Stain markers come in many colors, and can be found in home department stores, hardware stores, and paint stores. [1] X Research source

This application method works best (rather than directly drawing the stain marker over the scratch), because it allows for a gradual addition of stain. If you use the marker to draw and fill in the stain directly, you can saturate the scratch with stain, and end up making the scratch darker than the surrounding wood. [3] X Research source Drawing straight onto the scratch like that can make the scratch mark even more obvious.

Any and all small dust particles must be removed from the scratched area so they don’t get preserved in the floor when you add sealant.

Let the scratched area dry before moving on.

Consult an employee at your local hardware store for advice on what kind of finish you should use on the floor. If you are an inexperienced wood worker, or if your hardwood floor has a specialty finish (such as a high gloss polyurethane finish), consider hiring a professional to repair and finish the floor. [7] X Research source Since hiring a professional will cost more money, it might be most cost-effective to let scratches accumulate, rather than hiring a company to fix one small scratch.

Allow the damped area to totally dry before moving on.

Wood wax sticks can be found at home department store, paint stores, or local hardware stores.

Allow the scratched area to completely dry before proceeding.

If you are inexperienced with woodworking and sealing, it’s advisable to hire a professional to repair the flooring.

Be sure to apply wood filler rather than wood putty. The two substances are different, and using wood putty to fill the scratch can alter the effectiveness of matching the filling to the color of the floor, and affect the filling from properly taking the color of staining, if applied. [17] X Research source Give the filler a day to dry after you apply it.

You can sand following the direction of the grain of the wood, or sand in small little circles. Whichever way you sand, be sure to sand very lightly.

Be sure to wipe the areas where filler has been spread, and avoid wiping over the actual filled scratch.

If you use a foam roller, you run the risk of leaving air bubbles in the sealer. You will need to apply at least two coats of finish for best results.