How to Remove Any Stain from Your Hardwood Floors, According to Experts
If you’re lucky enough to have hardwood floors in their home, it’s easy to see how much warmth, character, and durability they add. Their beauty and construction, however, does not make them impervious to life’s little accidents. That means everything from knocking over a glass of wine, or forgetting to take the dog out before they have an accident.
To remove hardwood floor stains, it’s important to identify the type of stain you are dealing with and choose the right cleaner for the job. Once you’ve tackled it, make sure to dry your floors thoroughly. If the stain is really set in, consider using oxalic crystals, sanding the floor, or calling a professional.
Despite their high-maintenance reputation, most hardwood floors just need a little caution, care, and a handful of cleaning products. In fact, you’ll be able to make a hardwood floor stain remover with products you most likely already have in your pantry!
Below, find out how to remove stains from your hardwood floor.
How to Remove Hardwood Floor Stains
With the helpful insight from George Crew, painting contractor and general contractor at Chicago Paint Crew, and Francisco Fuenmayor, insured handyman at LocalProBook, I’ve created a comprehensive guide to help you maintain your floors and remove common issues, such as water, pet, and oil and grease stains, as well as dried, set-in stains.
Step 1: Take preventive measures.
If you’ve just moved into a home with hardwood floors and (thankfully) haven’t had the chance to clean up a stain, it’s imperative to take as many preventive measures as possible to avoid future stains. Crew recommends sweeping or vacuuming on a daily to weekly basis, while Fuenmayor suggests keeping dirt where it belongs — outside.
“A simple no-shoes policy or high-quality doormats at every entrance can save you hours of stain removal later,” Fuenmayor says. “Grit from shoes can embed dirt deep into the finish.”
Additionally, it’s best to keep liquids out of the reach of children and pets, while also exercising caution with items that notoriously cause stains on hardwood floors including coffee, wine, oil, paint, ink, and pet urine. For the ultimate defense, Crew recommends sealing or waxing a protective layer.
Step 2: Act fast and clean spills with a microfiber cloth.
Both Crew and Fuenmayor agree that to successfully remove most stains from hardwood floors, it’s best to clean the mess up as soon as possible. Some liquids, especially dark ones like coffee and wine, stain quickly and can begin to warp the wood. “Immediately clean up spills with a microfiber cloth slightly dampened with a hardwood floor cleaner,” Fuenmayor says. “Never let the wood absorb the spill.”
Step 3: Know the stain and use the right cleaning product.
All hope is not lost when it comes to removing stains from hardwood floors. While there are some that are tougher than others, you can create your own hardwood floor stain remover with ingredients found in your pantry or under the sink.
Water Stains: “Water stains are notoriously tricky since they can seep below the finish into the wood itself,” Crew says. He recommends gently applying equal parts baking soda and white toothpaste to lighten watermarks with a damp cloth.
Pet Stains: “Pet urine stains are among the most difficult to remove since the ammonia not only stains but can eat into the finish,” says Crew. “Hydrogen peroxide soaked into a cotton cloth and left on the stain for 10 minutes works wonders. Just be careful not to oversaturate — it can cause wood swelling.” Alternatively, you can use an enzyme cleaner (be sure to choose one that’s safe for hardwood floors).
White Rings and Spots: Crew explains that these are the result of moisture penetrating the finish of the wood. He recommends putting a couple tablespoons of baking soda in a small bowl and slowly adding water until you have a paste, or a dab of non-gel toothpaste and working it in with a cotton cloth. “Their abrasive quality works well to lift the stain without damage to the wood beneath,” he says.
Ink Stains: Crew says rubbing alcohol or a mixture of water and hydrogen peroxide works for these types of stains. Mix equal parts water and hydrogen peroxide or one part rubbing alcohol with four parts hot water in a spray bottle, then spray directly onto a microfiber cloth and work into the hardwood floors.
Wine Stains: Wine stains can be cleaned up with an enzyme cleaner or a diluted vinegar mixture. Combine equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle, spray directly onto a microfiber cloth (never directly onto the surface!) and then use it to wipe the stain away.
Grease Stains: Crew says certain grease stains from food can be removed with a few drops of dish soap mixed with warm water in a bowl. Work the mixture into the stain with a cotton cloth.
Oil-Based Stains: Fuenmayor says most oil-based stains require expertise. “Based on my experience, I can say that the most difficult cases are removing old oil stains,” Fuenmayor says. “These often require special solvents that aren’t safe to use without proper ventilation and experience.” It’s best to call in a professional for these types of stains.
Step 4: Dry your floors thoroughly.
Water and liquids in general are possibly hardwood flooring’s worst enemy. Leaving a water spill unattended can cause dark stains, which is why Crew says it’s imperative to both dry spills immediately and after cleaning with a mixture, dry the area completely.
Step 5: For set-in stains, try using oxalic acid crystals or sanding it.
If you’re just noticing an old spill or stain, Crew recommends a few solutions. “For darker stains, try oxalic acid crystals dissolved in warm water — they pull the discoloration out without damaging the wood,” he says. “If you’re dealing with black stains, like those often caused by water damage or by pet messes that have penetrated the wood itself, sanding the site to which staining has occurred and reworking that spot can be the only solution for removing all the discoloration.”
Step 6: Call in an expert.
If all else fails, call a professional! Fuenmayor says this is a must if you notice the wood has started warping or swelling around the stained area, as this usually signals water damage that could compromise the structure of your floor.
“Hardwood floors are a wonderful investment in the end, so it’d be a shame to not take care of them. If you proactively stay in tune with maintenance and know how to get rid of stains when they happen, your floors should last you for years,” Crew says. “If your floors are crying out for it and throw a stain your way that you won’t be able to clean, don’t hesitate to ask for help — your floors want it!”
Further Reading
See How a Stager Used Paint to Transform a 1950s Living Room
