Mistakes happen and wood can stain fairly easily. But there’s no need to worry and stress over it. But removing wood stains is not impossible, and there are a few tricks that can save your hardwood flooring.
Before you start thinking about refinishing the wood floors, let’s see some other, less radical alternatives to get rid of wood stains from your flooring.
Clothes Iron
Dark water wood stains on wood are pretty easy to remove – if you do it right then when it happens.
But when the accident happened a while ago, there’s one trick that can save the hardwood surface from the water stain: heat.
Heat will be able to evaporate the moisture that penetrated the wood, either eliminating it completely or making it barely visible.
- Dump out the water in your iron.
- Set it to the lowest heat setting.
- Lay a T-shirt or a piece of clothing over the water wood stains.
- “Iron” the cloth for a few seconds and check the stain.
- Repeat the process until the stain has disappeared.
Tip: A hair dryer works in a similar way. Put it on the lowest setting possible and start hovering it above the stain. Be careful not to overdo it. The wood grain on the wood furniture is more fragile, so you don’t want to damage it.
Mayonnaise
- Dip a clean soft cloth into mayonnaise.
- You can test the method on a wood surface that's out of sight.
- Gently rub the cloth to the stained surface and let it dry.
This method works with fairly new water wood stains where there’s still moisture left to absorb.
White Vinegar
Despite being a natural, safe cleaner and disinfectant, the acidic solution is also effective on wood stains and safe for wood.
- Use white vinegar to soak some paper towels and cover the mark.
- Allow the soaked towels to rest for about 30 minutes to soak up the stain.
- Wipe the stained area with a clean damp cloth and allow it to dry for 30 minutes.
- If the stain is still visible, sprinkle a little baking soda on top for added scrubbing ability and repeat the process.
- Finally, to remove any residue, clean the wood with a clean damp cloth.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a common antiseptic for cuts and abrasions. However, this safe, organic cleanser can also be used to remove dark wood stains from wood.
When hydrogen peroxide is exposed to light or heat, it can cause staining unless the concentration is low enough. If you leave hydrogen peroxide on for an extended period of time or use a potent solution, some materials may become discolored.
Only over-the-counter 3% hydrogen peroxide should be used, and keep an eye on how the stain remover reacts with your wood.
- Soak a cloth with hydrogen peroxide.
- Rub the cloth onto the stain firmly so the wood absorbs the hydrogen peroxide.
- Leave the cloth on the stain overnight.
- In the morning, remove the cloth and wipe the wood with a clean, damp cloth.
How About Sanding Down The Floor?
Conclusion
Removing wood stains is not an impossible task, but you’ll need some research and some testing before you proceed with any method of cleaning. You can even look for more tips on removing stains from a wooden surface.
While we know some of them are not harmful for the wood, some other substances can make the stain even more visible or create a brand new one. And if you were thinking of painting over the stain, that, too, will create inconsistency in your flooring surface.
The best way to proceed: get in touch with us.
We’re experts in hardwood floors and wood surfaces. We have a lifetime of experience in treating and maintaining wood, and we know what’s the best way to tackle any issue.
Call us today and let’s get that stain out of the way!