How to Eliminate Stains on Wood Floors

Wood floors do stain.

Although wood floors add a bit of elegance to your home, they are not stain proof. Wood can become stained if it comes in contact with too much water. It may also obtain a stain if a pet urinates on the floor, or something hot is left on the floor for more than a few moments. If this happens, you will need to know how to remove the stain and restore the beauty of your wood floors.

Things You'll Need

• Vinegar
• Oil
• Cloths
• Lemon juice
• Cigarette ashes
• Bowl
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Bleach
• Paint brush
• Sandpaper

Instructions

1. Mix one part vinegar and one part oil together and pour it over any water stains on your wood floor. Water stains tend to make your wood floor look white. Rub the vinegar and oil solution over the stain going with the grain of the wood. Rub one more time with a clean, dry cloth to remove any excess solution and polish the area.

2. Pour lemon juice in a bowl and add a few cigarette ashes. Dip a cloth in this mixture and apply it directly on any stain on your wood floor that occurred as a result of heat. Rub the lemon juice and cigarette ash mixture into the grain of the wood. Then use a clean, dry cloth to take away any excess mixture and polish the area.

3. Use hydrogen peroxide to eliminate any dark stains on your wood floor. These stains may be caused by pet urine or spilled coffee. Drip the hydrogen peroxide over the dark stain and rub it in. Let it dry, and check the area after 12 hours. If the stain is lighter, but still too dark to match your wood, repeat the hydrogen peroxide application. Do this until the stain is the same color as your wood floor.

4. Bleach the stained area of your wood, if no other method has worked to remove the stain. Apply the bleach directly with a paint brush. Make sure you have sufficient ventilation in the room while you are working with the bleach. Allow the bleach to dry over the stain. Utah State University recommends sanding the wood after the bleach has been used because the bleach raises the grains of the wood. Because bleach can damage wood, it should only be used as a last resort.

Tips & Warnings

• Toothpaste can also be used to remove water stains.

• Always check your stain removal solutions on a small inconspicuous area of your wood flooring before using them on the entire stain. Some solutions may alter the color of your wood flooring.

References

• Mrs. Clean: How to Remove Wood Furniture Stains
• Utah State University: Removing Spots, Dents, and Surface Imperfections
• Home Improvement Depot: How to Remove Black Urine Stains from Hardwood Floors
• Reader's Digest: 150 + Household Uses for Vinegar