Can You Remove Scratches From Vinyl Plank Flooring

Scratches and scrapes taking away the sleek appearance of your luxury vinyl floor? Well, maybe it'south fourth dimension you lot considered repairing them.

Fortunately, repairing simple dents in vinyl flooring is an like shooting fish in a barrel, fast, and inexpensive process. With just a few supplies, you tin exist able to get rid of these abrasions and bring dorsum the original allure of your floor.

Hither, y'all will acquire how to repair scratches on luxury vinyl flooring, when to supervene upon scratched planks, and things yous can exercise to prevent blemishes in the future. But first, let's find out what causes these abrasions.

Where Practise Scratches Come From?

Where Do Scratches Come From

At that place are many ways through which your luxury vinyl flooring tin can acquire scrapes. The almost common include:

Furniture: Heavy furniture can easily put dents on your floor when pushed around or subjected to more than weight than it is designed for.
Dirt from outside: Soil, gravel, asphalt, and pocket-sized rocks stuck on your shoes can find their way into your living space and scratch your vinyl floor while y'all walk.
Pointy toys: Toys with abrupt edges can be unsafe if kids use them without keen supervision. Such toys are not just dangerous for kids merely tin can also get out deep cuts on the flooring that may be difficult and costly to repair.

How to Fix Scrapes on Your Luxury Vinyl Flooring

Materials Needed

Sponge or soft piece of cloth
Warm water
Bucket
Mild detergent
P320, P500, and P800 grit sandpaper
Car wax
Scraper
Pry bar
Hammer

Step one: Clean the Affected Surface area

Clean the Affected Area

Before you first your repair, brand sure the affected area is clean. This will help y'all assess the extent of the damage and figure out the best way to fix the trouble (whether to repair the dent or replace the damaged plank).

Sometimes all you got to exercise is give the scratch a skillful sweeping or mopping and that'due south it. Calorie-free dents, in particular, may not require too much piece of work as compared to those that go deep into the plank.

To properly clean a scratch on a luxury vinyl floor, put warm water in a bucket and add a ¼ cup of mild detergent. Then dip a sponge into the solution, squeeze out excess moisture, and thoroughly clean the afflicted spot.

Wipe the area with a dry piece of textile or wait for it to air dry out earlier proceeding to the adjacent step.

Stride 2: Smooth the Spot

Smooth the Spot

The primary purpose of smoothing is to polish the scratch to get rid of rough edges. Go sandpaper and shine the surface area. Do this gently to avoid dissentious the finish or scoring the plank further.

For best results, start with the medium dust sandpaper (P320) and rub in the direction of the scratch. This type of sandpaper should exist able to remove near of the scrape and give you effectively edges.

Next, catch the smoother grit sandpaper (P500) and rub the dent in a circular motility. This will rub out any existing wax on the surface of the scratch, preparing the plank for waxing subsequently.

Now give the scratch a terminal sanding with the P800 dust sandpaper. Rub gently in a round manner until the spot is completely shine and even with the plank. Bear upon the area to know whether more polishing is needed.

In one case you are completely satisfied with your work, clean the spot. Dip a sponge in a solution of water and mild cleanser and wipe off all the dust that was formed during sanding. Allow the area to air dry before moving to the next stride.

Step 3: Utilise Wax

Apply Wax

Waxing tin can help polish and bring back the polish of luxury vinyl floor. To become the best out of your waxing process, use quality wax, preferably auto wax.

Pour a pocket-sized corporeality of information technology on a make clean piece of cloth and smear lightly on the polished scratch. Rub in a round move until y'all have obtained your desired shine.

Check to see whether there are whatsoever wax spills on the plank and clean it off. At present wipe the entire plank with a clean rug and you are good to go. If y'all have washed the job right, the scratch will no longer be visible.

Step 4: Replace Securely Scratched Planks

Replace Deeply Scratched Planks

Simple scratches tin easily be rectified with the in a higher place steps. For deeper scrapes, still, y'all may need to refinish or replace the damaged part of the floor.

