How To Get Dark Stains Out Of Hardwood Floors?

Aug 19, 2022

How to remove dark stains from the hardwood floors?

Having a beautiful house is something that you can be proud of. It is one of the products of your hard work. But no matter how much we take care of our great investment there will always come a time that it will be affected by wear and tear especially the wood flooring that has always experienced traffic.


That traffic can create defects and stains that are hard to remove no matter how many times you will clean it. Sometimes it takes a long time to remove it even if you regularly clean the floor. When it penetrated the inner surface, it will develop into dark ugly stains and the thing that can remove it is through a unique method by those hardwood refinishing experts.


One of the most floor stained part of the house is the kitchen, this is where food is accidentally spilled especially when you have kids in the house. The common causes of those unattractive dark stains on our floor are those water marks from wet feet or containers, pen ink that most kids use, our pet's urine or feces, accidental blood stains, etc.

How To Get Dark Stains Out Of Hardwood Floors

When cleaning a hardwood floor especially if it is not sealed, we should avoid using steam mops, and some hardwood floor stain remover products because it can damage the floor and make it worst. When the wood floor is not sealed, it is better to use a dry cleaning method just like sweeping with a soft bristle broom to avoid scratches, vacuuming those dirt, or dry mopping. But if you are not satisfied with dry cleaning, you can use a microfiber cloth with a little warm water to gently rub the floor.


Steam mopping an unsealed wood floor can cause the growth of molds because of the moisture it brings. Not only steaming but ceiling leakage can also be a source of stains and molds that we try to avoid.


Removing dark stains from the hardwood floors


Pet urine is one of the hard stains to remove because it contains elements like chloride, ammonia, and potassium. Those elements make it quickly absorb into the wood and cause a permanent stain. Removing it requires you to sand it or replace the wood. There are products available in the market for removing pet stains on the
hardwood floor, but you have also an option to try these as a remedy before hiring an expert:


  • Prepare hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and baking soda.
  • In a bucket, mix the same amount of a cup of warm water and white vinegar.
  • Scrub the stain using the liquid solution.
  • And to fully remove the odor and stain, mix baking soda and vinegar to form a paste. Put those paste into the stain until it dries. After that wipe the paste using a microfiber soft cloth.
  • On the next day, soak a cotton cloth in hydrogen peroxide and put it on the stain for at least 7-8 hours or overnight.
  • Repeat if the stain is stubborn. It will bleach your wood floor which is why sanding and refinishing are required. And applying a new wax coat. And also buffing after waxing and resealing it.


Some of the other stain remover


  • Lemon oil - It is good for water stains or water marks. Gently rub it on the wooden floor.
  • Chlorine - It is a household bleach that can possibly remove food spills, blood stains, ink stains, and other related stains on a hardwood floor.
  • Oxalic Acid - It is used for the moderate treatment of rust stains, aged black discoloration, and black water spots. The strongest and last option to use is the two-part kit.


Clean the area before applying bleach and always remember to read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions on its label. And don't forget to wear protective gloves and a mask to avoid inhaling it.


Areas That We Serve

Here's many of the areas around Portland that we serve with refinishing:

Tigard, Beaverton, Gresham, Milwaukie, Metzgar, Lake Oswego, Clackamas, Damascus, Happy Valley, Troutdale and more

Portland Hardwood Refinishing by DeBuke

Service Portland, OR & the surrounding USA cities

Call us at (503) 822-7975

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