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Flooring IdeasSUPPLIES
- Paper towels or newspaper
- Ice
- Dull knife or spatula
- Dishwashing liquid
- Water
- Nylon scrubber
- Mop
- Rubbing alcohol
- Soft cloth
Overview
Wood floors give a room an updated, polished appearance. Real hardwood is resilient and will last for decades when well cared for. One of the many benefits of having wood flooring in a room is that---while they offer beauty, endurance and character---they are also easy to maintain and clean. When a wood floor becomes stained, there are certain steps to take to remove the blemish without harming the finish.
Step 1
Determine what type of stain is on the wood floor, if possible. The cleaning process used will largely be determined by the type of stain to be removed. If unsure, an educated guess will suffice.
Step 2
Remove oil-based stains, such as crayons, lipstick and automotive or cooking oils, as promptly as possible. Wood is porous, and it will absorb these types of stains quickly.
Step 3
Put ice on the grease or oil immediately so that it will harden. Use a dull knife or metal spatula to carefully scrape up excess. Mix warm water with dish soap. Dip a nylon scrubber into the water and gently scrub the remaining stain.
Step 4
Remove protein-related stains, such as blood, urine and food, by mopping well with cold water. Rinse the mop clean and repeat several times to remove as much of the stain as possible.
Step 5
Dip a soft cloth in rubbing alcohol. Scrub away any remaining protein-based stain. If the stain is particularly stubborn, soak the cloth in the rubbing alcohol. Allow the soaked cloth to sit on the stain for five to 10 minutes. Scrub the remaining stain until gone.
TIPS AND WARNINGS
- WARNING : Don't use steel wool to clean a stain on wood flooring. It may damage the wood.
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