How to Remove Stains From Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors look beautiful when they are in good shape. Unfortunately, family living sometimes gets in the way of that beautiful floor. Stains happen, kids spill something and it doesn’t get wiped up or an ice maker waterline comes loose and you end up with water on your floor for hours. Once you’ve got a stain on your hardwood floor, you seemingly have very few options. You can try covering it with an area rug or moving a piece of furniture over it, but in many cases refinishing seems like the only choice. However, before you go to the trouble and expense of getting your floors refinished, you may be able to remove that stain from your hardwood. Here’s how.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 120-grit sandpaper
• Vacuum cleaner
• Disposable foam brushes
• Oxalic acid (available at home stores or pharmacies)
• Oxalic acid neutralizer (available at home stores or on line)
• Wood restorer kit
• Rubber gloves
• Safety goggles

1. Start by removing the surface finish on the floor in the area of the stain. Use 120-grit sandpaper and sand gently to remove any wax or polyurethane on the wood surface, then use your vacuum to remove any dust particles.

2. Use a disposable cup to mix the oxalic acid crystals according to the directions on the package (usually 1 tbsp. of crystals to 1 cup of warm water).

3. If possible, pretest the acid solution on an out-of-sight location before moving on to the actual stain.

4. Use a foam brush to control where the acid solution touches the floor, moisten the stained area with the acid solution and allow it to dry. Reapply the acid solution as many times as necessary until the stain is no longer visible.

5. Neutralize the acid in the wood by applying oxalic acid neutralizer to the area, again using a foam brush. You need to neutralize the acid in the wood or it can affect the appearance of the wood when you refinish the area. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for neutralizing the oxalic acid.

6. Allow the wood to dry, then sand the area smooth. The acid and neutralizer will likely have raised the hardwood grain.

7. Finish the project by applying new wood stain from your floor restoration kit.

Tips & Warnings

• You may be able to find oxalic acid in a premixed liquid form at home or paint stores.
• Removing a deep stain from a hardwood floor isn’t a short-term project, It will take you a few days, but the effort could save you the cost and hassle of totally refinishing your hardwood floors.
• Be sure you get a floor restoration kit in a color that matches your original floor. You may be able to find out the actual color of the original finish from whoever installed your floor originally.
• Oxalic acid needs to be treated with caution. Always wear rubber gloves and safety glasses when working with it.

[MariM]

on 2/8/2009 I love my hardwood floors. With a child,2 cats and a Great dane they are in bad shape. Thanks for the tips.5*

[GreenMomma]

on 1/27/2009 Added to my favorites because I know with my three kids, something is bound to happen! Thanks for the advice!

[whoodo]

on 1/27/2009 Oddly enough, this article came at a great time. My daughter's dog got over the baby gate and urinated and messed on the hardwood floor in the living room a while back, leavng a stain. I will be passing this article on.

[kohuether]

on 1/26/2009 Excellent advice - hardwood floors can be tricky to care for.

[grove]

on 1/26/2009 I'm going to try this. Thanks so much!