How to Remove a Deep Stain From Wood Floors

Wood flooring can be beautiful and worth it's money. But a serious stain can ruin a perfect wood floor. Here are some tips for removing stains from your oak, pine, teak, or other hard wood flooring.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• bleach
• steel wool
• sandpaper
• ammonia
• hydrogen peroxide
• linseed oil
• oxalic acid
• vinegar
• scouring powder
• detergent

1. There are many different types of stains. The majority of them consist of soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, coffee, and juices. Always begin on the outward circumference of your stain to prevent it from spreading. Using hot water and a cloth, gently massage the stain, making sure not to add pressure. If this does not work, add some of the scouring powder. On the alcoholic drinks, however, use warm water and detergent. If this does not work, try a cotton cloth with ammonia, linseed oil, and denatured alcohol.

2. Mold and mildew stains are some of the hardest to get rid of, because the mold/mildew seeps into the wood itself. Wood floors need ventilation or mold is more likely to occur. If mold has grown in your home, the solution of one cup water and some bleach should get rid of the fungus.

3. Chewing gum and wax products destroy floors and the floor finish. If gum does get on your wood flooring, fill a resealable Ziploc bag with ice and press on the wax/gum. This causes the substance to harden, making it much easy to scrape off with either a chisel or a paint scraper. So instead of leaving behind a sticky mess, you just get pure perfection.

4. Nosebleeds and cuts don't only hurt you, they hurt your floor too. Blood isn't too tricky to get off, but still requires some work. Using equal parts cold water and ammonia, gently scrub on blood drops.

5. Unattractive dark spots are usually tough to clear up, but there are some ways to fully demolish the stain. Take a No. 1 steel wool pad and douse in hardwood floor cleaner or ammonia. Rub the stain and surrounding areas. Douse washcloth in household vinegar and diligently wash the zone.

6. Deep, in-set stains seem impossible to get rid of, and you can't get rid of without re-staining the area. To get the stain out, use oxalic acid, sticking strictly to the label instructions. This is a bleaching acid that will re-color your wood, taking the stain with it. Oxalic acid can be found in most paint stores. After spotting the stains, let sit. Then sponge off the region around and on the stain. Re-stain and 'feather', as in lightly going over the lines so your re-stain doesn't stand out.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure to always re-stain any bleached areas.
• Always feather so your color doesn't stand out.
• Polishing floors is always a good idea after removing a stain.
• Always use caution when dealing with acids, chemicals or bleaches of the sort.

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on 9/19/2008 please rate this! - js