How Should You Remove Stains From Hardwood Floor?
Rings, spots, and stains on hardwood often happen. But don’t panic! This guide will help you know how to remove stains from wood floors and answer your most common questions when it comes to cleaning and protecting wood after hardwood floor installation Los Angeles.
When spills happen on wood floors, a quick wipe (and maybe a bit of a cleaning solution) is usually all it takes to clean up that mishap. But if left unattended, sometimes spills can become lasting wood floor stains.
It might be a family member accidentally left a glass on the floor overnight, or maybe you forgot to clean up a spill. Whatever the reason, stains on wood floors can be unsightly and distracting.
Before you stress over stains on your wood floor, ensure: You have options for removing the stain from your hardwood floors. Depending on the type and how deep the stain is, you should be able to easily fix the spot.
Follow these steps for how to remove stains from wood floors; it includes tips on how to remove water marks and what type of stain removers to use on the wood floor. Before you even know about it, your hardwood floor will appear like it was before the staining.
How to Remove Water Marks from Wood Floors?
Removing water stains from wood floors brings the issue of removing any wood floor finish for gaining access to the stained wood beneath.
Sandpaper (100 grit)
Start by removing the surface layer of the floor using sandpaper. Where the water stain hasn’t penetrated deeply into the wood, this method should also be sufficient in removing the stain.
Rub the sandpaper in the direction of the grain. Work on the edges of the removed area using steel wool – this will help to blend the area into the original finish. Finally, numerous several coats for matching the original finish.
Bleach
This method is one of the last methods to try. If you find the stain has penetrated the wood too deeply for sanding to have the desired effect, apply a thin coat of chlorine bleach on to the wood. This can help you lighten the water stain.
The bleaching process may take several hours. Once you finish, ensure to thoroughly remove the remaining bleach with a damp sponge.
Apply a fine layer of vinegar and once again try removing with a damp sponge – this will prepare the wood for the finish and further prevent colouration from developing. Apply couple of coats of finishes to match the original finish.
How To Remove Water Ring Stains?
Removing water stain from a wood floor is more of a trial and error process. This is because every water stain is different – although the surface layer stains affect the wood floor finish, the depth of penetration into the finish combined with the wood floor finish is capable of reducing the capability of removal attempts. Your hardwood floor installation Los Angeles expert can help you with assistance.
Methods for removing water stains from wood floors:
Mineral Oil
Apply a very thin layer of mineral oil with a soft microfibre cloth. Wait for some minutes and repeat the same. This method must break down light water stains within 24 hours.
Mineral Spirits
Mineral spirits are capable of penetrating deeper into the wood floor finish. Where mineral oil is ineffective, repeat this process using mineral spirits. Again, leave it to dry for complete 24 hours.
Baking Soda & Water Paste
Make a paste using baking soda and water. Rub this paste into the stain using a microfiber cloth and leave this for 24 hours. Apply furniture polish and let it dry overnight.
How to Remove Dark Stains from Wood Floors?
There is no fixed way of removing stains from a wooden floor. The manner in which you deal with floor stain depends on the type of stain you are dealing with.
Surface stains:
If the stain is from a drink or food spillage it’s likely not to have penetrated too far into the floor and so a good place to start is by using warm water and the relevant floor soap for removing the stain.
How to get greasy items stains out of wood floors?
To start with, identify the area that needs to work on. Use warm water and cleaning detergent mixture to scrub away dirt and other contaminants which may be on top of your hardwood and the stain. This will help you to treat the stain directly.
Next, apply mineral spirits on a clean rag and scrub this into the stain in a circular motion. For very recent light stains, it will be more than enough to eliminate them.
However, for strong oil stains, it will only start the process of breaking down the oil adhered to the wood. Talk to an experienced hardwood floor installation Los Angeles for more assistance regarding floor maintenance.
Allow the mineral spirit to wait for a few minutes, and then wipe it away using a clean rag. Next, you can combine a cup of fuller’s earth with half cup of cleaning detergent to make a paste.
Apply the paste in a thin, flat layer over the oil stain, and let it wait for at about fifteen minutes. The fuller’s earth breaks down the oil compounds sitting on your hardwood.
Now, once this paste has completely dried, you can just scrape it away with a plastic putty knife (avoid metal tools, which can damage the wood underneath).
Next, just use a mixture of warm water and detergent to wipe down the area and leave your hardwood flooring gleaming and shining as new.