Wipe the scuff with a damp rag. If, it color changes and darkens. That means it has gone done to the bare wood. You would need a spot repair or refinish the room. No color change you can have it spot repaired by doing a buff and recoat. Although by the looks of it, you may need to recoat entire room. Your finish does look a little thin.

Find the kids another type of basket that doesnt scratch floors, or even put padding on the bottom of one. That one looks like sharp edges, and I would ban that from the house. I know this wont help the problem you have, but, could keep it from getting worse, or keep it from happening again, if you get the floors fixed.

Thanks G & S, here is what it looks like with wet on top. Did not turn dark, in fact sort of repelled the water (maybe it’s b/c the plastic rubbed off). Is there anything we can try to buff it out at home, or will it require a pro buff and recoat?

You will need a pro, to take care of the problem.

What a bummer on your new floors. Not to your level of damage, but I had a room renter one time, JUST after I had the hardwoods refinished, move in and drag her cardboard boxes from the door to her room. Even though the floor had no dirt on it (shoe free house) it made a million little scratches in the finish. Ugh.

You either have plastic rubbed off on the floor that could be removed with a little elbow grease, or light scuffs that would require a recoat to fix. It doesn't look like the wood is indented or that the finish is removed.

Start by trying to remove a scuff using a paper towel and some floor cleaner in an inconspicuous spot. Rub with the grain, not against.

Rub it off with a little mineral spirit.

And take that blue basket to the curb pronto.

Bummer- I tried mineral spirits and thought it was working but when it dried still tacks, maybe a little better.

Does this mean it has to be refinished? Does that mean sanding and refinishing? Does that mean the entire room? Or is there something else that can be done?

Would a Magic Eraser work?

Have someone look at it and see if it can be pro buffed out or at least made less obvious. That would not involve refinishing, moving out, etc. I think they can do just part of the floor. Many years ago, Sears delivered a new refer and scratched the finish on my oak kitchen floor. I'm pretty sure they just buffed that part of the floor, not the whole thing. It probably also depends on what finish you have on your floors. I'm sure you can get someone (or several someones) to come give you advice and a bid.

Thanks- we have a clear water based poly finish, 3 coats

3 coats might have saved your life! Call you floor people. When I had the floors refinished several years later, they put 2 coats on everything but the kitchen, where they put 3.

I would try buffing it out just a bit and then applying a floor wax that is compatible with your finish.

Please do not use magic eraser!! That is a mild abrasive, and the last thing you want to do is abrade the surface further. Every place you rub with Magic Eraser will take the sheen off your floors, meaning those scratches will just become even more obvious.

"Please do not use magic eraser!!"

We often use Magic Erasers to remove excess glue from flooring after installs, in conjunction with Mineral spirits or adhesive remover. It might do the job, but try it in an inconspicuous area first. I'd try it using water first. Mineral spirits generally won't remove hard plastic from a floor so don't despair if it didn't work when used alone.

Well I guess I did something wrong then. I tried to use a Magic Eraser on my site-finished hardwood floors to take a smudge off and all it did was make the small dull spot a bigger dull spot.

We do use them wet, which may make a difference. Fortunately we don't need them often but when we do they're a godsend. They might work for the OP and if not it seems likely the remedy will be a recoat, so some dulling wouldn't be an issue.

Thanks everyone, great convo and hopefully helpful for others in the future. Looks like at this point I am calling in a pro