How to Eliminate Deep Stains From Wood Floors

Removing deep stains from flooring isn't hard--but you may need a lot of time.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Steel Wool (#000)
• Gloves
• Sandpaper
• Household Bleach, Vinegar, Ammonia, or Hydrogen Peroxide
• Wood Cleaner
• Wood Stain
• Wood Wax

1. 
    
   Steel Wool

   Rub the stained area with steel wool. #000 steel wool is recommended, and can be found at local hardware stores. Then wax the area. If the stain does not remove this way, go to step #2.

2. 
    
   Sandpaper

   Lightly sand the stained area with fine sandpaper. Then clean it by using steel wool (#000 steel wool recommended) over the stained area. Next, clean the stained wood area using a wood cleaner or mineral spirits. Allow the floor to dry. If stain is still present, continue to step #3.

3. 
    
   Household Bleach, Ammonia or Hydrogen Peroxide to Remove Stains.

   If stain hasn't been removed after floor has dried, rub in household vinegar or bleach and allow it to set in for one hour. This works best on dark spots, ink spots, or urine stains. If the stain is an oil or grease stain, soak cotton in hydrogen peroxide and place over the stain. Than place another piece of soaked cotton with ammonia over the hydrogen peroxide. Repeat until the stain is removed. Allow the floor to dry.

4. 
    
   Restaining the Affected Area

   Restain the affected area. Then wax and hand buff.

Resources

• Wood Doctor

[mpodlesny]

on 12/11/2008 If you ever find that your cat did it's business on your carpets and it leaks through to the subfloor you can paint some Kilz on the subfloor to block the odor.

[Sondrac]

on 8/1/2008 Thanks for the helpful info. Now I can clean my floors