How to Remove Scratches From Vinyl Flooring and Restore Its Shine

Bid scratches goodbye with a surefire method to repair unsightly damage

Kids drawing while sitting on a vinyl floor
Photo: fizkes / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images
Kids drawing while sitting on a vinyl floor
Photo: fizkes / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images
Stacey L. Nash
Written by Stacey L. Nash
Contributing Writer
Updated Jul 19, 2024
SKILL LEVEL
Easy
COMPLETION TIME
30 minutes
COST
$25–$40
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What you'll need:
TOOLS
  • Towel
  • Scouring pad
  • Clean cloth
SUPPLIES
  • Water
  • Paste wax
  • All-purpose cleaner (optional)
  • Stain pen (optional)

Vinyl flooring offers distinct benefits for homeowners, like its affordability, durability, and low-maintenance needs. But nicks and scratches happen, scarring an otherwise shiny floor. Whether you’ve got sheet, peel-and-stick, or vinyl plank flooring, you can fix most scratches. Learn how to remove scratches from vinyl floors with this simple guide.

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Buying Supplies for Vinyl Floor Scratch Repair

You have a few options when it comes to buying supplies to repair vinyl floors. You can buy supplies separately or buy a vinyl repair kit. Some kits simply include a pigmented filler, while others include a range of pigments so you can customize the color of the repair putty to match your vinyl floors. 

Some heavy-duty kits work on deep gouges and include a wider range of tools and supplies, like sandpaper in various grits for more precise sanding of the edges of scratches. The following steps will work for more superficial scratches and simple kits.

  1. Clean and Dry the Floor

    6 steps to remove scratches from vinyl floor, with step 1 being clean the floor

    Clean your vinyl floor and remove all surface dirt, oils, or grime. You can use an all-purpose cleaner or water if the floor isn’t too dirty. Then, either wait for the floor to air dry or dry it with a clean towel. If you have several scratches in the same area, you can take them on all at once, so make sure to clean all of the scratches to save yourself time.

  2. Buff the Scratch With a Scouring Pad

    6 steps to remove scratches from vinyl floor, with step 2 being buff the scratch

    Gently buff the scratch using a scouring pad. You’re smoothing rough edges and removing vinyl fibers clinging to the edges of the scratch.

  3. Apply a Paste Wax to the Scratch

    6 steps to remove scratches from vinyl floor, with step 3 being rub paste into scratch

    Use a clean cloth or paper towel to apply a paste wax to the scratch. Work the wax into the scratch using a circular motion so that the wax enters from all angles. The wax fills the scratches to make them nearly invisible, creating a surface ready for buffing. You can use most types of paste wax, including car waxes, which you may already have in your garage.

  4. Remove Excess Wax and Buff

    6 steps to remove scratches from vinyl floor, with step 4 being remove the wax and buff the scratch

    Use a cloth or paper towel to remove any excess wax from around the scratch. Then, use a clean paper towel or cloth to buff the scratch and the surrounding area to restore the vinyl’s shine.

  5. Let the Wax Set for an Hour and Recheck

    6 steps to remove scratches from vinyl floor, with step 5 letting the wax set for an hour, and recheck

    One layer of wax is usually enough for superficial scratches. However, deeper scratches may still be visible and often benefit from a second layer of wax. Apply the wax in circular motions as before, then wipe away the excess and buff. Repeat as often as needed until the scratch disappears.

  6. Apply a Stain Pen (Optional)

    6 steps to remove scratches from vinyl floor, with step 6 being add an optional stain pen

    Deeper scratches may leave some discoloration even after you’ve applied wax. Apply a vinyl stain pen that’s close to the color of the floor. You don’t have to find an exact match since many vinyl floors include a range of colors. Apply the stain pen by following the manufacturer’s instructions, ensuring the pigment reaches the full depth of the scratch after the wax layer. Wipe away any excess pigment with a clean cloth.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

Vinyl floor scratch repair is a simple project that usually takes less than 30 minutes and requires a relatively small budget. DIY beginners can easily handle this kind of project with impressive results, so many homeowners choose to tackle it themselves. 

However, if the damage goes beyond a scratch, you can consult a local floor repair company for a quote for vinyl floor repairs. Vinyl flooring repair costs $200 to $1,000 on average if you hire a pro to help restore your floor.

Frequently Asked Questions

In general, vinyl flooring resists scratches, dents, and tears, but this can vary from one type of vinyl (and manufacturer) to another. Vinyl flooring has a wear layer that ranges in thickness from 6 to 20 millimeters. This layer offers protection against standard scratches, but vinyl with a thicker wear layer will resist scratches better than those with a thin layer.

Vinyl flooring is better than laminate in some ways. For example, it’s more water resistant, durable, and easy to clean. Consequently, vinyl is a better choice in areas with high levels of moisture or humidity. Vinyl also has the benefit of costing less than laminate, hardwood floors, and epoxy floors.

However, laminate generally looks more like hand-scraped hardwood than vinyl but without the higher price tag. Keep in mind that laminate floors can get damaged, and repairing laminate flooring is more complicated than repairing vinyl flooring.

Vinyl flooring comes with different warranty lengths based on the thickness of the layers and the quality of the material. Most include a 20-year warranty. However, you’ll need to maintain the floor appropriately and read through the warranty to avoid using any products, tools, or methods that void the warranty. Some warranties, for example, are made void if you use a steam cleaner, even if the floor can withstand the heat and moisture.

Vinyl flooring is made in planks, tiles, and sheets. Planks typically look more like hardwood, and tiles can mimic the appearance of everything from wood to ceramic or porcelain tile. Sheet vinyl is the least expensive type, but it doesn’t mimic other materials as well as planks or tile. However, it’s a great choice if you’d like to save on costs.

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Learn more about our contributor
Stacey L. Nash
Written by Stacey L. Nash
Contributing Writer
Stacey has written in the home improvement space for more than five years for sites like The Spruce and Bob Vila. She’s written about everything from plungers to pavers, but her home improvement heart lies in finding the perfect textiles. She loves combining deep product research with in-person testing to help homeowners find the perfect tool, appliance, or solution for common home problems.

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