Homeowners and buyers alike are increasingly embracing the natural beauty of hardwood floors. Unfortunately, even with proper upkeep, wood floors can get unsightly dents and scratches over time due to normal wear and tear.

If you have hardwood floors in need of repair, the experts at HomeAdvisor offer the following tips, two of which might surprise you:

Walnuts. Take a quick peek into your kitchen cupboard. If you have walnuts, then you have a solution for light wood scratches. Simply crack open the shell and remove the meat of the nut. Then, rub the inside of the walnut over any blemishes in the floor and blend the oils from the nut into the wood using your finger. It should disguise the scratch!

Wood Filler. If youd like to try a DIY repair on a larger blemish or crack, look to wood filler. It comes in many varieties, but its basically a putty-like substance used to fill gouges in wood. There are several different colors available that can be matched to your existing flooring. Or, you can choose a filler that accepts wood stain. Note that filler doesnt have the color variation of natural wood, so the more problem areas you have, the more noticeable this fix will be.

Mayonnaise. Heres another light-scratch solution that may be hiding in your kitchen. Believe it or not, many DIYers swear by mayonnaise. To try this hack, first clean the affected area. Then, apply mayonnaise directly to the wood and let it sit for a few minutes. After a while, wipe it away with a towel. The oil from the mayonnaise should fill in the scratches to match the color of the wood.

Wood Stain Marker. For slightly deeper scratches, a wood stain marker may do the trick. These markers come in several different shades and can darken problem spots so they blend right in with the floor. Just clean the area around the damaged floor, touch up with the marker and wipe away the excess. Dont forget to spot test your marker color first to be sure its a good match. If your home has several trouble areas, consider talking to a pro about getting the floor refinished.

Professional Help. For deep scratches or significantly gouged flooring, youll probably want to hire a professional. Depending on how bad the damage is, the pro can sand and refinish or repair your hardwood floors. Some projects may require replacing a few boards. But a quick call can have your floors gleaming again in no time.

Published with permission from RISMedia.