Hardwood floors are susceptible to water, which is why they are not ideal for wet areas. However, accidents occur, and water spills on the hardwood floor in your living room or bedroom will leave unsightly stains. These stains may push you to search for how to remove water stains from hardwood floors.
You can use several chemicals and ingredients like petroleum, toothpaste, and salt and oil remedy to keep your wooden floor water-stain free. However, the method you apply to remove water stains varies depending on the type of stain. So, you must know the kind of stain you are dealing with.
Nevertheless, this should not worry you as there are alternative methods to remove water stains from wood floors. Most procedures are, in fact, home remedies and involve the use of everyday household items. So keep reading to learn how to remove stains from your hardwood floor.
How To Remove Different Type Of Water Stains:
Yes, itโs necessary to read about the remedies to remove water stains. However, not all treatments can work for every water stain. You need to be specific with the stain type and apply the remedies accordingly. So, here are specific stain-removing ideas according to stain type.
1. Remove White Water Stains From Hardwood Floors:
Removing light water stains is simple and often involves using everyday household items such as toothpaste, petroleum jelly, and baking soda. However, one method may work better than the other. Where one alternative fails, you are advised to try the following alternative until you get the required results.
Petroleum Jelly/Mayonnaise:
Put a little petroleum jelly or mayonnaise on a soft cloth, then rub it on the stained floor. Leave it for about 24 hours. The mineral oils contained should be able to absorb the water and remove the stain.
White Toothpaste:
If the jelly and mayonnaise do not work, try using white toothpaste. Apply some toothpaste on a soft cloth and rub it gently on the stained area. White paste has good abrasiveness that helps remove lighter wood stains on the wood floors. However, abrasive substances can damage the wood grain of your deck. Therefore, you should be careful when using toothpaste. Scrub gently for a maximum of 60 seconds.
Salt With Oil:
Take a teaspoon of salt and add oil to make a thick paste. Scoop the paste using a clean cloth and scrub the wood stain gently. The salt gives the oil grit to remove the colors from the hardwood floor. Do not be too rough on the floor; scrub softly in the direction of the wood grain.
Vinegar And Baking Soda:
Another home remedy for light spots is to use vinegar and baking soda. The first thing you would want to do is mix equal parts of olive oil and vinegar. Next, add some baking soda to the mixture for enhanced cleaning power. Then, take a clean cloth, soak it with the mix, and softly scrub the watermarked area. To preserve your natural wood, finish washing in the direction of wood grains.
Commercial Wood Cleaners:
Hardwood floor cleaners are your following ideal option if the above options fail. These products are specifically formulated to remove watermarks on wood floors. Apply some of the commercial floor cleaners onto the affected area and wipe it off using a damp cloth. The commercial cleaner should be able to remove the stain.
Sandpaper Or Steel Wool:
It should be your last alternative; it involves scrubbing off a layer of wood to remove wood stains. Unfortunately, this option is not ideal for antique wood floors as it damages the wood grains.
2. Removing Black Water Stains
Removing dark stains is quite involved and requires you to penetrate through the floor finish. Wood bleach is the most common way of removing these types of colors.
Bleach:
Bleach is an ideal solution for dark spots deep within the hardwood floor. You will want to go for commercial wood bleach specifically formulated to remove stains from wood surfaces. First, scrape off the wood and finish using sandpaper. Once you remove the finish, apply the bleach directly onto the dark spot. You will then want the bleach to sit in for hours to produce the required results.
Once you have achieved the required lighter color, neutralize the wood bleach using water and vinegar in a ratio of 2:1. After the process is complete, clean the floor thoroughly using a damp cloth.
3. Removing Fresh Water Stains
Addressing a water stain as soon as you notice it will prevent it from sinking deeper into the actual wood. Use a clean cotton towel to absorb water as soon as it spills on your wooden floors. If the area is still damp, use a blow dryer on the lowest heat level to dry the floor. Alternatively, you can cover the area with a microfiber cloth and pass an iron over on low heat. It should dry the damp area. Remember to apply wood polish after that to restore the look of your floor.
Conclusion:
Hardwood floors give your house an elegant vintage look. However, wooden floors are susceptible to water, and you should take extra care to minimize water spillage on wood surfaces. Sometimes water spillage, for example, a plumbing leak, is unavoidable, and knowing alternative ways of dealing with watermarks that result from it is thus essential.
You should, however, note that some methods work better than others, depending on the type of stains. Before settling for the abrasive ways, try all other home remedies first; abrasive methods damage the wood grains of your floor surfaces. Also, always re-polish or wax your surfaces after removing the stains to preserve the finish.
FAQs:
What Are Black Water Stains?
This type of water stain penetrates deep into the layers of wood leaving darker colors on wood floors. These stains affect both new and old wooden surfaces. Due to the deep penetration of the water, removing it involves scrapping off the floor finish to access internal layers.
Do You Need To Re-Polish The Wooden Deck After Removing The Water Stains?
The chemical cleaning of deep water stains can damage the top layering and finish. Therefore, you must refinish your floor after cleaning the stain to maintain your deck quality.
