How to Remove a Deep Stain from Wood Floors:
Hardwood floors add elegance to any room, but accidents happen and things can spill. If the spill is not dealt with immediately, the substance can leave a stain that penetrates deep into the wood. Instead of covering the area with a rug, or ripping out the stained boards and installing new wood, try to remove the stain on your own. It takes a little effort, but the results are worth your time. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Broom
- Tetrachloride or commercial wood floor cleaning solvent
- Rags
- Absorbent cloth
- Stiff-bristle brush
- Vinegar
- 400- and 600-grit sandpaper or 000 steel wool
- Bleach or wood bleach kit
- Tack cloth
- Stain, tung oil or linseed oil
- Protective topcoat (Optional)
Instructions
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Sweep the wood floor with a broom to remove any dirt and debris. Otherwise you risk scratching the hardwood floor.
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Clean the stained area with a commercial wood floor cleaning solvent. If the stain is from grease or oil, apply tetrachloride over the stain. Moisten a rag with the wood cleaner solvent or tetrachloride and place the rag over the stain.
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Allow the rag to stay on the stain for three to five minutes.
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Remove the rag and dry the area with an absorbent cloth. Scrub the area with a stiff-bristle brush to remove the grease or oil. If the stain persists, proceed to the next step.
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5
Mix equal amounts of water and vinegar together in a spray bottle.
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Spray the stained area with the vinegar water solution until water stands.
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Rub the stained area with the vinegar water solution and a clean cloth. If this does not remove the stain, proceed to the next step.
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Dry the area with an absorbent towel. Allow the area to finish air drying until it is completely dry.
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Rub the area gently, using a circular motion and 400-grit sandpaper or 000 fine steel wool. Do not rub hard or you will scratch the wood. The stain should disappear.
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Remove the debris with a clean rag. If the stain persists, proceed to the next step.
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Mix equal amounts of bleach and water together or purchase a wood bleach solution kit. Apply the wood bleach kit according to the manufacturer's directions.
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Moisten a rag with the household bleach and water solution and place it over the stained area. Allow it to remain over the stained area for 20 minutes.
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Wet another rag with water and gently wash the area clean of bleach. This will bleach out your wood and make it lighter in color than the rest of your floor, but the stain should be gone.
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Sand the area with 400- to 600-grit sandpaper.
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Wipe away debris with the tack cloth.
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Apply the same kind of finish to match the rest of your wood according to the manufacture's directions. The finish may be a stain, tung oil or linseed oil. Apply a protective topcoat, if needed, according to the manufacture's directions.
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Tips & Warnings
Wood cleaner solvent and tetrachloride, a dry cleaning spot remover, can be found in most home improvement centers.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
