Easy Fixes for Wood Floor Issues

Wood floors are the pride of many homes, but a damaged wood floor can be unsightly. Many common issues are easy to conceal and easier to prevent.

Disguise the damage

Wood floors are usually protected by layers of wax or a coat of tough polyurethane varnish. Waxed floors are especially vulnerable to scuffs, scratches and staining.

• Polish out light scuff marks with a damp cloth, then apply a little shoe polish in a matching shade to disguise them even further.
• Rub over a deeper scratch with the edge of a penny — this will soften the hard sides of the gouge enough to make it less noticeable.
• Choose a marker or felt-tipped pen in a colour that matches your floor, and colour in the exposed wood left by a deep scratch.
• Wood floors can be dented by stiletto heels or by dropped objects. If your floor is untreated or waxed, try dampening a pad of cotton wool and leave it over the dent for a few hours — this may plump up the wood fibres and level the surface.

Use some abrasive to remove the marks

Most stains and heat marks on waxed wood floors can be removed by rubbing the surface with fine steel wool or sandpaper (for deeper stains) and then feathering in wax to finish.

• If the stains are dark, use a clean cotton cloth to apply some pure white vinegar to the spots after rubbing them with steel wool.
• Hold it in place for five minutes before sanding again. Allow to dry and reapply wax to finish.

Wood floors look great and are warm underfoot, but they are easily damaged. When shifting heavy furniture on a wood floor, slip a thick sock onto each leg of the table or cabinet. Not only will this prevent you from damaging the floor, but you may also be able to slide the furniture instead of lifting it. Try moving it a small distance first, checking as you go that you are not leaving a mark.

• Protect vulnerable floors by gluing felt pads to the underside of chair legs.
• Place rugs in areas where people are likely to drop heavy objects — for example, on the floor in front of a pantry.Clean up quickly after a spill of liquid — even water.
• Don't place old bottles on the floor — traces of liquid they contained may run down the outside of the bottle, making stubborn rings on the floor.
• Keep your leftovers in a designated box in the garage or a cupboard.
• Pieces of flooring, carpet and curtain or upholstery material can be invaluable when it comes to patching up damage.