don't try this at home

Honalo · Jan 5, 2009

So about 2 years ago someone rolled something over our hardwood floors leading from the kitchen into the living room leaving a 4-foot-long scratch. I went over it with steel wool, which lessened the appearance but left a sort of dull sheen. Over the weekend, I get info on line on an "old European formula" for getting rid of scratches in hardwood floors and I try it: equal parts of oil and vinegar left on the scratch for 12-24 hours. Happy days are here again.

Except ... Sunday I blot up the solution and ... you guessed it. It darkened the scratch. So now we have a beautiful dark golden 4-foot-long scratch leading from the kitchen into the living room. I can't cover it up with a rug because it would look awkward. And there were testaments on this particular Web site on how well the solution worked! They must have meant MINOR scratches (note to self).

It looks as though I'll have to sand it and then apply polyurethane.
Moral: Beware of old-fashioned remedies.

Lorie, trying to hide the blemish in her room's decor

Yeshanu · Jan 5, 2009

Or, if you like the colour of the scratch, you could apply the oil and vinegar remedy to the entire floor...

The thing about old-fashioned remedies (or new chemical ones, for that matter) is that you need to test them out first on a small piece of carpet or floor, because different woods and materials react differently to each remedy. It could be that your oil and vinegar mixture would work very well on a darker flooring, for example.

Honalo · Jan 5, 2009

yes, yes, you're right
I was so eager to get rid of the damn scratch I didn't pause to consider the ramifications.
Lesson learned.

Maryn · Jan 5, 2009

Like that swell stain remover that did indeed remove spaghetti sauce, and enough of the shirt's dye that I now have a lighter spot instead of a darker one?

Maryn, unable to feed herself

regdog · Jan 5, 2009

Or having a dips*** insist the hardwood floors have to be cleaned and buffed and to wax them, said dips*** buys bowling alley wax. Couldn't walk down the hallway with slipping and falling. For about a month afterward I had to crawl on my hands and knees to avoid breaking my leg.

Yeshanu · Jan 5, 2009

regdog said:
Or having a dips*** insist the hardwood floors have to be cleaned and buffed and to wax them, said dips*** buys bowling alley wax. Couldn't walk down the hallway with slipping and falling. For about a month afterward I had to crawl on my hands and knees to avoid breaking my leg.

Pagey's_Girl · Jan 5, 2009

regdog said:
Or having a dips*** insist the hardwood floors have to be cleaned and buffed and to wax them, said dips*** buys bowling alley wax. Couldn't walk down the hallway with slipping and falling. For about a month afterward I had to crawl on my hands and knees to avoid breaking my leg.

That totally sounds like something my father would have done...

Jo · Jan 5, 2009

regdog said:
Or having a dips*** insist the hardwood floors have to be cleaned and buffed and to wax them, said dips*** buys bowling alley wax. Couldn't walk down the hallway with slipping and falling. For about a month afterward I had to crawl on my hands and knees to avoid breaking my leg.

You could've bowled down your hallway until the balls soaked up the excess...

threedogpeople · Jan 5, 2009

Mela said:
Except ... Sunday I blot up the solution and ... you guessed it. It darkened the scratch. So now we have a beautiful dark golden 4-foot-long scratch leading from the kitchen into the living room.

I would try putting down some baking soda or kitty litter over the scratch, allow it to sit a couple of days then vacuum. What I'm thinking is that if you can get up the oil, the scratch may lighten. Neither substance will hurt the floor. You could also try some fine saw dust, it's very absorbent too.

brad_b · Jan 5, 2009

Yeshanu said:
Or, if you like the colour of the scratch, you could apply the oil and vinegar remedy to the entire floor...

The thing about old-fashioned remedies (or new chemical ones, for that matter) is that you need to test them out first on a small piece of carpet or floor, because different woods and materials react differently to each remedy. It could be that your oil and vinegar mixture would work very well on a darker flooring, for example.

That was my remedy, too, Yeshanu. So my next stupid idea was try Magic Marker in yellow to lighten the streak - that or the guy's fallback remedy for everything - duct tape

Joe270 · Jan 5, 2009

You could also try some fine saw dust, it's very absorbent too.

This or the kitty litter idea might help lighten the scratch.

I'm wondering if this scratch will lighten up on its own, given some time. If it's not sealed with polyurethane yet, it might get lighter over time.

When it gets to the shade you want, seal it with polyurethane to fix it.

That's what I'd do, but I've ruined many, many things in DIY projects.

Honalo · Jan 6, 2009

threedogpeople said:
I would try putting down some baking soda or kitty litter over the scratch, allow it to sit a couple of days then vacuum. What I'm thinking is that if you can get up the oil, the scratch may lighten. Neither substance will hurt the floor. You could also try some fine saw dust, it's very absorbent too.

excellent idea - I will try that

don't try this at home

Honalo

Yeshanu

Elf Queen

Honalo

Maryn

At Sea

regdog

The Scavengers

Yeshanu

Elf Queen

Pagey's_Girl

Still plays with dolls

Jo

Travelling the re-write road

threedogpeople

This is my BEST side!

brad_b

Knight Errant

Joe270

Honalo