Laminate flooring is a great option for flooring, giving you the beautiful color and texture of hardwood floors for a fraction of the cost. Unfortunately, like any floor, laminate flooring can be susceptible to scratching.
To remove scratches from your laminate floors, try filling in the scratches with filling pencils, melted crayons, or colored floor putty. You can also try using burn-in sticks, or even toothpaste. If all else fails, you can replace the damaged plank.
There are even more ingenious hacks to remove scratches from your flooring. Keep reading for everything you need to know about removing scratches from laminate floors.
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Gather the Needed Materials
Before beginning to remove scratches, you should gather your materials. To repair your damaged laminate flooring, you will need:
- Filling pencils
- A washcloth
- A broom
- Colored putty
- Burn-in sticks
You may also want to try some cost-effective DIY hacks, like toothpaste and melted crayons.
Best Ways to Remove Scratches from Laminate Flooring
1. Apply Filling Pencils and Markers
One of the first things you should try when attempting to remove scratches from your laminate floors is to use a filling pencil. Filling pencils are often used for repairing scratches on wood, and they work just as well on laminate floors!
You should be able to find a filling pencil at your local hardware store. Be sure to pick one that matches the color of your floor; try to get the color as close as possible.
Before filling in the scratch, prepare the floor by cleaning it. Sweep it free of dirt and wipe it down with a wet cloth. Once the area is fully dry, apply the filling pencil directly into the scuff or scratch. The marks should disappear.
2. Apply Melted Crayon
If the filling pencil doesn’t work for you, you may want to try using melted crayons. Crayons are made of wax, and when melted, it will work well to fill in any scratches or dents in your laminate floors.
Find a crayon that matches the color of your laminate flooring, and then melt it either in a microwave or over the stove.
Just like with the filling pencil, you will want to prepare your floor by cleaning it. Sweep away any dust or debris, and then wipe it down with a wet towel. Allow the area to dry before proceeding.
Apply the melted crayon into the scratch or scuff mark, and once it cools, it should look good as new.
3. Apply Colored Putty
Another method to try and repair your scratched laminate flooring is to apply colored putty. You can purchase this at most hardware stores, and it is easy to use.
Prepare the colored putty, and then use a putty knife to apply it onto the floor. You will want to be sure to scrape up any excess putty before it hardens.
4. Use Burn-In Sticks
Another option to help you remove the scratches from your laminate floors is to use burn-in sticks. Burn-in sticks come with laminate floor repair kits. It’s a special kind of filling that you apply to your floor with an electric knife.
Prepare the area by sweeping away debris and wiping it down with a towel. Once the area is prepped, begin by melting the wax sticks with a burn-in knife. All of these materials should be provided in your floor repair kit.
The wax should match the color of your laminate floors as closely as it can. Once the wax melts and becomes more creamy, scoop it onto the burn-in knife and apply the melted wax at the top of the scratch, spreading it into the hole.
For best results, do this all in one smooth motion. Stopping along the way as you are spreading the wax will cause an uneven fill, and look visually displeasing.
5. Use Toothpaste
It sounds crazy—but toothpaste is an option to consider for repairing your laminate floors! It’s an old hack, and cost-effective, as you most likely have toothpaste lying around your house.
Toothpaste works best for minor scratches. Use a dab of toothpaste with WD 40 on the scratch mark. You should see them disappear!
When you are done dabbing the toothpaste, use water and vinegar to clean off any greasy residue. Your floor should be looking as good as new!
6. Replace the Damaged Plank
The last method of attack for repairing damaged laminate floors is to replace the damaged plank. You may have some leftover laminate planks from when you originally installed your flooring.
If you don’t have any spare planks, you may need to purchase them. The great part about laminate flooring is that you can replace the damaged plank without redoing the entire floor.
But the best thing to do to remove scratches from your floors is to prevent them in the first place.
7. Tip: Avoid Abrasive Material
When removing scratches from your laminate floorings, you do not, under any circumstance, want to sand, buff, or scour your floors. Do not take steel wool or anything abrasive to your floors. This will only damage the top layer of the laminate further.
Be as gentle as possible. Try to fill in pencils, burn-in sticks, and colored putty first—you should be able to fill in the damage and make your floors good as new.
Preventing Scratches in Your Laminate Floors
Prevention is key to keeping your floors scratch-free. Consider using welcome mats or rugs to protect the surface of your floors.
Implement a No-Shoe Policy
You may also want to implement a no-shoe policy. Shoes can scuff the floors themselves, or carry dirt into your home. Dirt may seem harmless, but it is rather abrasive and can wind up, causing scratches on the surface of your flooring.
Use Furniture Pads or Any Protective Flooring Tool
Another method to prevent scratching your laminate floors is to use furniture pads. Furniture is a major culprit of floor scratching—any time a chair or table is dragged across the floor, it can potentially damage your laminate.
Rubber furniture pads fit beneath the table legs or chair legs. They reduce the chance of scratching when you have to move your furniture around.
Clean Your Floors Regularly
Cleaning your laminate floors regularly is also a great way to prevent scratches, marks, and scuffs. Dirt and debris are huge offenders when it comes to scratched up floors. Don’t underestimate the power that regular sweeping, vacuuming, and mopping can have when it comes to preserving the integrity of your floors!
Conclusion
That’s all you need to know about removing scratches from your laminate floors! Hopefully, you found the article informative and helpful. Good luck getting out all those scuffs and marks—sometimes, all you need is a little toothpaste.
