We might earn a fee from hyperlinks on this web page.
Certainly one of my finer before-and-afters.
Credit score: Lindsey Ellefson
Like every floor, a wooden flooring can get stained and soiled, however you need to be actually cautious with the way you clear it. You should not use harsh chemical compounds, whether or not your flooring is sealed or unsealed, since you do not need to injury the wooden itself, however that leaves you with fewer choices. I attempted two—nicely, three, however we’ll get to that—easy methods that did not require any intense chemical compounds immediately they usually each labored nicely.
Take away stains from wooden floors with vinegar
First, I assessed the stains I used to be coping with, which I seen whereas cleansing below my sofa earlier within the week. They gave the impression to be leftover from a undertaking I did some time again involving glue, newspaper, and paint, so I had a wide selection of stain sorts to check my strategies on. Basically, whether or not you are engaged on sealed or unsealed flooring, you need to dab, not drench, your stain, so liquid would not seep into any cracks and trigger injury beneath, which I saved in thoughts whereas I set to work with my first check: vinegar. In the event you’re undecided whether or not your flooring is sealed or unsealed, place a couple of drops of water on the floor. In the event that they keep beaded up on high, it is seemingly sealed, but when they take up rapidly, it seemingly is not. I’m a renter in my dwelling and wasn’t right here when this flooring was put down, which suggests I do not know something about it for positive, so checking that was necessary. In case your flooring is unsealed, attempt these steps with cleaning soap and water earlier than shifting on to vinegar if you need to, however since mine is sealed, I went straight to the cabinet staple.
I blended equal components vinegar and heat water, then dabbed it up and down on the stains, pausing each few seconds to provide the stain I used to be engaged on a superb scrub with my rag. The dilution right here is necessary, as pure vinegar will be too acidic and may break down sealant if it is too robust. It positively took a while (and smelled dangerous, after all) however slowly, darker stains began to elevate up. As soon as I might eliminated them a lot of the manner, I went in with a melamine sponge they usually mainly disappeared—and with them went the concern I might have to make an emergency Goal run to get one thing stronger.
Take away tougher stains with baking soda paste
The issue on the left. Baking soda paste and vinegar on the proper.
Credit score: Lindsey Ellefson
A number of stains appeared extra deeply set-in, however I knew I did not need to depart them drenched in vinegar and threat the integrity of the ground. For these, I made a paste by filling a small bowl midway with water, then including and stirring in baking soda till it was thick. I am a fan of the abrasive high quality of baking soda when used to wash, but in addition its lack of acidity. I left the paste on the stains for about 20 minutes, wiped it off, and proceeded with my melamine sponge. These, too, got here proper up.
You should not use this system to wash the entire flooring. It is simply not vital. The very best makes use of for baking soda paste on wooden floors are these:
Bonus: Glue and squished sticky stuff get the hair dryer
These two strategies labored very well and fortunately did not require harsh chemical compounds or trigger any injury to my flooring, however on the finish of my experiment, I used to be nonetheless left with some splotches. They have been raised, not technically “stains,” however they deserve inclusion right here nonetheless. I might been afraid that these have been made up of glue, however now I used to be positive. I attempted prying them up with a knife and bought nowhere; they have been caught. I learn up on what to do and located that the majority execs instructed I trek to the ironmongery store for skilled adhesive remover. For below $15, you’ll be able to positively try this, however earlier than I spent hard-earned cash on an answer I wanted to make use of simply as soon as, I had the concept to attempt one thing else totally free.
Two weeks in the past, I wrote about how simply you’ll be able to take away stickers from family items by blasting them with a hair dryer. It could not damage to provide {that a} shot on the ground, proper? I directed the warmth in any respect 4 glue spots, separately, for about 45 seconds. Every one peeled up like magic, regardless of being very firmly hooked up only a minute prior. Past not having to spend $15 on a product that will then litter up my cleansing shelf for years to return, I did not have to use something harsh to the ground. For messes which are gelled, caught, or in any other case squished onto your wooden flooring, attempt the hair dryer first.
General wooden flooring stain-removing ideas
Whichever methodology you attempt, do a spot check first in an not noticeable place, like below an enormous piece of furnishings. As talked about, dab, do not drench, and keep away from utilizing something actually acidic or harsh, like acetone (which I used to be near doing for the glue earlier than reconsidering what a nightmare that may very well be for my sealant). If baking soda paste is not fairly abrasive sufficient, do not attain for something too stiff to scrape at stains. As a substitute, go for a semi-sturdy sponge or an previous toothbrush. The objective right here must be spot-treating solely, too. Do not distribute your vinegar or baking soda paste any farther than you need to. Simply maintain it on the stain and dab up and down.
Once I completed up and had all my stains eliminated, I positively had some crusty baking soda left over, in addition to some suds from utilizing the Mr. Clear Magic Eraser Extremely Foamy, so the job did not finish there. I wiped the entire space down with some Fabuloso, the identical as I’d for regular cleansing, after which let it air dry. Except you might have nice luck with the vinegar from the get-go, this is not a fast course of from spot testing to ending, so ensure you allot sufficient time.
