Stains are part of our daily lives, especially when we consider the different types of flooring options in our home. You should know that no matter how careful you are, all floors are at risk of soiling. Spilled food and beverages, children’s activities, pet mess, heavy foot traffic and constant wear and tear can take a toll on your floors. However, as long as you understand the many ways you can combat them, you have no reason to bother with these stains. Here are some great ideas for removing all kinds of floor stains.
hardwood
• If you have children at home, you may already have had to deal with one of them using a permanent marker on your floor. The best treatment is to apply a small amount of toothpaste to the affected area. Stains can be gently wiped off with a damp cloth for best results.
• Another common problem with hardwood floors is water stains. They can be easily characterized by slightly smoky white patches on the surface of the floor. In this case, the first thing to do is to cover the affected area with a dry, non-abrasive cloth. Next, use the hot iron to move back and forth across the area for 3-5 seconds. Once you’ve done this, dampen a cloth with denatured alcohol and dab over the areas where the stain is still visible.
• You can treat normal stains by soaking a cotton cloth with hydrogen peroxide. All you need to do is place the cloth on the stain for about 2-5 minutes to give the peroxide time to soak into the wood. This can help bleach any stains.
vinyl
• All stubborn marks and abrasions on vinyl floors can be removed simply by wiping with a cotton cloth dampened with isopropyl alcohol.
• For stains that may cause discoloration, such as fruit juice, wine or tomato juice, bleach is the best choice. Dilute the bleach with a 1:4 ratio of bleach to water, then soak the cloth in the solution before covering it over the stain. Let it sit in its place for at least an hour. Bleach may take longer to work, but will definitely remove troublesome stains of any type.
• Rust stains on vinyl floors can be treated with an oxalic acid powder paste made from water. Dab the paste onto the stain with a damp cloth. Make sure to wear rubber gloves before handling the solution, as it is strongly acidic and can cause damage to bare skin. You should also make sure the room is well ventilated. When done, rinse the area with water.
stone and tile
• Floor experts have long used hydrochloric acid to clean some of the toughest stains on tile and stone floors because it works best. This is a heavy duty cleaner, so users must wear a respirator and rubber gloves when using it. Also, make sure the room is well ventilated. Use a 1:5 ratio of hydrochloric acid to water and dilute the solution. Use a toothbrush to apply it to the stained area. Once done, you have to make sure that all solutions are cleaned up.
• Grouting between tiles is common. You can put a mixture of shaving cream and lemon juice in a spray bottle and spray it over the grout. Let it sit for at least 5 minutes. The grout can then be scrubbed with an old toothbrush.
• For gum stuck to stone or tile floors, try freezing it with ice and scraping it off gently.
Floor stains of any kind can be any homeowner’s worst nightmare. These outlined tips are sure to cover a wide variety of situations, although it’s relatively easy to prevent the stain from happening in the first place.