The Benefits of Different Types of Flooring

How to Handle Simple, and Not So Simple, Damage to Your Home's Timber Flooring

13 April 2017

Marian Moreno

Timber flooring is very durable and may withstand quite a bit of abuse over the years, but when it does get scratched or stained, you want to address this damage immediately. Overlooking even minor damage can mean that those nicks get larger over time, and the wood eventually splits and chips. Small stains can spread and seep into the wood, and then become impossible to remove if they're not cleaned up immediately. Note a few tips on how to handle some simple, and not so simple, damage to your home's timber flooring.

Small scratches

The best way to deal with small scratches in a timber floor is to buff them away with a wax meant for your type of timber flooring in particular. Use a very soft, lint-free cloth and use a circulator motion when applying the wax. This will fill in those scratched areas and restore the colour of the wood as well.

Milk or food stains

First rub away the stain with a damp cloth, again using a circular motion so you don't simply push the stain into the wood grain. Next, apply a soft layer of wax with another cloth, also in a circular motion, to restore a layer of protection on the freshly cleaned wood.

Scuffs

Scuff marks are different than scratches, as a scuff mark is an abrasion over the surface of the timber; scratches actually gouge out some of the timber. To address a scuff mark, first use a steel wool pad in the same direction of the scuff, and this will even out the wood surface. Next, use a buffing pad meant for timber floors over the cleaned area, and this will restore the wood's appearance and shine.

Mould or mildew

Never use bleach on wood floors as this will damage the wood and cause it to dry out. Instead, look for a wood soap that is meant to address mould in particular, and gently apply it to the affected area. If this doesn't remove all the mould or mildew and you see that it's seeped into the wood, you may need to sand down the surface and refinish the timber completely.

Wax build-up

If there is a wax build-up on your timber floors, you need mineral spirits or even just a floor stripper to remove it. Never use paint stripper or other such chemicals, as this can damage the wood. Once the build-up is stripped away, buff the floors and then apply a fresh coat of wax.

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