Hardwood floors require a little different care from other types of flooring. Learn everything there is to know on how to clean hardwood floors and how to fix scratches on wood floors! Plus, we have a couple of other unforgettable hacks you’ll need for maintaining gorgeous floors.
Wood floors are all the rage right now. In fact, they’ve been considered the “Cadillac of flooring” for a few years now.
It’s easy to see why: they look beautiful and add a classic, natural feel to any room.
Unfortunately, they can be difficult to maintain, especially if you have pets or kids. Spills, accidents, scratches, and scuffs are guaranteed to happen at some point.
Before you go running to the hardware store to pick up all new flooring, allow me to put your mind at ease because there are a few time-saving cleaning secrets to help you keep your floors looking like new!
We’ve pulled some of our favorites together for you so you don’t have to run around panicking because guests are coming and your three-year-old decided to use the floor as the spot for his new artwork. 😉
15 Essential Tips & Tricks For Your Hardwood Floors
Every hardwood floor owner needs a few tricks up their sleeve to tackle the challenges that wood flooring can present. Check them out below to grab the tips you need.
Fix Dents With Ease | Apartment Therapy
There are no words to describe how much I wish I knew this when my kids were little and throwing metal cars around. Steam out dents with a wet cloth and an iron. It works on wood furniture, too!
Prevent Scratches From Chairs | Real Simple
How many times have you gotten up from the table and pushed your chair back only to hear it scratch the floor? Put socks on those chair legs to prevent floor scratches when rearranging furniture.
Remove Permanent Marker | My Life And Kids
Remove permanent marker from wood floors with a dab of toothpaste and a damp cloth. Who knew?
DIY All-Purpose Cleaner | Nature’s Nurture
I know when I first got new floors, I wondered how to clean hardwood floors. This homemade all-purpose cleaner is great not only for the wood floors, but for tile, stainless steel appliances, and more!
Bye-Bye Floor Scuffs | Good Housekeeping
As I hardwood floor newbie, I had NO IDEA how to get rid of those annoying scuffs that my kids’ shoes would leave on the floors. Now I know!
Use a magic eraser to easily get rid of floor scuffs.
Silence Creaky Hardwood Floors | Real Living
Fix creaky wood floors with a generous dusting of baby powder. Work it into the cracks until the floor is no longer noisy and you can no longer see the baby powder. Brilliant!
Sayonara Scratches | Restoring The Picket Fence
Fix scratches with a mixture of 1 part vinegar and 3 parts canola oil. I can’t believe the difference it made! Simply wipe the solution on the floor and gently rub it into the scratches. You don’t even need to wipe it off!
DIY Hardwood Floor Cleaner | Mom 4 Real
The tricky part about cleaning hardwood floors is that sometimes cleaners can make them look cloudy. Eliminate that by making your own wood floor cleaner using common household ingredients. Great shine with no harsh chemicals!
Remove Pet Urine Odors | Hunker
If you have pets, you need these tips for removing urine odors from wood floors. Accidents happen, you know, and since wood floors are porous, they soak urine right up.
Black Tea Wood Floor Cleaner | It Takes Time
Black tea, really? Yep, it contains compounds that make it anti-microbial, and the tannins in it add shine to your floor. But wait…there’s more!
Black tea is less acidic than white vinegar making it less harmful for your floor’s finish.
So, steep some black tea in hot water to make a black tea floor cleaner that will have your wood floors looking AMAZING.
Use Walnuts | The Krazy Coupon Lady
The oils in walnuts do an incredible job of hiding scratches in hardwood floors. Simply rub the walnut in a circular motion and use your finger to help the wood absorb the oil.
Proven Tactic to Tackle Deep Scratches | Dummies.com
This technique shows you how to repair deep scratches using steel wool, sandpaper, wood filler, and a few more simple tools.
Handy to know when these other tricks won’t work!
Watch Light Scratches Disappear | Average But Inspired
For light scratches, try DAP Wood Blend Sticks and S.C. Johnson Paste Wax. This is perfect – and so needed – because I have tons of these that need a little attention!
The Best Way To Clean Hardwood Floors | Dream Book Design
If you’re not using a microfiber floor duster, get one IMMEDIATELY! The base is bendable, and it picks up dust, pet hair, and everything else easily.
Add Luster With Natural Ingredients | Really Cheap Floors
There are several common household supplies that you can use to naturally restore a beautiful shine to your well-loved hardwood floors. Check them out to find what works for your floors.
I hope these terrific tips help you tackle those “well-loved” spots in your floors that you probably don’t love looking at!
The key here is not to panic or become overwhelmed by your beat-up floors. Take it one thing at a time and very soon, you’ll have floors that would make the home improvement stars jealous.
In the end, even if after you tried everything you don’t see a difference in your floors, just remember that right now, scratches and scuffs add great “character” to a home.
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