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 getting stained, no matter how careful you are. With food and beverage spills, kids’ activities, pet messes, and foot traffic along with regular wear and tear, your flooring will take a beating. However, there is no reason for you to fret over these stains as long as you are aware of 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 have probably already had to face an instance where one of them has used a permanent marker on your floor. The best remedy for this is to apply a dab of toothpaste on the affected area. The stain can be gently rubbed out using a damp cloth for the best result.
• Another common problem of hardwood flooring is water stains. They can be easily characterized by a slightly smoky white coloured patch on the surface of the floor. The first thing to do in such a case is to cover the affected area with a non-abrasive and dry cloth. Next, use a hot iron and go back and forth over the area for 3-5 seconds at a time. Once you have done this, use denatured alcohol to dampen a cloth and gently rub the areas where the stain is still visible.
• You can soak a cotton cloth with hydrogen peroxide to treat general stains. All you need to do is place the cloth on the stains for about 2-5 minutes allowing time for the peroxide to get soaked into the wood. This can help bleach out any stain.
Vinyl
• Various stubborn marks and scuffs can be removed from vinyl flooring simply by wiping them with a cotton cloth using isopropyl alcohol.
• For stains that may result in discoloration such as fruit juice, wine or tomato juice, bleach is the best choice. Use a 1:4 bleach-to-water ratio to dilute the bleaching agent and soak a cloth in the solution before laying it over the stain. Allow it to sit in its position for an hour at least. Bleach may take a bit longer to work but is sure to get rid of any type of troublesome stain.
• A paste of oxalic acid powder with water can be made to treat rust stains on vinyl flooring. Use a damp cloth to rub the paste on the stain. Ensure that you wear rubber gloves before handling the solution as it is highly acidic and can cause harm to your bare skin. You should also make sure that the room is well-ventilated. Once you’re 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 flooring since it works best. It’s a heavy duty cleaner so users must wear a respirator and rubber gloves while using it. Also, make sure the room is well ventilated. Use a 1:5 muriatic acid-to-water ratio and dilute the solution. Apply it to the stained area using a toothbrush. You must make sure that you have cleaned up all the solution once you’re done.
• Grout between tiles is very common. A mixture of shaving cream and lemon juice can be put into a spray bottle and sprayed on the grout. Allow it to sit for 5 minutes minimum. Using an old toothbrush, the grout can then be scrubbed.
• For gum stuck on a stone or tile flooring, try freezing it with an ice cube and gently scraping it away.
Stains of any kind of flooring can be any homeowner’s worst nightmare. These outlined tips are sure to cover a large variety of scenarios although it’s relatively easier to prevent stains from happening in the first place.
