the floor is bound to cause a bit of a panic. % of people told us that this article helped them. While this is one of the trickier items on the list and costlier, given the price of a new finish it's certainly worth a shot if it saves your prized hardwood floors. Home Topics Cleaning Cleaning Floors Hardwood. Start by cleaning the entire area around the scratch. Dirt and dust can interfere with your fixing process, so a clean surface is a key to fixing your wood floor scratches. If your floors have a darker stain, use a paste wax formulated for dark woods, such as walnut. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Some add character, but some are just too big and need to go away. Once that's done, fill in any gouges with wood filler or putty, and then give it a light sanding. For just around $5 and a few minutes of your time, your scratched furniture can look so much better. (Test it in an unobtrusive spot.). Stain to match your floors, then reseal the spot with polyurethane. Your email address will not be published. Apply to the scratch according to packagedirections, wipe away any excess, and allow to dry thoroughly. You can use a color matching fine tip permanent marker or wood stain pens and blending sticks. Pay close attention to the inside of the crack itself, which should be totally free of dirt, if possible. If necessary, sand smooth and refinish to match the surrounding area. Apply some painter's tape around the area you're fixing, then apply the wood filler to the area to the scratch. Finally, use varnish (thinned with 10 or 20 percent turpentine) as a coating over the repair.