How to Remove Scratches on Wood Flooring

Wood flooring is prone to scratches especially if you drag or move heavy furniture on it. The scratches can either be deep, minor, or surface scratches. It is possible to remove the scratches and restore your floor. Here are some tips to help you.

Surface Scratches
If you have surface scratches on your wood flooring, it means that the marks have only affected the protective clothing. In this case, you will need the following to restore the flooring:

· Protective coating
· Floor cleaner
· Water
· Soft cloths

It is easy to get rid of this type of scratches because you only need to repair the protective coating. Use a soft cloth to clean the affected area. Use a floor cleaner that is specifically designed for wood flooring. The floor should be free of grime and dirt because they can get trapped when you apply a new protective coating. Rinse the area with a damp cloth and allow it to dry. Once it is completely dry, apply the protective coating. You can choose a sealant or shellac finish depending on your preferences. Allow the air to dry and avoid using it for at least 12 hours.

Minor Scratches
These are scratches that have penetrated beyond the protective coating. To eliminate these scratches, you will need some fine-grade sandpaper or steel wool. It is also important to have wax wood repair sticks. The first step is to clean the area using an effective wood cleaner. Make sure there are no dirt traces on the floor when you are done. Any dirt left on the floor can be pushed deeper into the wood, making it look unsightly. Use the sandpaper or steel wool to gently rub on the affected area.

You need to be very careful when doing this to avoid scratching the unaffected areas. Rub along the wood grain. The scratch will become more visible if you rub across the wood grain. Continue rubbing until the scratch is no longer noticeable. Once this is done, rub the affected part with the wax stick. The stick helps to fill in the marks and makes it blend with the surrounding area. The wax should be allowed to set for about 10 minutes before you buff the area. Use a soft cloth to clean the area after you finish buffing.

Deep Scratches
Wood flooring can also have deep grooves such as gauges. It takes a lot more effort and accuracy to get rid of these kinds of scratches. You will have to repair and refinish the floor it to eliminate them. This can take a lot of time and if you are not willing to do it on your own, it is advisable to consult a professional to carry out the repairs for you. To remove deep scratches, use fine sandpaper to run the area following the wood grain. You have to remove the top surfaces of the scratch. Once this is done, use the brush attachment on your vacuum to get rid of the dirt and sand.

Apply some tinted wood filler that matches with the color of your wood flooring. You can also use untainted filler if you do not get the right color of tinted filler. Use a bristle brush to apply the wood filler. Make sure it is rubbed into the deep scratches. Add as much filler as required depending on how deep the scratches were. The wood filler should be slightly raised over the surrounding floor when you are done. Wipe off any excess filler before it hardens. This should be done along the wood grain initially and then across the grain to ensure there is no excess filler.

Allow the wood filler to dry for at least 24 hours. Once it is dry, you can sand it. Take care not to scratch the surrounding wood flooring when you are sanding. Sand the filler until it is level with the rest of the floor. You can then paint your wood filler with a matching stain but this is only necessary if the filler used is untainted. An artist’s paintbrush is the best option for applying the stain.
It is possible to restore your wood flooring to its original state by removing surface, minor, and deep scratches. All you need is the right tools and materials to make your flooring look as good as new.