Pure alcohol will evaporate cleanly off of hardwood flooring without leaving residue or stains. The issue is when the alcoholic substance contains dyes, sugars, and juices.
These can all seep into the fibers of the wood and will leave a lasting mark.
Clear alcohols, like vodka and gin, are fairly easy to clean up. They are much less likely to leave stains on the wood and are relatively inconspicuous. Today, WFC covers your question in detail below:
Alcohols like red wine are particularly difficult to deal with. This is because the grape juice acts as a dye and seeps into the pores of the wood.
It is important to clean up any spills as soon as you notice them to prevent lasting damage. The first thing that you need to do is use a clean cloth to blot at the spilled liquid.
Do not rub or scrub at the spill, as this will just spread the stain further. It can also force the alcohol and dye deeper into the wood grains, making the stain harder to remove.
Make a solution with some warm water and mild dish soap. Gently dampen a cloth and use this to wipe the spill from your flooring. This will help to lift the sugars from the alcohol and might remove some of the dye stain too.
If you have any linseed oil or wax in your home, grab this. Get a clean rag and use this to rub away any residue that the alcohol has left on your floor. If you are trying to remove an old stain, mix some rottenstone or tripoli into your was or linseed oil.
This is a finely powdered form of porous rock that is very abrasive. This will help to remove marks that have set in more deeply. Rub in the direction of the wood grains to avoid damaging your floor.
Grab some 120 grit sandpaper. Use this to sand the stained wooden flooring. If the stain is still visible, you can use some chlorine-based bleach to lift it further.
You should apply the bleach liberally over the entire stain and leave it to soak in overnight. In the morning, carefully wipe the bleach residue off and see if the stain has lifted.
If it has not lifted, grab your sandpaper again. Use the same grit, and sand following the grain. If the stain has permeated deeper, grab a tool called a pull scraper. This will peel off the top layers of the wood, and then sand it again.
You will need to top up the finish when you are satisfied with the clean.
Brush or vacuum up any sawdust and then grab a wood finish product. Apply one coat and allow it to dry completely. For more accurate instructions, check the packaging of the finish.
Once the finish has cured completely, source some 220 grit sandpaper. Use this to scuff the surface that has just dried, and then apply a second coat.
If you have noticed a white stain on your wooden flooring where alcohol was spilled, this is because the sealant has been damaged. To fix this, grab a soft and dry cloth.
Pour a few drops of oil (such as olive, canola, or coconut) or lemon oil onto the cloth. Use this to gently rub the stain in small circular motions. Continue to do this until the stain has disappeared, adding more oil if the cloth becomes too dry.
This can take a minute or two before the stain is removed. Use a dry cloth to wipe off any excess oil on the flooring. If this method is not successful for you, we recommend trying the process again but using furniture polish.
If this still does not help, you will need to refinish your hardwood floor. This is much simpler than it sounds.
How do you get beer stains out of hardwood floors?
There are many methods that you can use to remove beer stains from hardwood floors. One is a homemade cleaning solution using equal parts of white vinegar and water.
Grab a clean cloth and submerge it completely in the vinegar solution. Pull the cloth out of the bowl, without wringing the excess liquid out.
Place this on top of the beer stain and allow it to sit there. Check underneath the cloth every few minutes to see how the stain is lifting.
Grab a clean cloth and soak this in the solution too. Use this second rag to scrub at the beer stain until it lifts completely. Wipe the surface clean with a third clean, damp cloth.
Another natural hack to remove beer stains from hardwood floors is to create a baking soda paste. Place 2 tablespoons of baking soda in a small bowl and slowly begin to pour in some mineral oil until it forms a thick paste.
Use a clean cloth to rub this paste gently over the beer stain, following the grain of the wooden floor. Allow the paste to sit on the surface of the floor for 30 minutes before wiping up with a clean and dry cloth.
If the beer stain is still wet, pour salt liberally over it and allow this to sit for 10 minutes.
While this is working, you could use baking soda to create another cleaning paste. Combine 1 cup of ground pumice stone, ½ cup baking soda, and ¼ cup of lemon oil to make a thick paste.
Vacuum up the salt and then spread the paste over the stain. Leave it here for a further 10 minutes, and then wipe up the residue with a clean and damp cloth. You can repeat this process multiple times until the stain has lifted.
If the stain has still not come up after trying these methods, we suggest you contact a professional floor cleaner.
They will have more specialized and powerful cleaning chemicals and tools to handle the stain. They will also have a larger knowledge base on how to avoid damaging your flooring.