Removing Common Stains From Different Types of Floors

Stains are a part of our everyday lives, especially when we consider the different types of flooring options in our homes. You should know that all floors are at risk of staining, no matter how careful you are. With food and drink spills, children’s activities, pet mess, and foot traffic along with normal wear and tear, your floor will take a beating. However, there is no reason for you to worry about these stains, as long as you know the many ways you can combat them. Here are some great ideas for removing stains from various flooring options.

Hardwood

• If you have children in your home, you’ve probably already had a case where one of them used a permanent marker on your floor. The best remedy for this is to apply some toothpaste to the affected area. The stain can be gently rubbed with a damp cloth for best results.

• Another common problem with hardwood floors is water stains. They can be easily characterized by a slightly smoky white patch on the soil surface. The first thing to do in such a case is to cover the affected area with a dry, non-abrasive cloth. Next, use a hot iron and go back and forth over the area for 3-5 seconds at a time. Once this is done, use denatured alcohol to dampen a cloth and gently rub the areas where the stain is still visible.

• You can soak a cotton cloth in hydrogen peroxide to treat general stains. All you need to do is hold the cloth over the stains for about 2-5 minutes, giving the peroxide time to soak into the wood. This can help fade any stains.

Vinyl

• Various stubborn marks and scuffs can be removed from vinyl floors simply by rubbing with a cotton swab with isopropyl alcohol.

• For stains that can cause discoloration, such as fruit juice, wine or tomato juice, the best option is bleach. Use a 1:4 ratio of bleach to water to dilute the bleaching agent and soak a cloth in the solution before placing it on the stain. Let it sit in position for at least an hour. The bleach may take a little longer to take effect, but it will surely remove any kind of problem stain.

• Oxalic acid powder can be made into a paste with water to treat rust stains on vinyl flooring. Use a damp cloth to rub the paste onto the stain. Be sure to wear rubber gloves before handling the solution, as it is highly acidic and can damage bare skin. You should also make sure that the room is well ventilated. Once you are done, rinse the area well with water.

stone and tile

• Flooring professionals have been using muriatic acid for a long time to clean some of the toughest stains on tile and stone floors because it works better. It is a heavy duty cleaner so users should wear a respirator and rubber gloves while using it. Also, make sure the room is well ventilated. Use a 1:5 ratio of muriatic acid to water and dilute the solution. Apply it to the stained area with a toothbrush. You want to make sure you’ve cleaned up all of the solution once you’re done.

• Grout between tiles is very common. You can put a mixture of shaving cream and lemon juice in a spray bottle and spray it on the grout. Let stand for at least 5 minutes. With an old toothbrush, you can scrub the grout.

• For gum stuck to a stone or tile floor, try freezing it with an ice cube and gently scrape it off.

Stains on any type of flooring can be any homeowner’s worst nightmare. These condensed tips are sure to cover a wide variety of scenarios, although it’s relatively easier to prevent stains from occurring in the first place.