How to remove scratches from vinyl plank flooring?

Luxury vinyl flooring is a cost-effective, fashionable and attractive floor choice to have in your home or office. However, just like any other engineered flooring, it does get scratched from daily wear and tear. But, how do you get rid of these scratches?

Vinyl plank flooring doesn’t scratch easily as it’s relatively scratch-resistant. Just like laminate flooring, vinyl flooring is also made to be low-maintenance compared to solid wood flooring. But, it can withstand wear due to pet claws and furniture drags. However, that doesn’t mean that vinyl plank floors are entirely scratch-resistant.

While it won’t scratch easily, vinyl flooring is still susceptible to tear under heavy pressure. This is because vinyl planks are made of plastic material all the way through.

Fortunately, repairing simple scratches in vinyl plank flooring is fast, easy, and inexpensive. With a few basic supplies, it is easy to buff out scratches and restore the original shine of the flooring. If you are considering installing vinyl plank flooring in the home, it is a good idea to keep a handful of extra planks on hand as replacement pieces in case patching the vinyl plank flooring is necessary.

how to remove scratches from vinyl plank flooring

How to remove scratches from vinyl flooring?

The proper method for removing scratches from vinyl flooring depends on whether the scratches are light or deeper. Before any repairs can be made, deep cleaning of the floor is imperative. Any surface dirt needs to be lifted from the floors. A simple mixture of dish soap and warm water will cut through any dirt and grease. Add a quarter cup of dish detergent to a bucket of warm water. Use a sponge to get a deep-down clean. Any dirt left behind in the scratch will prevent a proper repair. After scrubbing the affected area, allow the floor to dry thoroughly.

How to remove light -fine scratches from vinyl flooring?

For fine scratches caused by pet claws, shoes, and dropped items such as glass. The following procedure should help to fix and get rid of fine-light scratches:

First off, prep the floor by cleaning it either with a broom, a vacuum cleaner, or a wet mop. This will help you to see the marks on the vinyl floor clearly and determine how deep the scratches are.

After determining that they’re mild scratches. Get rubber or a tennis ball and use it to rub over the scratch lines on your vinyl flooring.

If you still have superficial scratches present on the floor after this initial treatment, follow up by wiping on them with an alcohol-drenched piece of cloth.

How to remove deep scuffs, gouges, and scratches from vinyl flooring?

The procedure detailed above won’t work for deeper scratches. In addition, use this method to remove light scuffs and gouges where the above strategy doesn’t work for you. It involves using a PU cleaner, as elaborated below:

1.To start off, lightly sand the scratched floor area using fine-grit sandpaper. This helps to level up the surface by getting rid of any protruding edges and particles.

2.Finish off the surface preparation by dusting the surface with a piece of cotton clothing.

3.Next, take out your PU cleaner and shake it for about 20 seconds before spraying.

4.While holding the PU cleaner about 30cm from your vinyl surface, spray directly over the scratch lines. Let the area dry for no less than five minutes before spraying again.

5.If scratch marks are still visible after the first two applications, a third application is recommended.

6.Once done, let the scratch-free vinyl surface dry up for up to six hours before anyone can walk on it.

Prevent Damage with Floor Protectors

Scratches ruin the aesthetic appeal of vinyl floors and eat into your valuable time and financial resources as you have to fix them. there are a few simple steps that can prevent damage to the floors in the first place. Prevent dining chairs from scratching floors as they are pushed in and out by adding felt or silicone floor protectors beneath each of the feet. Not only do they help the chair to slide quietly, they also provide protection for the vinyl flooring beneath. If you have a larger sitting area, such as a living room, using a large area rug to ground the space and provide a layer of protection for furniture feet is helpful.

The simple process of fixing vinyl plank scratches in your floor should take a matter of minutes from start to finish and uses just a couple of supplies. When complete, the scratch should no longer be visible, the finish should still be intact, and the area should be smooth to the touch.