When you spill something on your hardwood floor, you want to clean it up quickly. When you catch it when it first happens, all you need is a quick wipe with a bit of cleaning solution. However, if you miss the spill and it settles into the wood, it can become a lasting wood floor stain.
Something as simple as a family member leaving their glass on the floor overnight or a spill that didn’t get fully cleaned up can lead to a stain. No matter the reason, stains on wood floors can be unsightly and take away from the natural beauty of your flooring.
How do I remove a water stain from hardwood flooring?
The answer is it depends on the type of stain. Some stains are simple to remove, and all you need to do is use a cleaning solution and a dry cloth, while others may need to sand out the stain.
It’s important to know that no two water stains are the same, but typically, you can determine how to remove them depending on if you have a light or dark water stain. Below we’ll go over the difference between light and dark stains and how to deal with both of them.
Light Water Stains
Light-colored water stains are newer and have only affected the finish of the wood or the surface layer and have not penetrated deeply into the wood.
Dark Water Stains
This happens when light water stains are left untreated. These dark stains happen when water seeps into the wood and then begins to grow mold. The deeper the water has penetrated the more difficult the stain is to remove.
Ways To Remove Light Water Stains from Wood
There are a few ways you can easily remove light water stains, and below we’ll go over a few.
A clothing iron can actually remove a water stain. To use this method, you want to make sure your iron is completely empty. Then you turn it on to the lowest setting and place a cotton towel over the water stain. Once the iron is warm, you simply place the iron on the towel directly over the water stain. You press down for a few seconds, then raise it up and check the stain.
You may have to do this a few times until the stain is completely gone. Make sure the iron is empty; you only use it on the lowest setting and never put the iron directly on your hardwood floor.
Using a toothbrush and white distilled vinegar is another way you can remove a water stain. For this method, all you need is a toothbrush and white distilled vinegar. Simply use the toothbrush to scrub circles into the area of the water stain. Make sure you don’t press too hard otherwise, it may damage the finish.
If home remedies don’t work, you can look at some commercial wood cleaners and polish them. You can apply wood polish or wax onto the water stain and then allow it to set for roughly 6 to 8 hours, then wipe it away to see if the stain is gone. If it’s still there, then you can try using mineral spirits or acetone, but you need to be careful with these options because they may leave other blemishes.
If the methods above don’t work, you might need to consider sanding and to refinish your floor. This is when the floors are sanded all the way down and are then refinished, so they look new again. If you only have a single stain, you may not want to have your entire floor refinished and if this is the case, then consider using an area rug to hide the unsightly stain.
How To Remove a Dark Water Stain from Wood
Dark water stains are more difficult to remove because not only do you have to remove the water, you have to remove the mold too. The only way to do this is by sanding the wood until the mold and water are removed. Once you have sanded the wood down, then you’ll need to refinish it.
Summary:
When removing wood stains, always follow the guidelines for cleaning wood floors. Make sure you don’t oversaturate the flooring with water, and always make sure you dry them thoroughly. Only use products that are recommended for wood floors, and steer clear of cleaners that have ammonia or bleach.
Thinking of Asking a Professional?
Cameron the Sandman provides hardwood flooring services backed by a reputation of quality work, dedication and customer care. Our wood floor services include wood restoration, floor refinishing and our favorite service, wood floor installation. Make your Michigan home’s wood floors shine and gleam like new, because nothing feels better under your feet than a timeless wood floor. Call about our wood flooring services today.