Dogs are naturally curious and adventurous creatures who love exploring new environments. Unfortunately, this can sometimes put them in danger. When it comes to wooden floors, it’s not uncommon for dogs to get a little too excited and start scratching at the wood. Thankfully, most dog owners are aware that even though hardwood flooring is extremely durable, it will still be susceptible to damage if a dog decides to dig its claws into the surface. Fortunately, there are ways to repair scratches in your wooden flooring so that they no longer look like Swiss cheese! If you’re reading this because you have scratched hardwood flooring at home from your dog digging its nails in, we’ve got some great information on how to fix scratches in hardwood floors from a dog below.
How To Fix Scratches in Hardwood Floors From a Dog
1. Use a Recess for the Dog’s Nails
If you have a dog who loves to dig in your hardwood floors, the first thing you should do is make sure that there is plenty of space between the floor and any furniture pieces. This will ensure that your dog doesn’t accidentally scratch the floor with its claws if it decides to get a little too excited and dig.
2. Apply Dog-Safe Products
In order to protect your wood floors from scratches, you will want to invest in some dog-safe products that are specifically designed to repel scratches and other damage caused by dogs. There are plenty of great products on the market, but we recommend using something like Scratch & Odor Remover by The Artisan Co. This product works wonders at removing any traces of scratching from hardwood flooring and can be used on most surfaces including laminate wood, tile, stone, concrete, linoleum, and vinyl floors. You can buy Scratch & Odor Remover at The Artisan Co. for just $19.99 per bottle.
3. Use a Pet-Friendly Carpet Protector
If you have pets that love to dig, it’s important to make sure that your carpet is protected from their claws with a pet-friendly carpet protector. This will ensure that your hardwood floors aren’t damaged by the claws of your pet, and will also protect the carpet underneath from any damage caused by dog nails. There are plenty of great options on the market for pet-friendly carpet protectors including the Groomer’s Choice Pet-Friendly Carpet Protector or the Pet Home Carpet Protector by LinenSpa. You can buy either one for just $19.99 per bottle, and they are both eco-friendly products made from recycled materials!
4. Clean Regularly to Prevent Damage
If you have dogs who love to dig in your hard claws. There are several types of pet-friendly carpet protectors on the market that will keep your carpet looking and feeling brand new. For example, we recommend using a Pet-Safe Carpet Protector by Clean & Protect. This product is designed to be used on all types of carpets including wool, nylon, suede, and cotton. You can buy Pet-Safe Carpet Protector at Clean & Protect for just $19.99 per roll of 100 ft or $27.99 per roll of 150 ft!
Hardwood Floors Are Durable but Not Indestructible
1. Preparing the Area
Before you begin the repair, be sure to address any loose nails on your hardwood flooring. If your dog managed to snag a nail on the floor, make sure it is removed before you start repairing the scratch.
2. Sanding and De-Nailing
First, you’ll want to remove any loose nails from your hardwood flooring surface. Use a de-nailing tool or a nail file and gently remove all of the remaining nails from your wood floor surface. Next, use some sandpaper (220 grit works best) and lightly sand down the scratched area to remove all of the corners that are still sharp. You should aim to get rid of as much of the scratch as possible so that it won’t cause any further damage in the future. If you can’t get rid of all of it, then don’t worry about it too much because it will still be repaired with what’s left.
3. Repairing the Scratches
Once you’ve completed the sanding and de-nailing process, you’re ready to start repairing your scratched area. You can use many different solutions for repairing scratches in hardwood floors from a dog, but we recommend using a composite repair product that you can find in your local hardware store. This is because it is much easier to apply than other options and will allow you to repair the scratches without having to sand or scrape away any of the existing finishes on your flooring surface. The repaired product can be used with a variety of different tools and methods, so be sure to read through all of the directions before starting so that you know exactly how to use it properly! If you are unsure of which product is best for your situation, be sure to ask your local hardware store staff for their advice as they will likely have experience in repairing hardwood floors that have been damaged by dogs!
Repairing Light Scratches With Wax
- If your wood floor has light scratches, it’s best to repair them before you start sanding and refinishing your floors. Most dog owners have already done this when they scuffed up their floor with nails or a shoe.
- If the scratches are too deep for the wax to fix, you can try filling them with nail polish. You can apply several coats of nail polish over the scratches in order to fill the holes. Just make sure that you allow the polish to dry completely before moving on to the next step.
- Once you’ve applied multiple coats of nail polish, use an old credit card or a piece of cardboard to create a small divot in the center of each scratch so that it will be easier to sand and refinish after it dries completely.
- After all of your nails have dried, begin sanding down each scratch until they are smooth again. If you want even more depth and texture in your floors, you can purchase a special sanding block that allows you to achieve this look.
- If your scratches are deeper than the nail polish can fix, you can try filling them with nail polish as well. This time, however, you’ll want to fill the holes completely so that the scratches are completely covered.
- After the nails have dried completely, use an old credit card or a piece of cardboard to create another divot in the center of each scratch so that it will be easier to sand and refinish after it dries completely.
Repairing Medium-Sized Scratches With Touch-Up Paint
1. Clean the Scratch
First and foremost, make sure that you clean the scrape as best as possible. You do not want to re-scratch your flooring by accident. If you are unsure about how to clean up a scratch on wood flooring, check out our guide here.
2. Sand the Scratch Down
If you see a deep scratch on your hardwood floor where you want to repair it, use a handheld sander with 80-grit sandpaper on it to smooth down the scratches. To avoid any damage to your floors, be careful not to over-sand the scratches or they will look like they have been sanded down too much and may need refinishing later on. Once finished, allow the area to dry completely before proceeding with step three.
3. Apply a Thin Coat of Touch-Up Paint
Once your wood has dried completely, brush on two thin coats of touch-up paint so that when you apply another coat of paint in the future, you won’t need to sand down the wood again. You can also use a paintbrush or roller to apply the paint, but be careful not to overapply it so that you do not add too much color and make it look like the scratch was sanded down too much.
4. Apply a Second Coat of Paint
Using your paintbrush or roller, apply two more thin coats of touch-up paint so that when you apply another coat of paint in the future, you won’t need to sand down the wood again. Once finished, allow the area to dry completely before proceeding with step five.
Conclusion
When it comes to dog scratches in hardwood floors, the key is to act quickly. The sooner you start repairing the scratches, the easier it will be. If you’ve got scratches on your hardwood flooring, there’s no need to worry. These scratches are easy to repair with the right tools and materials. Hopefully, this article has given you some insight into how to repair scratches on hardwood floors. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to leave a comment below. We’d be more than happy to help!
