How to get scratches out of laminate flooring

Laminate flooring is beautiful, low-maintenance, and can last for decades. So, it can be incredibly frustrating when you spot scratches spoiling the look of your gorgeous flooring. But don’t panic – there are ways to fix these little imperfections.

Despite laminate flooring's durability, dents, scrapes, and other damage can still occur. Because laminate can’t be sanded down or refinished, your best bet is always to prevent scratches on your laminate floor in the first place. But when they do happen, we’ve got some crafty tips to get rid of small imperfections without breaking the bank. 

Read on to explore our helpful guide on how to get scratches out of laminate flooring, including how to repair light marks and deeper scratches using different methods.

In this guide:

• Common causes of scratches on laminate floors
• How to get scratches out of laminate flooring
• How to get light scratches out of laminate flooring
• How to get deeper scratches out of laminate flooring
• Laminate scratch repair FAQs
• How to protect your flooring from scratches in the future

Common causes of scratches on laminate floors

Laminate flooring is stylish, cost-effective and hardwearing, but every floor is bound to experience some wear and tear over time - even when they have a lifetime wear guarantee like Quick-Step. Scratches and marks on your flooring are inevitable when you live your life in a room – the only way you could keep a floor completely pristine would be to never use it!

You can find more guidance for looking after your laminate flooring in our laminate flooring care guide. In the meantime, here are some common risk factors to look out for when it comes to scratches on laminate floor.

Wearing shoes indoors

Heavy shoes or shoes with heels can mark your gorgeous laminate or wooden flooring. The scrapes and dents left by shoes don’t tend to dig too deep into the protective layers of the laminate, but they can leave cosmetic scratches.

Practice taking your shoes off at the front door and only walking around in bare feet, socks, or soft slippers to avoid marking your flooring. Entrance matting can also help remove some of the abrasive debris that comes in on your shoes.

Dropping heavy objects

We all know that accidents happen – after all, we’re only human! Dropping heavy objects, like suitcases down the stairs or dumping the shopping down every week can begin to cause markings that are difficult to cover up or remove. A large rug over your laminate flooring is a great way to stop your flooring taking the impact of heavy objects, and it will look bang on trend, too.

Pet paws

Your fluffy friends can be another cause of marks and scratches on laminate flooring, with their sharp little claws. Cats in particular can leave scratches on your flooring, while dogs can often leave scuff marks when they race around during zoomie time.

It’s not advisable to try to put a sealant on top of laminate flooring to protect it further from your pet’s paws, but you can try keeping your pet’s nails clipped and maintained. You can also get slip-resistant laminate flooring which should help stop little feet sliding around and digging into the flooring.

Furniture scrapes

Dragging or frequently moving heavy furniture around a room, for instance during cleaning or hoovering, can result in scratch marks on your laminate flooring. You can buy protective pads that sit underneath heavy furniture to keep your floors protected. Reducing friction against your floor, they’ll even make your furniture easier to move thanks to the small tabs and smooth undersides.

Meanwhile, if you’ve just installed new floors, make sure your doors have enough clearance between the bottom of the door and your floor. Unlike carpet, doors can scratch laminate and LVT flooring. So, it’s a good idea to check if you need to plane the bottom of your doors to prevent them from scraping your beautiful new floors.

How to get scratches out of laminate flooring

The best way to fix scratches on laminate flooring can depend on the level of damage. The first step to repairing scratches is to assess the scratch and consider your next steps based on what it might need.

• Light scratches are often fairly superficial and can be lightly buffed out to reduce their appearance.
• Deep scratches may have scratched through the protective top coating, spoiling the decorative wood design, or even damaging the sheet material beneath.

How to get light scratches out of laminate flooring

Follow on for our laminate floor scratch repair tips for light scratches and damage:

Touch-up marker pens

You can use these specialist markers to repair minor scratches. Make sure that the marker you’re using matches the colour of your floor before you begin.

1. Prepare the area you want to fix by wiping it with a damp, soft cloth.
2. Once it has dried, apply the marker to the scuffed area.
3. Remove any excess stain with a damp cloth and voila! You should notice an immediate difference.

