Scratchy laminate floor - help!

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/polish-laminate-floors-36957.html

Hi Alice,

Click on the link below for an article about how to remove minor and also deeper scratches from a laminate floor. Wishing you the best.

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/fix-scratches-dark-wood-laminate-shiny-floor-45906.html

Can you use a cleaner/wax in one? If you know what brand of laminate it is, you can check. If the laminate is scratched badly, it would be worth trying, anyway, don't you think? I would try it; cheaper than replacement!

Rub a walnut into the scratches. Then buff with a lint free cloth. The oil from the nut lessens visibility of scratches.

I have never had laminate floors, but i found this Minor Scratches

1

Select a touch-up kit that matches the color of your laminate floor. If you can't find one that matches its shine, don't worry -- you can add shine later. Most touch-up kits contain a marker, a filler crayon or pencil and a varnish, or some other similar combination.

2

Color in minor scratches with the marker. Depending on your flooring and your kit, this might be enough to conceal the scratch.

3

Fill deeper scratches with the pencil or crayon. Follow the manufacturer's instructions on precisely how to do this; most products simply roll on. Some kits might include putty instead, in which case you might need to use a putty knife to apply the filler to the scratch.

4

Sand the area lightly with fine-grit sandpaper to bring the filler level with the floor's surface. Sand only enough to remove excess filler, not enough to scratch the laminate. Wipe the laminate around the repair with a clean, damp cloth to remove any sanding dust or any remaining excess filler.

5

Apply the varnish to the scratch if necessary to match the floor's shine. The varnish in the kit probably comes with its own small applicator brush. Brush the varnish in a thin line over the scratch, and feather the edges lightly for an even finish. Allow the varnish to dry, and then gently sand it level with the surface.

Deep Scratches

1

Select a touch-up kit designed for deep scratches that matches the color of your flooring. The kit probably contains a seam filler or putty, a touch-up marker and a varnish. You can add shine later with varnish, so don't worry if the kit isn't as shiny as the laminate.

2

Open a window for ventilation. Apply acetone to a cloth and use it to clean the scratch thoroughly. If the kit specifies a different solvent, use that solvent instead.

3

Squeeze or scoop some of the filler or putty out of the container and onto a paper plate. If the substance isn't an epoxy, stir it gently with the putty knife until it begins to harden. If the substance is an epoxy, mix the two ingredients in the proportions specified by the manufacturer until the color becomes uniform.

4

Scoop the filler or putty up onto the putty knife, then scrape it into the scratch. Pull the putty knife across the scratch a second time, perpendicular to your first stroke. This should force the substance deeper into the scratch and remove most of the excess.

5

Rub the cloth with the solvent across the area to remove the remaining excess filler or putty. Allow the substance to dry in the scratch. If it shrinks as it dries, apply a second coat and allow it to dry.

6

Sand the surface lightly with fine-grit sandpaper until it is smooth. If necessary, touch up the color of the scratch with the marker from the kit. If the scratch isn't as shiny as the rest of the floor, apply a thin coat of varnish to it. When the varnish is dry, sand it smooth.

Things You Will Need

• Laminate touch-up kit, containing marker, filler crayon or pencil and varnish
• Fine-grit sandpaper
• Clean cloths
• Acetone or other solvent
• Seam filler or laminate repair putty
• Paper plate
• Putty knife

Tips

• For serious damage, replace the laminate floorboard. In most cases, you can replace a single board without compromising the rest of the floor.

Open a window for ventilation while working with varnish.

there is a product called, Rejuvenate, all Floors Restorer. Home Depot carries it, and you can get it online also. Try it in a small area first, to test. Not expensive, and easy to use.

I have Armstrong industrial vinyl tile flooring in my kitchen. It does get the occasional scratches, some were pretty deep from having moved an old fridge out. I use a floor stripper, then a sealant made specifically for this type of flooring, it fills all the scratches and makes everything shine like new. I have also had a chip the size of a pencil eraser, and filled it in with a vinyl putty and stained the approximate color of the tile with latex paint, then sealed right over it once completely dry, barely noticeable unless you know were the chip was you don't see it. The sealant goes on like liquid wax and dries to a hard acrylic like coating. Lasts for a couple of years.