How to Remove Deep Stains From Wood Floors
Wood floor finishes are tough, but they eventually wear out, and if you leave water standing on an old finish, it can seep into the wood and create an unsightly stain. You can usually get surface stains off of a wood floor without removing the finish, but once the wood has become discolored, there's no alternative to removing it if you want the stain to go away. If you work carefully, you only need to remove the finish covering the stain, and after you treat the wood to remove the stain, you should be able to repair the finish. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Orbital sander
- 100- and 120-grit sandpaper
- Bleach or oxalic acid
- Bucket
- Wood stain
- Rags
- Clear floor finish
- Paint pad
Instructions
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Sand off the finish covering the stain with an orbital sander and 100-grit sandpaper. Use the sander to feather the edges of the spot so refinishing it will be easier.
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2
Mix a 50-50 solution of household bleach and water and dampen a cloth with the solution. Lay it on the stain and leave it for 30 minutes. Remove the cloth and let the wood dry. If the stain is still visible, repeat the procedure with oxalic acid, which is a stronger bleaching agent. Mix the oxalic acid with water according to the instructions on the container. Both bleach and oxalic acid will lighten the wood somewhat, so you will have to re-stain it to match the rest of the floor.
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Sand the bare wood by hand with 120-grit sandpaper to remove bleach crystals and to flatten the grain which will have been raised by the bleach solution. Sand with the grain of the wood.
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4
Touch up the bare wood with stain that matches the rest of the floor. Dab it on with a rag, let it soak in for a few minutes, then wipe off the excess with another rag. Let it dry for two to three hours.
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Spread clear floor finish over the repair with a paint pad, moving the pad with the grain of the wood. Let the finish dry. If it is water-based, it should dry in two to three hours. If oil-based, it may take eight hours or more.
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Sand the finish lightly by hand, then spread on another coat. Let it dry, then sand and re-coat if necessary.
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Tips & Warnings
Clean the floor around the repair to remove old wax and dirt before you begin.
Use the same finish that is already on the floor. If the finish has a yellowish tinge, it is probably oil-based urethane, while if it is clear, it is more likely water-based urethane.
References
- Photo Credit Digital Vision./Digital Vision/Getty Images
