Hardwood floors are a gorgeous addition to any home. Whether in a living room, bedroom, dining room, or kitchen, they seem to blend in with just about any environment and really open up the room. That’s why a stain on a beautiful hardwood floor can be especially frustrating.
So, if you’re on a mission to get rid of that pesky stain, it’s important to understand how to properly care for a hardwood floor so you can effectively tackle the problem.
Maintaining Your Hardwood Floors
First off, what is the difference between a hardwood floor and a regular wood floor? Hardwood is simply the most compact and durable wood out there. Therefore, a hardwood floor has its own unique characteristics and should be treated differently than other types of flooring, like wood laminate or tile.
Before we dive into how to handle those inevitable stains, let’s first discuss how to properly maintain your hardwood floors. After all, the healthier your floor, the better equipped it will be to handle intensive cleaning, and the longer it will last!
Fortunately, hardwood floors not only look good, growing in rustic charm with every passing year, but they are also quite enduring and easy to maintain. The number one task you should do daily is to vacuum and/or sweep the floor. This ensures that dirt, dust, sand, and other debris don’t permanently damage your hardwood floors. After picking up these gritty particles with a vacuum cleaner or broom, you can mop the floor, but make sure the mop is only slightly damp. Do not soak the hardwood!
To help keep your hardwood floors clean, consider investing in some rugs. Not only do they add style and elegance to your home, but they also protect your floors. Rugs are particularly useful in entryways where people first step onto your floors from the dirty outdoors. They can catch dirt and grime, sparing your hardwood floors from the brunt of the mess. Plus, rugs can be professionally cleaned for accumulated dust and dirt, making them an excellent long-term solution.
However, there’s no avoiding the fact that eventually, someone will spill food or liquid onto your beautiful hardwood floor. If this happens, simply wipe it up right away with water and a towel. That’s all you need! The problem arises when liquid, food, or other grime is left to sit on the hardwood, as it can seep into the wood and be much harder to remove.
How to Remove Stains from Hardwood Floors
Now, let’s address how to remove stains. For water and ink stains in particular, there are a few precise steps you can take. First, attack the spot with a commercial wood floor cleaner. Follow that up with a mixture of water and vinegar. Then, make sure you dry the area well. But your work isn’t done yet. If the stain persists, gently rub sandpaper or a steel wool brush onto the stain. Be sure not to press too hard—be gentle! You should notice the stain fading. Once it’s gone, wipe the area clean with a rag. If necessary, apply another layer of finish to the spot.
Probably just as important as learning how to treat a hardwood floor stain is understanding what not to do. There are a few “do’s,” but there are many more “don’ts.” For example, never apply ammonia to a hardwood floor. Before using any cleaning product, check the ingredients—if ammonia is listed, steer clear. Aggressive cleaning products should also be avoided. Even basic soap should not be used on your hardwood floors. If you’re too rough on the floor, it may become discolored and age prematurely. You may not get rid of the stain, but you’ll definitely cause damage that is almost impossible to reverse on your once-beautiful hardwood floors.
So, the key to keeping your hardwood floors looking as good as new is maintaining them daily and opting for simple cleaners over complex store-bought ones. For those tough stains, you may need to grab a wood cleaner off the shelf, but in most cases, water and vinegar will do the trick! Just be sure to thoroughly dry your floors after mopping or cleaning. Otherwise, you’ll end up dealing with unsightly water stains.
