Tips To Remove Stains From Wood Flooring

tips for removing wood flooring stains

Stains can be a nightmare for new flooring. It’s common for people to worry about staining a brand new carpet, but not many people consider that wood flooring is susceptible to staining too. Any wood flooring, including engineered wood and even laminate on some cases, can be stained. Some stains are so extreme that they can only be removed by professionals, but most household stains can be removed at home yourself. If you’re looking for tips to remove stains from wood flooring, keep reading and follow our tips.

Preventing Stains

The first step to managing stains on your wooden floor is to prevent them from happening. This may seem a redundant point if you’ve already got stains you need to remove, but it’s a good idea to assess how your floor got to be stained in the first place so you can avoid more stains in future.

Proper Floor Finish

If you have wood flooring, you’ll likely have a floor finish of some sort. Making sure you have the right finish on your wood flooring can make the difference between regular stains or no stains at all. For example, flooring that has a lacquered finish have more protection than other finishes because it is incredibly hard wearing. Unfortunately, lacquerer also comes with a high gloss shine which isn’t ideal for everyone. An oil finish is more suited to those who prefer a more natural wood look, but oil gives less protection from stains than others, although it is still good at repelling liquid stains. Regardless of what finish you have on your wooden flooring, making sure your finish gets reapplied when needed will make sure you stay protected against stains.

Regular Floor Cleaning

Another extremely important part of preventing stains is having a regular cleaning schedule for your floors. Many people assume that wood flooring doesn’t need regular cleaning because it is low maintenance, however, wood flooring need cleaning just like any other type of flooring in your home. Making sure you research the products you use on your wood flooring to make sure it’s appropriate are crucial, as you don’t want to to cause more damage to the natural wood. Most wooden floors need a simple vacuum once a week and a wipe down with a damp cloth. Always wipe away any excess moisture from the wood surface to avoid water damage, and it’s as simple as that. Doing this regularly means that you’re keeping on top of any spillages or build up of substances that could cause staining.

Removing Different Stains

No matter how often you clean your wooden flooring or how careful you are, you simply can’t avoid staining. Accidents happen and stains can occur any time, and knowing how to handle a variety of stains means you’re equipped to tackle the issue immediately. Here’s our tips for removing stains from wood flooring:

Wine Stains

Spillages are common and wine stains are particularly tricky, especially with the dreaded red wine. The best way to handle wine stains is to use a soft natural fibre cloth like cotton, warm water and a weak, mild detergent. Gently wiping the stain area with a cloth that has been dunked in warm, mildly soapy water should be enough to lift it. With all instances of applying liquid to wood flooring, make sure to dry thoroughly once you’d finished to avoid water stains.

Blood Stains

If you’ve ever cut yourself without realising and only found out by discovering a trail of blood, you know how easy it can be to get blood stains on your floor. A small cut on your finger can bleed more than you think, and trying to get yourself to a plaster can result in blood stains on your wood flooring. The best way to deal with blood stains is to use cold water as soon as you can. Time is a factor in stains like blood, so the stain should be dealt with as soon as it happens. If you’re too busy dealing with the cut to tackle the stain right away, ask if someone else can look after the floor for you. Using a soft, natural fibre cloth, soak the stain in cold water and wipe it with a fair amount of pressure. Dry the wood flooring afterwards to avoid marking your floor further.

Shoe Scuffs

We usually think of stains as liquids that have spilt by accident, but a stain is anything that leaves a mark behind. We have included shoe scuffs as a stain as they are fairly common on wood flooring and require a certain technique to remove. Because flooring gets so much footfall, shoe scuffs can be a real problem. Nobody wants unsightly black marks over their wood flooring and using a cloth is useless against them. We suggest getting a large stationary rubber and rubbing over the scuffs like you’re rubbing out pencil. Rubbers are cheap and easy to find, and are surprisingly effective at removing shoe scuff stains from wood flooring.

Wax Stains

Our last tip is for all types of wax stains. Whether the wax is from a dropped candle or simply from a child’s crayon, wax marks can be difficult to remove from wood flooring as they’re water resistant and mould to the floor surface. Using a small amount of toothpaste on a soft, natural fibre cloth and rubbing into the wax will break down the wax and lift it off your wood flooring. Make sure to only use a small amount and repeat if necessary. Toothpaste is abrasive and can strip away natural finishes on wood if too much is used at once. Also avoid using toothpaste that has any grainy pieces in, and this can scratch your floor.

Wood Flooring From Floor Factory

No matter what your flooring requirements are, Floor Factory has the highest quality wood flooring for every room in your house. Whether you are looking for chic bedroom flooring or rustic wood flooring to complete your living room, we can provide a wide range of wood flooring from leading brands for any budget or style. To find the perfect wood flooring for your property, get in touch with us at Floor Factory! Come to our showroom in Derby, give us a call on 01332 986261 or fill out our online contact form and we’ll get in touch. For more information on how to care for new carpets, or any other flooring advice, visit our blog.