6 Ways to Get Rid of Scratches on Your Wood Floors

Timeless and versatile, hardwood floors are a natural choice in any home. For the handsome sophistication they add, though, this flooring option comes with a frustrating caveat: It’s prone to scratching and dulling over time.  

Fortunately, you can fix scratches in wood floors with the right tricks and products—leaving those who walk upon them none the wiser about their scuffed past. We asked pros to share their best tips for fixing scratched wood floors, and they were quick to come to the rescue with six methods.

Coconut Oil 

Best for: Dull wood floors 

If you’re dealing more with overall dullness from wear and tear, this light-touch option can help restore your wood floors back to their original luster. 

“The conditioning properties will bring out the wood’s natural color and you’ll get a nice, subtle coconut scent,” says Rhonda Wilson, quality lead cleaner at FreshSpace Cleaning. “Take a soft cloth and dab on just a small amount, then rub in small, circular motions. You’ll notice the oil starting to blend into the wood, almost like it’s ‘feeding’ it a bit of moisture and color.” 

Let it set for about five minutes so the wood has time to absorb, then buff again with a clean, dry cloth. 

Touch Up Pens 

Best for: Minor scratches 

Wood touch-up pens work like a charm to get rid of very shallow scratches on wood floors. “These are the tiny scratches that do not penetrate deep into the wood,” says Maria Anderson, a cleaning professional in Atlanta, Georgia for Henfield Storage.

“They work by filling in the scratch with a colored wax or resin that matches the color of the floor.” These come in a large variety of colors so you can match most types of wood finishes. Sometimes it helps to mix and match the pens to get the right look. 

Wax Sticks 

Best for: Minor scratches

Similar to touch-up pens, wax sticks are best for minor, surface-level scratches. Anderson says, “These are thin, colored sticks of wax that are rubbed directly on the scratch to fill [it in].” She uses them to cover scratches, nicks, scuffs, and discoloration on wood. 

Fine Steel Wool

Best for: Minor to moderate scratches and scuffed areas 

If you’re dealing with minor to moderate scratches—including larger areas where scratching is present—this option can work well. Just make sure you’re using a fine grade of steel wool (0000, specifically). 

“It helps buff out those scratches by lightly removing the top layer of the wood that’s been damaged, without going too deep,” Wilson explains. “The scratch smooths out, and it starts to blend back in with the rest of the floor’s surface. Go light and don’t press too hard.” 

After you’ve worked the scratch, wipe it with a damp cloth to remove any dust then finish it off with a little wood polish or oil to bring back the shine.

Wood Putty and Shellac 

Best for: Deep scratches and nicks 

Wood putty is a beefier version of filling in a moderate or minor scratch with a wax pen. In this case, it’s a putty that dries down with a wood-like finish. 

“Begin by making sure the scratch is clean and free of any dirt, then use a putty knife to press matching wood putty into the scratch, making sure it fills the gap,” advises Steve Britchford, senior partner at Polycote. “Once the putty has dried, gently sand the area with fine-grit sandpaper so that it becomes flush with the rest of the floor.” 

After, apply a shellac finish with a small brush over the repaired area to seal and protect the floors. He notes that this process isn’t just about fixing the scratch itself; it’s also important for maintaining the wood’s appearance and its overall strength over time.

Sanding and Refinishing 

Best for: Heavy scratches and large areas of damage 

In situations where you’ve got deep scores or large areas of damage or scratches, sanding and refinishing your floors is the best way to go. 

“Sanding with a fine-grit sandpaper—something around 220-grit—is your best bet to remove the top damaged layer of wood, exposing fresh wood underneath that you can work with,” Wilson says. “If you’re dealing with a large area and want to save time, you can use an orbital sander instead of hand-sanding. It’ll speed things up a lot, but just be sure to keep it moving so you don’t create uneven patches.” 

Don’t go too deep; you want to remove just enough of the damaged layer. Once you’ve sanded it down, wipe the dust away with a dry cloth. Finish with a matching stain and/or seal to restore the color and texture of the floor. Let it dry completely before using again.