The Kitchen Essential Combo That Hides Scratches From Your Hardwood Floors

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For many homeowners, no other flooring materials can compete with the beauty of hardwood. Not only do hardwood floors raise your home's value when it comes time to sell, but they also add warmth and classic style to any room. Hardwood floors are usually easy to clean and maintain, too, though you do have to mind which cleaning tools you use. Hardwood floors are prone to scratching, so even something as seemingly innocent as running a vacuum over them can cause damage. Scratches aren't necessarily a cause for panic, though. There is an inexpensive way to fix huge scratches in your wood floor. The method uses a combination of two kitchen essentials: olive oil and vinegar.

While this olive oil and vinegar mixture may seem better suited to dressing a salad than repairing a hardwood floor, the principle behind it is simple. White vinegar is a highly effective natural cleaner because it contains acetic acid. The compound breaks down dirt and residue from floor cleaners stuck in the scratches without any scrubbing, something that can further damage the wood. Olive oil is often used as a wood conditioner and helps to fill in the scratches you've cleaned out with the vinegar. The fatty acids in the oil moisturize the wood, causing its fibers to swell and darken, so your floors appear smoother, concealing the scratches.

While there are many ways to bring old hardwood floors back to life, using an olive oil and vinegar mixture is arguably one of the easiest and most affordable solutions. However, check that using the mixture won't void your floor's finish warranty. It's a wood floor mistake that could cost you serious money down the line. If everything seems fine, the next thing you'll need to do is clean your floor. Pick up any dust, hair, or other debris from the floor using a mop or a vacuum cleaner with a head setting suitable for hardwood. Next, apply a specialist floor cleaner, like Bona Residue-Free Hardwood Floor Cleaner, to the area, using a soft cloth. Gently rub it into the surface.

The recipe for the olive oil and vinegar mixture is straightforward: Combine equal parts of oil and white vinegar in a clean bottle or bowl. Once mixed, you can apply the solution in one of two ways. For small scratches, saturate a soft cloth with the mixture and gently dab it onto the scratches. Then, rub the area in circles until it appears clean and scratch-free. For deeper scratches, pour a small amount of the olive oil and vinegar mixture directly onto the affected area. Allow the solution to sit on the scratch for several hours to 24 hours. After the mixture has had time to absorb into the hardwood, rub the spot with a clean cloth, removing any excess solution as you do so. If you can still see the scratch, repeat the process until you get a satisfactory result.