For a number of polymers with different chemical structures and different properties we have determined scratch resistance and sliding wear (15 scratches along the same groove). We have measured cross section areas after scratching, namely the groove and side top-ridge areas. Nanohardness after scratching was determined using nanoindentation testing both inside and outside the scratching and sliding wear grooves. Three modes of sliding wear are seen: plowing, cutting with debris formation, and densification. The dominating mode depends on the material and is reflected in nanohardness. In polycarbonate (PC) the nanohardness inside and outside the groove are practically the same; the indenter just plows the material aside without debris formation or densification. Thus, the old measure of wear as the weight of the debris formed is not usable for PC; grooves are present but there is no loosened material. By contrast, in brittle materials such as polystyrene there is debris formation and nanohardness inside the groove decreases after 15 scratching runs. A third type of behavior is seen in polyethylene and polypropylene, namely densification caused by scratching; as a result, nanohardness inside the groove increases after 15 passes of the indenter.