Tricks on How to Remove Water Stains From Hardwood Floors

Looking for ways on How to Remove Water Stains From Hardwood Floors? Worry no more!

Hardwood floors add beauty and warmth to your home; that’s why they require good care to keep them looking gorgeous.

With time your hardwood floor may get some stains that would leave them looking unappealing.

Once you notice that the floor has stains, you have to think of ways to get rid of them without damaging the floor.

In this article, I will be discussing some techniques you can apply to clean your stained hardwood floor.

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Types Of Water Stains

Water stains are of two types; white and dark stains.

White stains are easy to clean, while dark ones can take time to clean completely.

The white stains discolor the hardwood floor finish and are mostly found on new floors with a lacquered finish.

Dark water stain means that the stain has penetrated beyond the clear wood coat.

It requires quite some time and effort to remove dark spots.

Some of the causes of the dark stains are pet urine or condensation after a spill of water on the floor.

How to Remove White Water Stains From Hardwood Floors

White water stains affect the wood floor finish and easy to get rid of.

There are a few techniques that you can apply to remove the stains.

Before applying anything on the floor, ensure you clean any dust that may be on the stained area.

•  Mineral oil

Dip a soft cloth on the mineral oil, then rub it against the stained floor.

Leave the oil on the floor overnight and check the results the next morning.

If the stain has disappeared, wipe the remaining oil with a dry cloth.

In case the stain is still on the floor, try another method.

If you don’t have mineral oil you can use butter or any cooking oil in your house.

• Mineral Spirit

In case mineral oil was not a success, try the mineral spirit.

For safety purposes, wear protective gloves when applying the spirit.

Pour some amount of mineral spirit on a soft cloth, and then rub it on the white stain.

Give it a few minutes for the spirit to soak in the wood.

The stain should disappear after some minutes.

Once it has disappeared, buff the area using a clean, dry cloth.

• Baking Soda and Water Paste

Make a paste using water and the baking soda, and then rub the paste on the stain with the help of a soft cloth.

Leave it for 24 hours, then apply furniture polish and leave it to dry overnight.

Other methods include using toothpaste, mayonnaise or a solution of cooking oil and salt.

Techniques  on How to Remove Dark Water Stains From Hardwood Floors

When removing dark water stains from hardwood floors, you must remove the wood finish to access the stain.

Also read on the different types of rooms in a house.

• Use 100 Grit Sandpaper

Sandpaper can work perfectly if the stain has not penetrated too deep into the wood floor.

Start by removing the finish layer on the floor using 100 grit sandpaper.

Rub the sandpaper in the grain direction and ensure you are wearing a dust mask for safety.

After a few rubs, the stain should not be visible unless it was too deep into the wood.

Once you’ve gotten rid of the stain, use steel wool to blend the area with the initial finish.

Wipe out all the grit and dust from the area, then apply a few varnish, wax or lacquer layers that match the original finish.

• Bleach

Bleach is used to lighten up the dark areas on your hardwood floor.

It is considered as the last option when the above methods do not work.

You can use some of the common bleaching agents, such as chlorine or hydrogen peroxide.

Mix either of the agents with water in the ratio of 1:1, then soak a soft cloth in the solution.

Squeeze the cloth lightly, then place it on top of the dark stain and leave it for around 10 minutes.

If it does not work, use a more concentrated solution of hydrogen peroxide.

After 10 minutes, remove the cloth and allow the area to dry overnight.

If the stain does not disappear, use a solution of chlorine and water in the ratio of 1:4.

Follow the steps you used for hydrogen peroxide while repeating the process with a more concentrated solution.

Once the stain is gone, thoroughly clean the area to remove any bleach.

You can use a damp cloth to clean the area so that the bleach does not spread to other areas.

• A Mixture of Vinegar and Olive Oil

Vinegar is commonly known for killing mold, viruses and bacteria.

It can also be used for effectively cleaning stains on wood floors.

The best part is that it’s not harmful to you and your family, so you’ve less to worry about.

What you do is mix the white vinegar with olive oil in a ratio of 1:1.

Dip a cloth in the solution, then rub it on the stained area.

Once the stain has faded, use a dry cloth to wipe the excess mixture on the wood.

• Steel Wool

Steel wool with saturated lemon oil can be used in cleaning dark hardwood floor stains.

It works best if you buff in the direction of the wood grain.

Use enough lemon oil as it protects the wood floor from scratches of the steel wool.

Ensure you buy high-quality steel wool for better results.

Conclusion On How To Remove Water Stains From Hardwood Floors

You now don’t have to worry about your hardwood floor having stains, either white or dark.

However, you also have to take care of your floor, so you don’t have stains all over the place.

Remember taking care of your floor will make you enjoy its gorgeous look for a longer period.

One way of taking good care of the floor is mopping any liquid as soon as it spills.

Try the above techniques on how to remove water stains from hardwood floors.

Remember to leave a comment on which techniques worked best for you.