HOW TO PROTECT HARDWOOD FLOORS FROM SCRATCHES, SPILLAGES AND SCUFFS
No matter the price point or durability of your hardwood flooring, there is an unavoidable fact that many floor owners fail to recognise – ALL hardwood flooring scratches. Hardwood is liable to scratch, even in the most careful of homes. However, there are measures you can take to keep scratches to a minimum while expanding the lifespan of your hardwood.
In this guide, we will explore wooden floor protection and how to get scratches out of wood floors to help you keep your hardwood floor in beautiful condition.
HOW TO MINIMISE SCRATCHES ON YOUR HARDWOOD FLOORING
There are small practical changes that can be made to the surroundings of the hardwood floor. Namely, adding protective felt pads to furniture, avoiding wearing shoes around the house, avoiding chairs which have rollers etc. In essence, anything that’s likely to corrode or add grease to the floor, keep its exposure at a minimum.
Regular cleaning will also avoid hardwood floor scratches. Dirt and grit can eat away at the pristine nature of hardwood flooring and get into nooks and crannies. Regularly clean with a dedicated hardwood cleaner or take a look at our floor care section for further information.
Keep an eye on your furry friends, too. If they have sharp nails and claws, the floor could pay a price. Add rugs and beds for them to lay on when in the room to minimise the contact they have with the hardwood floor. Engineered wood flooring is also widely recognised as the best hardwood flooring for dogs.
Step 1
If you spill anything on your wood floor clean it up immediately to prevent damage. We’d suggest using a rag or paper towel to soak up the bulk of the liquid.
Step 2
And next we recommend using a Ted Todd care kit to clean up afterwards. If your floor is finished with a lacquer, UV oil or hardened oil finish, you’ll need care system one. If your floor is finished with natural oil, hardwax oil or restoration oil, you’ll want care system two. Each care system contains different items that are essential for the maintenance and long-term care of your floor.
Step 3
Once you’ve absorbed the bulk of the spill, fill a spray bottle with 10% cleaner and 90% water and spray a small amount on the affected area, if you need a deeper clean add more cleaner to the solution. Simply spray the solution on the floor, working into any marks with a damp mop. In a well-ventilated room, your floor should take around ten minutes to dry.
Care and Maintenance
Prevention is always better than cure so always make sure you protect your floor before spills or scratches happen. We’d recommend using polish to maintain the original seal, making your floor more resistant to stains and ingrained dirt. To apply the polish, start in the corner of the room, spraying the polish and then working it in with a microfibre mop pad. You don’t have to worry about applying the polish evenly as it won’t show when it dries. Once dry, buff gently with a clean microfibre cloth. Alternatively, you can use a buffing machine for very large areas.
CAN YOU GET SCRATCHES OUT OF HARDWOOD FLOORS?
Yes. DIY wood floor scratch repair is possible although we’d recommend that you approach it with caution. Without the proper knowledge, you could end up causing more harm than good. Continue to read our guide as we share valuable advice.
HOW TO GET SCRATCHES OUT OF WOOD FLOORS
The most effective way to get scratches out of hardwood flooring is to consult our floor care guides or to contact your floor experts at your nearest retailer or design centre.
HOW TO PREVENT A SCRATCHED WOODEN FLOOR KEEPING FLOOR TRAFFIC TO A MINIMUM
In order to prevent scratches on your wooden floor, its important to keep floor traffic to a minimum.
Hardwood flooring is exceptionally popular due to its durability and adeptness at shrugging off regular levels of floor traffic and impact. When we talk about protecting hardwood flooring against scratches and scuffs, however, it is abnormal wear and tear that we need to keep an eye on.
Whether its heavy-handed children hitting the ground with their toys, or a busy family gathering, an exceptional amount of impact poses a risk to the integrity of the flooring. Be vigilant and keep traffic as regular as is possible in order to maximise the lifespan of your hardwood floor.
VIEW MORE GUIDES
We hope you have found our hardwood floor guide helpful. To learn more about cleaning and caring for your wooden floor, visit our advice centre here.