When they appear, you might assume a costly repair is the only fix. In reality, all it takes is a bit of water, steam, and elbow grease to make your hardwood floors look as good as new. Here’s how to erase those blemishes in just a few hours.

A Solution That’s Gaining Steam

The general idea behind this hack is using moisture and heat to swell the wood fibers back to their original shape. But before you give it a shot, you’ll need a few tools: a handheld steam iron, a water supply, shop rags, a clean cloth, and a box cutter or another sharp knife that’s safe to handle.

Begin by locating the dent(s), using small pieces of painter’s tape to mark the affected areas. If your hardwood floors are sealed, use the box cutter to poke a few tiny holes within the dent, following the woodgrain pattern so they blend in naturally. The aim is to pierce the clear coating just enough for water to absorb into the wood. Next, tear a shop rag into small strips sized to the circumference of the dent(s) and submerge them in water. Once they’re soaking wet, wad each strip into a ball and dab the perforated areas so moisture seeps into the holes. Then, place one wad over each dent and let them sit for about five hours.

When you return, you may see tiny, discolored spots in the wood. Don’t worry — this is just absorbed water that will evaporate in time, causing the spots to disappear. Turn the iron to its hottest setting, and as it heats up, soak another clean cloth in water. Lay the wet cloth over the dent and press the iron onto it for about 20 seconds. You should hear a lot of hissing as the steam is released; this is perfectly normal. After 20 seconds, remove the iron and set it aside. If the dent remains, you can repeat the process — just make sure the cloth is still damp, or you risk leaving an iron mark on the floor.

Ideally, when you lift the cloth, you should notice the dent has swollen due to all the absorbed moisture. In fact, it may be so swollen that it feels more like a bump than a dent. If this is the case, don’t fret; the wood will shrink back down as the water evaporates, leaving the surface nice and flush.

After 24 to 48 hours, once the water has fully evaporated, run your hand over the area. If there’s still a prominent bump, sand it back down with a high-grit sandpaper. To protect against dirt or future water damage, reseal the spots with a product (e.g., a water-based polyurethane) that matches your floor’s specific sheen. In the end, you won’t be able to tell that anything was ever amiss.

A Supercharged Solution

Inside every alkaline battery is a layer of zinc. When the battery powers a device, that zinc turns into zinc oxide to create electricity. However, before a battery is used, this internal zinc is a dense, gel-like paste that absorbs kinetic energy upon impact.

For this reason, if you drop a brand-new battery from a low height, the internal zinc gel will absorb the impact when it hits the floor. You should notice a dull “thud” and little to no bounce. When a battery is dead, the internal zinc oxide stiffens, losing its ability to cushion the fall and causing a slight bounce. Word to the wise: A drop of just a few inches is sufficient; any higher and you risk damaging the battery or the floor.

The Limits of the Bounce Test

In 2015, researchers at Princeton University sought to prove the validity of the bounce test. Their findings showed that while the test works to some degree, there’s a bit of a gray area. It’s true that new batteries won’t bounce while dead ones will, but partially charged batteries have some spring in them too. In fact, batteries hit their maximum bounce level at around the 50% charge mark, meaning a battery will bounce just as high whether it’s half-full or dead.

Because of this, don’t rely on gravity to determine a battery’s exact charge. The test works very well for identifying a brand-new battery, but for a specific reading of how much charge is left, you’re better off using a handheld battery tester.

A Setting That Keeps You From Fretting

While Lindsey Buckingham once sang about “Holiday Road,” we’re singing the praises of “holiday mode.” Many modern refrigerators — from the early 2000s onward — are programmed with either a holiday mode or a vacation mode. On most models, switching to this setting raises the temperature inside the fridge compartment by about 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit. A normal, food-safe refrigerator temperature is 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below, but in holiday mode, the fridge typically maintains a warmer temperature of around 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit to conserve power.

Because of this, you should try to consume any perishables before taking off, leaving behind only low-risk items that are less likely to spoil with the slight increase in temperature. Think acidic or salty condiments, butter, pickles, olives, hard cheeses, jellies and jams, and unopened beverages.

What makes holiday mode so useful is that it doesn’t kill power to the whole unit. On most modern, dual-compartment appliances, the fridge takes a break while the freezer keeps running as normal — meaning your frozen perishables stay safe while saving you money on electricity.

Many refrigerators are programmed to automatically revert to their standard settings once the door is opened. That said, you should consult the manual to confirm whether that will happen with your fridge, as some models require you to switch the setting off before the fridge starts cooling at full power again.

If you’re unsure whether your fridge has a holiday mode, the quickest way to find out is by consulting the manual, as every model is different. You can also check the display panel for any vacation-themed icons, such as a plane or a beach umbrella. These are a sure sign that your fridge is equipped with this feature.

What if Your Fridge Doesn’t Have Holiday Mode?

Older refrigerators often lack a holiday mode, so you’ll have to take matters into your own hands. As a rule of thumb, if you’ll be away for more than three to four weeks, it may be worthwhile to unplug the refrigerator and defrost the freezer. Of course, you’ll need to use up or throw away everything inside of it, but the energy savings can outweigh those losses. Don’t forget to clean the appliance, dry it thoroughly, and leave the doors cracked to prevent mold. For shorter trips of less than two weeks, it’s best to leave the refrigerator plugged in and remove any perishables before jetting off.