We all admire the natural beauty and durability of hardwood floors, but accidents happen and leave ugly stains that are unavoidable, even with a lot of care. On hardwood floors often rings, marks, and stains are common but DON’T PANIC.
In homes, floors take the greatest amount of wear and tear. If you’re wondering how to get stains out of hardwood floors and take care of your wood floors properly, the answer is to clean them frequently and methodically.
Consider the fact of how much dust and dirt you bring in from the outside. Allowing your hardwood floors to become too dirty is not only unclean; it may also cause damage to the floor, which can be costly to repair, refinish, or, in the worst-case scenario, replace. The good news is that hardwood floors are simple to clean and stain removal is basic-to-go. If you want to maintain your hardwood floors stain free, make sure you know how to clean them correctly. Different kinds of stains require different cleaning.
Here are some of the simple methods of how to get stains out of hardwood floor:
1. Crayons and Candle Wax Stains
If you have children who enjoy art, there’s a risk you’ll wind up with a crayon stain on your hardwood floor. If you find yourself in this scenario, simply place an ink blotter on top of the crayon stain and press with a hot pressing iron. You may use this same method for removing candle wax from the wood floor.
2. Chewing Gum Stains
If you have chewing gum stuck to the floor, just place a plastic bag filled with ice on top of it until the gum crumbles. If required, a solvent-based wax might be used to help loosen the layer. Another useful method could be cooking oil. Using the paper towel, dab some of the frying oil on it. Place the paper towel on top of the resistant gum and wait for the oil to dissolve it. Finally, remove the towel and use a plastic scraper to clean away the sticky remains.
3. Water Stains
Water markings are more difficult to remove since they are usually water stains that have gone down the floor finish. You have two alternatives for removing water stains from hardwood floors: Firstly apply a small amount of bleach to the stain using a small brush (such as a toothbrush). After several hours, repeat the process and leave the area to rest till the next day. Alternatively, make a paste with one teaspoon of salt and one tablespoon of olive oil. After that, massage it gently on the wooden floor for 15 to 20 minutes. Polish the discolored region of your wooden floor using a cotton towel soaked in the solution. You can make this with only one teaspoon of salt and a little water as well.
4. Oil and Grease Stains
Removing stains from oil or any greasy thing could be really troublesome but here is how to get such stains out. One of the best ways is kitchen soap with a high lye content or cotton with hydrogen peroxide. Begin by wiping the affected area with kitchen soap to determine whether the stain is removed, then allow the area to dry and buff by hand.
5. Food Stains
Food stains are the most typical stains that you’ll find on your hardwood flooring. There’s no need to be worried because they are some of the easiest stains to remove. All you have to do is rub the stains with a moist cloth, then dry and wax the floors.
How to keep hardwood floor stains free
Dos:
If you’re finding yourself cleaning up a lot more dirt than normal, it might be time to urge all residents and guests to brush off dirt before entering the house with the welcome mat. This may keep dirt away from coming into your hardwood floor.
Another thing to keep in mind is to never use wet mops on your hardwood floors. This may go against everything you’ve heard about cleaning, but it’s true. Moisture may cause havoc on the coating and even destroy the wood floor. To avoid damage to the wood, clean up spills or any other moisture as soon as possible. For spot cleaning, a moist cotton or microfiber cloth works well and keeps the floor appearing clean.
Don’ts:
Let’s go over what not to do now that we’ve covered how to eliminate different types of stains from your hardwood floor.
Some cleaning procedures are more harmful than beneficial. Steel wool cleaning pads should never be used on a polished floor. It’s the same as sandpaper, and it’ll ruin your wood’s smooth sheen.
Another common misperception is that hardwood floors are water-resistant. Wood is absorbent, which means it absorbs any liquid that comes into contact with it. Make sure you squeeze the mop out completely while cleaning your floor. It should be moist, but not drenched. Any remaining water on your hardwood floor should dry quickly. If there are any drips, obtain a towel and soak them up as soon as possible. On your hardwood floor, avoid using a steam mop. Moisture is forced deep into the wood by the intense heat. This has permanent consequences.
Last but not least, while you’re certainly aware of the damage that a pet’s pee may cause to your hardwood floor, don’t forget about their claws. If your dog’s nails aren’t cut regularly, they might harm the finish of your floor. Then you’ll have to deal with the more difficult task of sanding and polishing a scratch out.
Conclusion
Hardwood floors, like anything else, require regular upkeep and cleaning to keep them looking as fine as new. If anything ever spills on your floor, get it cleaned up right away. Avoiding stains in the first place is the simplest approach to get rid of them.
We hope this information helped you understand how to get stains out of hardwood floors. If you’ve been unable to remove a stubborn stain from your hardwood floor, it may be time to get it out with these methods.
