Preventing scratches on wooden flooring doesn’t have to be rocket science. Discover easy DIY methods to make your wooden floor scratch-resistant and protect your flooring from lasting damage.  

How to scratch-proof your wooden floor 

No shoe zone 

Sometimes, it's the most straightforward measures that make the most significant difference. High heels and sports shoes with cleats can dent your flooring and leave nasty pockmarks – so leave shoes at the door. 

Stock up on floor mats 

Pebbles, twigs and other delights dragged in from outside are big hardwood floor offenders – often why areas around doors wear down the quickest. Where the shoes-off rule doesn’t apply, ensure you have floor mats in front of entrances to take care of any scratch culprits hitching a ride on your shoes. 

Purchase felt pads 

Placing felt pads underneath sofa and table legs can soften their edges, preventing them from scratching your floor when moved around. 

Invest in high-quality floor lacquer or varnish

Buy hard-wearing paint or varnishes to buffer and coat your floor. Consider moisture and chemical-resistant floor varnish for home spaces and lower-traffic commercial applications. Try a reliable floor lacquer for a more durable finish in high-traffic areas.

At Trade Coatings, we offer a range of dependable floor lacquers and varnishes with envious finishes from soft matte to high gloss. Unsure where to begin? Reach out to our technical support team, who would be happy to help.   

Invest in a rug or two 

Place a rug underneath furniture that gets moved around often. For example, high-traffic areas such as underneath your desk chair or dining room table.

Top tip: ​​dodge rubber-backed mats. They can seal in moisture which can damage floors.

Give your pets a pedicure 

Claws can leave scuffs and scratches, so be sure to keep your pup's nails adequately groomed. Consider keeping pets away from certain rooms to protect flooring as an added measure. 

Clean your floor regularly 

As dirt and particles build up over time, you increase your risk of damaging your floor or finish with avoidable marks or scratches. A good preventative maintenance and care routine should include regular sweeping, vacuuming, mopping, and polishing, with an intermittent deep clean. 

Stay on top of your cleaning routine, and your hardwood floors will look brand new for years to come. 

Top tip: all cleaning tools aren’t appropriate for hardwood floors. Triple check your toolkit is suitable for your flooring. For example, set aside rigid bristled brooms, soggy mops and vacuums with beater bars and wheels if you want to avoid doing more damage than protecting. 

Don’t be fooled into thinking all vacuums are one-make-fits-all! Not all vacuums are designed for hardwood flooring. 

With over 40 years of experience producing high-quality finishes, Trade Coatings knows a thing or two about high-end lacquers. Is your business looking for finishes? Is the home floor in need of a finishing touch? Check out our wood varnish and lacquer range or Contact us for more information.