How to fix scratched up wood floors

Fine scratches in wood flooring are both thin and shallow, measuring less than 1/16-inch deep. These are the types of scratches that may be caused by sliding boxes or chairs across the floor. Since they are shallow, these scratches can often be sanded by hand to minimize their depth, while supplementing with color-blending techniques. Scratches that run parallel to the wood grain can be color-blended more effectively than cross-grain scratches. For fine scratches, opt for a resin-based colorant or a stain marker specified for flooring; waxy markers are best reserved for furniture fixes.

If the scratches are numerous and the floor coating around the scratches is still in good condition, try rubbing wood stain over the area and then quickly wiping it clean. The stain should penetrate the raw wood only.

1. Choose a floor color marker or stain pen that is similar to the floor color. Test the colorant in a non-visible area to determine the closest color. If needed, floor colorants can be mixed to achieve the perfect hue.

   For a natural alternative for lighter-colored wood flooring, try rubbing a raw walnut into the scratches; the oils fill in very fine scratches. Buff out the walnut oil so it does not affect anyone with nut allergies.

2. Lightly brush the finalized floor colorant over a small area of the scratches. If this proves successful, continue on to the rest of the scratches.

3. Lightly rub fine-grade steel wool over the scratches when the colorant is dry. Clean the area by gently using a tack cloth to remove any microscopic bits of debris.

   For the steel wool, avoid soap-impregnated products such as Brillo.

Deep scratches more than 1/16-inch deep in wood flooring are the type of gouging that occurs from dog claws or by sliding heavy furniture or appliances across the floor. If the deep scratches are numerous and you have solid hardwood flooring, the best avenue is often to sand the entire floor. But for more localized scratches, the preferred technique is still to fill in and color-blend the deeper scratch, this time using wood filler.

1. Prepare wood filler for the scratch. Press the wood filler into the scratch with the putty knife, carefully staying within the damaged area. Smooth down the wet filler. Wipe off excess while the wood filler is still wet.

   A plastic putty knife is softer than a metal putty knife and won't do any further damage to your wood floors. You can also lightly sand down the knife's plastic corners to round them off if further scratches are a concern.

2. Let the filler dry for at least two hours.

3. After the wood filler has dried, sand it down by hand. Avoid sanding the flooring around the scratch repair.

4. Tint the cured filler with wood stain or a stain pen to match the flooring's color.