Hardwood floors are a beautiful part of any homes; however, occasionally the floors will be stained. Many homeowners think that they must resort to sanding the floors to remove the stains. This is not always true. Removing the stain depends on the type of stains present.
Alcohol Stains
Entertaining guests can lead to spills on the hardwood floor. Stains from alcoholic drinks can be cleaned up using warm water and a detergent solution. If the stain does not come up, use a clean cloth and denatured alcohol. Don’t soak the cloth, just dampen it and wipe the stain away.
Crayon
Children tend to color on everything. Should the wood floor fall victim, bring out the toothpaste. Rub the stain using a dab of dampened toothpaste on a sponge. This does not work well on porous surfaces of any type.
Blood Stains
A nicked finger can lead to a trail of blood drops. These blood stains can be removed using a sponge mop and cold water. If, however, this does not work, a mixture of ammonia and cold water can be used to remove the stain.
Dark Spots
Dark spots on hardwood floors are usually due to alkaline liquids that were allowed to dry on the floor. To remove, the area with the spot must first have the wax coating removed. Mineral spirits can be used to do this.
After removing the clear layer, apply white vinegar to the stains and allow to sit for about 5 minutes. Wipe with a clean cloth and allow to dry. Repeat if necessary. For dark spots that do not come out a professional may need to be called.
Lipstick Stains
When the end of the lipstick falls out of the tube and lands on the floor, clean up is a breeze. Mix detergent with warm water and use a sponge to remove the stain. If the stain remains, use a fine steel wool dipped in the detergent solution to lightly scrub the stain away. Do not use steel wool if the floor is a ‘no-wax’ floor, instead use a plastic scourer.
Nail Polish
Try as they might, often women will get a smudge of nail polish in the oddest of places. Should it wind up on the hardwood floor, use fine steel wool to gently remove the polish. Rinse thoroughly with a clean sponge. If the finish was removed using the steel wool, recoat.
White Rings
White rings are a common occurrence on hardwood floors. Water causes them and removal is a simple process using lemon oil. White rings mean the water is trapped in the floor’s finish. Pour a heavy coat of lemon oil onto a fine steel wool pad and use this to buff out the stain. The lemon oil prevents the steel wool from damaging the wood.
Hardwood floors should bring years of beauty and enjoyment to a home. Accidents and spills are bound to happen, however, with the right cleaning process, the floor will remain as beautiful as it was the day it was installed.
Contributed by Houston Cleaners, providers of Texas Cleaning
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