The good thing nigh refinishing is that you won't really take to install an entire new plank. You lot will but be applying new finishing to the tiles that take considerable deep dents. Sure, the process may exist a little expensive, just certainly not as bad every bit having to redo the entire flooring.

However, the fact that ane needs to know for sure what blazon of finishing is used on the existing planks makes this procedure a flake of a hassle for most homeowners. That's why many will prefer replacing the plank instead.

To replace a luxury vinyl plank, remove the damaged tile. Utilize the scraper to loosen information technology. If it doesn't come out, get the hammer and pry bar and chip at the toughened adhesive.

Clear out the old adhesive and sand the area to smooth it up. Now, pause out a new plank and apply adhesive on its back. And then push button the tile into the infinite where yous removed the former tile, making certain it interlocks with the existing tiles.

To find out if a plank needs replacing, try steps i to 3 first. If the gouge is nonetheless visible fifty-fifty after sanding and waxing, it'due south evident that a more complex fix is needed, and depending on your preference, you can get for refinishing or replacing.

Repairing or replacing vinyl floor planks tin can be an uphill task if you take not done it before. Here is a video to become you lot started and make the procedure less intimidating.

Extended Tips: How to Prevent Scratches on Luxury Vinyl Flooring

Move Furniture Charily

When shifting furniture in your living spaces, make sure you are not dragging it over the vinyl. Elevator it upward and gently set it down at the desired spot. If the article of furniture is besides heavy, consider placing a piece of plywood over the floor to slide it.

Get a Chump

Set a mat at the entrance of all your rooms especially those leading to the outside. These will trap most of the elements stuck on your shoes, keeping them from transferring onto the floor and scratching information technology.

While at it, make sure you are using simply vinyl-friendly mats similar a colorfast woven rug. Avoid latex or safe mats at all costs, equally the chemicals contained in them tin collaborate with the vinyl and crusade more harm than good.

Have a Designated Kids' Play Area

Gear up your children's play expanse away from any room that has luxury vinyl floor. That way, it will be difficult for sharp-edged toys to "accidentally" find their way into these rooms and score the vinyl.

Protect Spots with Loftier Foot Traffic

Areas that are stepped on oftentimes should have an extra layer of protection to keep the flooring in good shape. A beautiful rug in front end of your food prep area, for instance, will go a long style in catching any clay that might be trapped underneath your feet. It will also offer additional comfort.

Brand sure to buy rug pads likewise; they volition foreclose the rug from sliding over the vinyl. You want the carpet firmly situated, not just to keep you from slipping and falling but likewise to prevent friction that can over time scratch and wear out the finishing.

Clean the Flooring Regularly

Sweep the floor every day to remove unwanted objects. This will not only prevent scratches but also eliminate dirt accumulation that could cause dulling.

Mop occasionally too using plain water. If you have onetime stains, yous tin can become for a stronger cleaner. Mix a mild detergent or a few drops of apple cider vinegar with warm h2o and use the solution to mop the floor.

Don't forget to rinse with clean, patently water. You want to wipe all the lather off to avoid discoloration. And don't use abrasive cleansers, as these tin graze the floor.

Invest in Floor Protectors

Floor protectors are some other dandy style to guard luxury vinyl floors from abrasions. Merely place them under your furniture feet, appliances, and any other heavy item yous may have placed on the vinyl.

Speaking of, avert items that come with casters on the base. If you must use these, consider double-wheeled casters; they are much safer than their single-wheeled counterparts.

The Takeaway

Now that you lot know how to set up those cruddy scratches on your luxury vinyl flooring, go ahead and give your floor its sparkle back.

Starting time by cleaning the affected area thoroughly.
One time make clean, polish the edges of the scratch.
After, apply some wax to the smooth area.
If this doesn't solve the trouble, consider replacing the damaged planks.

Have you recently repaired a luxury vinyl floor? Got some tips you lot would like to share with u.s.a.? Exit usa a comment below.