Wood Scratch Repair to Prepare Floors for Spring

Because winter poses a host of problems for your floors, spring is the perfect time for the wood scratch repair needed after snow boots have scuffed the entrance. To replenish your hardwood and buff out the seasonal damage from abrasive salt, heavy shoes and sharp ice take time this spring to give them a fresh new look that gets them ready for the season ahead.

REMOVING SPOTS AND DEBRIS

Your floors are bound to take a beating in the winter, when the weather bites at more than just your fingers and toes. People track all kinds of things inside during this time of year, especially when shoe treads are thicker and grounds are wetter. And when dead leaves, chunks of ice, road salt and similarly damaging debris enter your home during winter, they cause scratches and marks that your wood floors can wear for a long time. Give them a good spring cleaning and repair some of that winter damage while it's still fresh.

Use a broom or dust mop to remove dust and debris before someone steps on it and grinds it into your floors. When you have a smooth surface, clean any spots or stains with Murphy® Oil Soap and a soft cloth. Once the floors are clean, inspect them for signs of physical damage and start taking care of those unsightly flaws.

WAXING SCRATCHES AND SCUFFS OUT

Scuffs and shallow scratches can be fixed with a floor wax, many of which are made just for floors. This wax seeps into shallow scratches, filling them up to give you a smooth floor surface again. To apply a wax, simply wipe it onto the damaged area with a clean, dry cloth or sponge. Rub it into the scratches you want to remove in a circular motion. Once the excess wax is wiped away, apply new stain to cover any discoloration the previous coat of wax may have produced. Wipe away excess stain and allow it to dry, and the scratches should be invisible.

FILLING THE SCRATCH

Deeper scratches and gouges in your wood floors may not be repaired with wax alone. Better Homes And Gardens (BHG), suggests you use a wood filler, which is designed to fill the little nooks, holes and other crannies that are particularly common in soft species of wood. Put the filler directly into the damaged area until the damaged area of the floor is level with the rest of the floor. Keep in mind you may need to apply another coat of filler once the first application dries. Once the filler does dry and is even with the surrounding floor, apply your stain and your floors should look nice and new again.

Wood scratch repair takes several steps, but it doesn't take a lot of time. In the end, the beautiful results are well worth the effort. Fix up your floors this spring to repair all that damage from winter, and they'll be ready for all sorts of summer fun. Spring is when you want your floors to gleam and look great. Do a little repair work after winter is over, and they will.

This article was brought to you by Colgate-Palmolive Company, the makers of Murphy® Oil Soap. The views and opinions expressed by the author do not reflect the position of the Colgate-Palmolive Company.