Water stains on your wooden floor are never a pretty sight. Those little wet rings could signify that water has seeped into the wood. Unfortunately, they could also bring unwanted pests and molds along with them.
If you love your floor, you must get rid of it as soon as possible. This guide will share tips for removing water stains on your wooden floor. It doesn’t matter if you caused the spill by leaving wet stuff around, a water leak, or if it was the rain. When you finish this guide, your floor will look as good as new.
Steps to Remove Water Stains From Your Wooden Floor
As soon as you see water stains on your wooden floor, do the following:
1. Assess the damage done to the wood
A few drops of water might not cause much trouble, but a large bucket of water might be an issue. Check to see how much damage the water has done to the wood and if it’s redeemable. One good way of telling is by assessing the color of the stain. If the stain is white, then it’s a good sign. It means the water has only seeped into the wax. A dark stain, however, would be much harder to take care of.
2. Clean all dirt and dust in the area
Use a clean rag to eliminate all dirt and dust in the area. You can also use a vacuum cleaner for this. The dry, clean rag can also absorb some of the surface water around that spot.
3. Use Some Mineral Oil
Apply mineral oil to a clean rag and gently rub the stain mark. Ensure to apply enough mineral oil on the rag to have an effect on the wooden floor.
Leave the oil on the wood overnight. By the next day, the stain should have gone out. If it hasn’t, move to the next step.
4. Use Mineral Spirits
The mineral oil should have removed a lot of the water stains. The mineral spirit works to finish up the process. When using the mineral spirits, ensure you have a pair of nitrile gloves.
Drop some mineral spirit on the leftover stain and rub the spot with a clean, dry rag. This should take care of what’s left.
If the stain is dark and hasn’t gone yet, you may need to take more effective steps.
5. Use Chlorine bleach or Hydrogen Peroxide.
Use only one above, and dilute it before applying it to the wooden floor. Using any of these chemicals should deal with the stain problem, even dark stains. If they don’t work, try again until it goes off.
6. Apply Some Varnish
Varnish makes the wooden floor look as good as new after going through these processes. Look for one that matches your wood color and apply it.
Conclusion
Water stains could be a sign of flooding, water leaks, and other severe damage to your house. If you notice a water stain on your wooden floor, you should call a professional to examine the cause and deal with it before it causes a major problem.