How to repair a scratch on a wooden floor? Whether it’s by moving a piece of furniture, because of a small rock under the shoes, because of the dog’s claws, removing a scratch is not always easy!
To have a hardwood floor myself at home, here are my best tips and tricks for repairing scratches and scuffs on wood.
1. Repair scratches with oil and vinegar
Grandma’s first trick for removing scratches from a hardwood floor is a mixture of oil and white vinegar.
Here’s how to do this trick:
- Mix 1 part white vinegar with 4 parts canola oil
- Apply and rub scuffs and scratches on hardwood with a soft cloth.
You can substitute canola oil for linseed oil which is just as effective in maintaining and repairing hardwood floors.
2. A wax crayon to hide a scratch
A simple and effective trick to remove or rather to camouflage a scratch in a hardwood floor is the wax pencil.
- Rub the cavity in the hardwood with the wax crayon to fill it well.
- Then use a cloth to remove the excess wax from the wood.
You can also buy small sticks specifically designed for hardwood floors online or in specialized stores.
The hardest part with this trick is finding a color of wax that most closely matches the color of the wood.
3. Use a hardwood filler
If the cavity or the scratch is very deep in the wood then the filler is probably the only solution to succeed in repairing everything.
- Apply and completely fill the hole (or deep scratch) with the filler.
- Take a cloth to remove the surplus of the product and let dry.
If the cavity is very deep in the wood (floor or furniture) it is best to apply the filler in several coats, taking care to let it dry between each coat.
4. Hide a scratch with peanut butter
Do you like testing grandma’s tips and tricks? Well here is one to hide a scratch on a wooden floor:
- Apply and fill the scratch with peanut butter.
- Remove excess peanut butter with a damp cloth.
- Allow to air dry to finish.
The problem with this trick you know what is? It’s that if you have a cat or a dog it might lick your hardwood. ?
5. Repair the floor with baking soda
Did you know that it was possible to remove or rather repair a crack, a hole or a deep scratch in a varnished wood floor with baking soda?
Here’s how to fix those deep cracks and scratches:
- Clean the surface of the hardwood to be repaired and let it dry.
- Sprinkle and fill cracks with baking soda and remove excess.
- Apply 3 coats of varnish with a small brush and let dry between each coat.
6. Pumice stone to remove small scratches
For small scratches and scuffs present on the surface of the wood floor liquid pumice stone can be used as a trick.
- Pour some liquid pumice stone on a soft cloth.
- Rub the surface of the wood to be treated using circular movements.
- Start again with a new cloth but this time following the scratches of the floor.
- Finish by using a dry, soft cloth to dry the wood.
7. Prevent scratches on a hardwood floor
Now that you know how to repair and camouflage scratches on a wooden floor, here are some tips and advice to avoid them!
- Protect furniture legs You can stick small pads (felt protectors) under each leg of your furniture, tables and chairs so as not to scratch the wood floor.
- Avoid walking with your shoes: It is best never to walk in shoes in the house because small rocks can stick to the sole and therefore scratch the surface of the hardwood.
- Slide and move furniture safely: if you have to move furniture to change its place, take care to place a blanket underneath to avoid scratches and deep scratches in the wood.
- Watch out for cat and dog claws: Pay particular attention to your pet’s claws, which are often the cause of scratches on dark floors.