Cleaning up dog nail scratches in hardwood floor?

Shpigford · 12-12-2007, 12:09 PM

So we just moved in to our new home around 10 days ago. We've got dark hardwood floors on the first floor and sure enough or pugs have put light scratches all over the floor.

So, two-fold question.

1) Is there a way to clean these up a bit so they're harder to see?
2) Any suggestions for keeping the dogs from scratching it up more?

JazMan · 12-12-2007, 12:24 PM

Hardwood manufacturers make touch up products for scratches. However yours is going to be a continuing problem. This is one reason people with large dogs should not have wood floors. Also be sure not to keep their water dish on this floor.

You can look forward to re-finishing in 5-8 years under normal conditions, sooner if you have high traffic and with pets.

As for question #2......maybe socks?

Jaz

Shpigford · 12-12-2007, 12:27 PM

Quote:

This is one reason people with large dogs should not have wood floors.

20lb pugs are large dogs now?

Yeah, the problem really seems to be that we have dark hardwood...stuff just shows up easily.

The hardwood floor repair guy was here today fixing some other stuff and he mentioned lemon oil for sort of a "quick fix" that will last a few days (like maybe when we're having guests over we could rub it on).

JazMan · 12-12-2007, 01:38 PM

I must have missed where you gave a weight for your pets in your first post?

Regardless of their size, if they scratch the floor, they are heavier than the floor can stand. Hardwood and pets often do not work well together. I would consider rugs in a few obvious places, like where the dogs make a turn.

Of course darker stains show scratches more as the finish turns white when scratched. Eventually the actual color of the wood will show too.

Lemon oil will indeed darken the area. But then your floor will be like ice and the oil residue will attracts dirt and dust.

Jaz

rebekkah · 12-12-2007, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shpigford

2) Any suggestions for keeping the dogs from scratching it up more?

Keep their nails shorter. Do you Dremel?