How to Remove Stains on Wood
Wood floors tend to take a beating when furniture is dragged across the floor, a pipe breaks, or your children attempt to skate across it with roller blades on. These types of occurrences are preventable but what about those times when you spill liquid on the floor and it seeps through the finish? Most stains will come out without having to replace the entire floor. Read the how to tips below to get started. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Tape plastic around the area you are working on to prevent the bleach from running to other areas. Plastic can be purchased from a home improvement store.
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Place a heat lamp over the wood and heat the wood for approximately 10 minutes. This allows the bleach to penetrate the pores of the wood easily.
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Put on safety glasses and latex gloves. The safety glasses will protect your eyes from the bleach and the latex gloves will protect your hands from the bleach as well.
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Pour full strength bleach into a spray bottle or in a smaller cup so it is easier to control the pour. Apply full strength bleach directly to the stain ensuring that all of the stain is covered.
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Allow the bleach to soak the wood for 15 minutes before proceeding to rinse off the solution.
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Check the treated area to determine whether the stain has been removed or if it will need another treatment. You can continue treating the stain up to three times before consulting a professional.
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Allow the bleach to dry completely before rinsing the wood.
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Mix a rinsing solution from equal parts of water and white vinegar. Vinegar and water will neutralize the bleach so it will stop bleaching the wood. After all, you don't want a white spot on dark flooring.
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Rinse all of the bleach off the wood so polish will adhere to the wood later.
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Allow the furniture to dry, then sand and refinish it.
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Tips & Warnings
If the stain persists through three coats of bleach, consult a professional about other stain removal techniques.