Crayon

This method is arguably less conventional, but still effective at removing scratches on laminate flooring. Using a crayon to fix scratches might sound silly, but it's very similar to using a wax filler stick. It’s also a great way to make a quick fix if you’ve got guests coming over and don’t have time to run to the local hardware shop.

1. Find a crayon hue that best matches your flooring, place it in a bowl and, using a low-heat setting, melt it down in the microwave,
2. Then, smooth it over your flooring scratches.
3. Wait for it to dry before scraping away any remnants and buffing.

Laminate floor polish

If you have any laminate floor polish laying around from buffing your floors, this can help mask light scratches and restore your flooring.

1. Begin by cleaning your floor with a gentle cleaning solution.
2. Once dry, follow the product instructions and use a gentle cloth to apply the polish.
3. Buff out the polish with a fresh cloth to carefully blend it with the rest of the floor.

How to get deeper scratches out of laminate flooring

If you’re facing deeper scratches in your laminate flooring, here are a few ways to approach it:

Wax filler sticks

Wax filler sticks are a step up from wax markers when you have a deeper scratch to deal with. The wax can be a little tricky to handle, but the results are well worth it!

1. Clean your floor.
2. Gently warm the wax to make it easier to manage.
3. Next, apply it to the damaged area.
4. Using a knife, you can remove any excess wax after it has solidified a little and clean it again when it’s dry.

Burn-in sticks

Burn-in sticks are a special type of filling created from hard resins which are melted with an electric hot knife. Laminate floor repair kits often include everything you’ll need for this method.

1. Clean and prepare the damaged area.
2. Melt a little of the burn-in stick.
3. Apply a couple of drops of the resin to the scratches.
4. Carefully smooth the area with the hot knife and spread a fine layer of lubricant over the repair.
5. Make sure the resin is completely dry before walking over it or putting anything on it.

Tapi Top Tip: When using a hot knife to apply burn-in stick fillings, always follow the safety instructions closely to avoid burning yourself or scorching your flooring or other surfaces.

Install a new plank

When purchasing your laminate flooring, it’s a great idea to keep an extra pack of laminate boards for occasions like this. If a certain plank is seriously damaged, then it’s simply a case of using the tools provided with your set to take up the old board and replace it. Bear in mind, you may need to move some boards around to make the new look work.

You can find a step-by-step guide on how to lay new planks in our ‘how to lay laminate flooring' guide.

Laminate scratch repair FAQs

We’ve covered some of the basic ways you can fix scratches on laminate floor, but perhaps you have more questions about maintaining and remedying laminate flooring. As renowned flooring experts, we have the knowledge to answer some of these for you!

What is the best laminate floor scratch remover?

Objectively, the best laminate floor scratch remover is just popping in a fresh new board, but we know that’s not always the easiest approach, so we would recommend purchasing a laminate repair kit which should include an option for various types of scratches and damage.

Can I sand away scratches on laminate flooring?

No – don’t even think about it! Laminate boards are not the same as hardwood flooring. They’re made of different layers, and only the top layer features the decorative colour and wood design. If you try to sand or buff laminate flooring, it will only remove more of the colour and make your flooring look much worse.

Can I apply a sealant to protect against future damage?

You can apply specific sealants to laminate flooring if you want to make sure it doesn’t take too much damage in the future. We recommend using a laminate-specific coating if this is a step you want to take. However, laminate flooring is already very durable on its own, and you run the risk of ruining your floor’s aesthetic by covering it with another sealant. 

How to protect your flooring from scratches in the future

The best way to take care of your laminate flooring is to do your best to prevent scratches from happening in the first place. While your new floor is scratch-resistant, it isn’t scratchproof. Luckily, smooth flooring is really easy to keep clean and maintain.

• Using a doormat will help to limit the amount of abrasive dirt that enters your home.
• Try not to let dirt build up over time as dust and grit can cause scratches when disturbed by footfall.
• For a daily clean, use a soft brush or vacuum cleaner (with a soft parquet brush attachment) to pick up dirt and dust.

For more information on how to look after different flooring types, why not check out our carpet care guide and our vinyl care guide. You can also find some amazing style inspiration in our Ideas Hub, as well as comparisons on different flooring types, including laminate vs engineered wood, so you can pick the best option for you.