How to get rid of scratches on laminate flooring?

Getting rid of minor scratches

The appearance of the most minor scratches over time is inevitable – they appear due to the impact of abrasive substances: dirt and sand that are brought into the house on outdoor shoes or fly in through the window. In addition, damage can appear during repairs. Removing small scratches is not difficult.

Polish

A special product is easy to find in a hardware or construction store: in order not to spoil the flooring, look for a label with the inscription “for laminate”.

There are three types of polish:

• liquid,
• thick (in the form of mastic),
• aerosol.

The liquid product must be diluted in water according to the instructions on the package, and the floor must be washed with the resulting solution. This will allow you to renew the laminate and protect it from future mechanical impacts.

Silicone mastic is considered even more effective due to its thick consistency. The composition must be rubbed into the floor, wait for the time indicated on the label, then go over the surface with a dry cloth.

Sprays are applied by spraying, avoiding drips, and then rubbed with a rag. After application and polishing, a thin protective film is formed on the laminate boards, which prevents new defects from appearing on the surface.

Olive Oil

Suitable for masking shallow abrasions. Before polishing, you need to thoroughly wash the floor with water and shampoo, and wipe dry the areas that require restoration with a cloth.

To remove scratches, rub the oil into the coating vigorously for several minutes. The result will be noticeable only after polishing. Excess oil should be removed with an absorbent material.

Walnut

Another effective folk remedy that will help cover up scratches on laminate at home. Before use, you need to wash the damaged area, removing all dirt. Then you should peel the walnut, making sure that there is no shell left on the kernel: it is very hard and sharp, so it can cause additional damage to the floor covering.

The walnut kernel contains a large amount of oil, which makes the defects less noticeable. After polishing, it is recommended to rub the floor.

Nail polish

This is a handy tool that will help remove single scratches on laminate. You need to work with this product very carefully so as not to spoil the coating completely. You need to clean the scratch and drip a suitable shade of varnish into it. Then carefully wipe off the excess with a cotton swab and let it dry. As a result, small chips will no longer be noticeable.

WD-40 lubricant

Universal WD-40 lubricant, familiar to every car owner, helps to remove scratches on dark laminate. The process is as simple as using polish: wash the defective area, dry it, spray lubricant on it, wait 5 minutes and clean with a brush. This method will help hide small scratches, but more effective methods will be required to eliminate deep damage.

You can verify the effectiveness of the method by watching the video:

Removing deep scratches

If the defects are significant, it is not necessary to dismantle and replace the entire floor covering. In order to repair large damage, you will need special products that will reliably mask the areas that have become unusable.

Wax candle

Beeswax can be used in a briquette to remove small scratches: to do this, you need to melt or grind it, then polish the scratch with a thick material. Wax candles that are closest to the laminate in shade will also work.

You can rub the wax with a heated cloth. Paraffin, which has long been used in wood restoration, will also do. It should be crushed, adding crumbs of a slate pencil, and rub the damage.

Wax crayons can be used as a replacement for a candle: you can paint over small defects yourself with them.

Pencil

A wax pencil is a budget method that allows you to remove scratches on laminate without resorting to complex repairs. To do this, you should purchase a product of a suitable shade in a furniture store, clean the defective area by wiping it with a damp cloth, and carefully apply parquet wax to the coating. Then you need to carefully polish the damage. The composition will protect the laminate from moisture and abrasion, leaving a thin film.

The pencils do not take up much space and have a long shelf life, so they can be used several times.

Special paste for restoring laminate

The paste (or sealant) is available in solid form and is sold in hardware stores. It has a slightly smaller variety of shades than wax crayons, so to get the perfect color, you sometimes need to mix two compositions.

Apply with a spatula or plastic stack, level and wipe with a soft cloth. There is also a paste in tubes. After treatment, the scratch can be covered with a layer of colorless nail polish.

Acrylic varnish

This product is only used to restore glossy flooring. Working with it requires a certain amount of experience and skill. The composition is applied exclusively to the damage – do not go beyond its boundaries. If this happens, wipe off the excess with a damp cloth. After an hour and a half, the floor can be used.

Putty

An excellent product, available in a wide range of colors, allows you to completely remove scratches. Before processing, it is important to clean and degrease the gap, then protect the edges of the undamaged area with masking tape.

Furniture putty is applied with a spatula, and its excess is immediately removed with a rag. With this composition, you can restore dents in furniture and parquet. After the filler has dried, the treated area must be sanded.

Quick wax

The most effective and even professional result can be achieved with the help of “quick wax”, which is available in the form of a convenient rotating tube. This video clearly shows how to repair a light floor covering using two shades of wax and a varnishing felt-tip brush.

Special repair kit

The kit, which includes wax pencils, a battery-powered wax melter, a special spatula and a soft cloth, will allow you to remove damage from the slats almost without a trace. The procedure is as follows:

1. Clean and degrease the surface to be repaired.
2. Melt a pencil close in color to the main tone.
3. Apply with a spatula to the defect and wait for it to dry.
4. Smooth the surface to a smooth state with a spatula. Polish.
5. Using a darker shade, we form strokes to imitate the pattern of the wood material.
6. We wait for it to harden again, remove the excess, and polish.
7. For protection, we apply varnish.

Scratch prevention

To ensure that your laminate flooring always pleases with its appearance and lasts longer, it is important to follow these recommendations:

• Do not use abrasive substances to clean the floor.
• A rug should be laid at the entrance to the apartment to prevent the spread of sand brought in from the street.
• If you spill liquid on the laminate, you must immediately get rid of the stains, otherwise you will have to rub them with force later.
• Move the furniture carefully, using special pads on the legs.
• It is not recommended to walk on the laminate in heels, as they leave dents.

These simple rules will help prevent scratches and save your family budget.