Installing wood flooring in your house can be a highly beneficial and rewarding process. Not only are hardwood floors attractive, but they also enhance the appearance of your home, are durable and are relatively low maintenance.
However, this does not mean that they are always easy to clean – especially when you encounter certain food stains that are heavy in grease and oil. But don’t worry, because we are here to help.
In this informative guide, you will find everything you need to know about removing food stains from your wooden floor – as well as the various methods that can be used to keep your hardwood flooring looking fresh and clean. By the way, we have an informational guide exclusively to learn about maple and oak flooring here.
So if you have a tricky stain on your wood floor that just won’t budge, take a look down below and find the most effective way to get rid of it.
Common Food Stains
One of the best things about hardwood flooring is that it is very easy to clean, especially when you are tackling common stains such as spilt sauce or food.
The process of removing these particular stains is not difficult and does not require any unique or special cleaning tools to get the job done.
All you need to remove common food stains is a bucket of warm water, some dish detergent and a damp cloth. To help you with this cleaning process, we have outlined the method down below.
- If faced with a common food stain on your hardwood floor, put on a pair of rubber gloves and fill a bucket halfway with warm water.
- When you have finished this task, take some dish detergent or sink soap and add it into the warm water. (You will only need a small amount of cleaning product.)
- If you wish to ensure that the soap has fully mixed into the water, then you can give it a quick stir using your gloved hand.
- When you are ready, take a soft cloth and dip it into the water. You must make sure that you wring the cloth out before applying it to the stain, as excessive moisture could damage your wood floor.
- Rub the damp soft cloth over the stain until it begins to disappear. If the stain is old and dry, then it could take a few minutes for the stain to completely wipe away.
- Repeat this process until all stains have been removed from your wood floor. You must remember to thoroughly dry any damp patches left behind by the cleaning process, or you could risk the moisture damaging your floors.
Greasy Food Stains
Although most food stains can be easily removed from your hardwood flooring, a select few can also be very difficult to clean.
These particular stains are hard to remove because they contain high levels of grease and oil, and they can permanently mark your wood floors if not properly treated.
One of the most effective ways to remove fatty stains is by tackling the area with a kitchen soap that has a high level of lye content.
However, if you do not have a lye soap in your home there is another method that can be used to clean away the stains.
This process has been outlined below and will require cotton balls, hydrogen peroxide and ammonia.
- When dealing with a stubborn and greasy stain, take a cotton ball or rag and soak it in a small amount of hydrogen peroxide. (You can purchase hydrogen peroxide solutions from most grocery stores and pharmacies.)
- When dealing with a stubborn and greasy stain, take a cotton ball or rag and soak it in a small amount of hydrogen peroxide. (You can purchase hydrogen peroxide solutions from most grocery stores and pharmacies.)
- When dealing with a stubborn and greasy stain, take a cotton ball or rag and soak it in a small amount of hydrogen peroxide. (You can purchase hydrogen peroxide solutions from most grocery stores and pharmacies.)
- When dealing with a stubborn and greasy stain, take a cotton ball or rag and soak it in a small amount of hydrogen peroxide. (You can purchase hydrogen peroxide solutions from most grocery stores and pharmacies.)
Food Coloring Stains
We understand that every home is unique and that this means different homes will have different stains on the floor. If you are an avid cook or baker, then chances are you may spill something on your wood floor that will be difficult to clean.
Food coloring is one of the worst things to spill on a wood floor because its vibrant hues make it very noticeable. So if you want to know how to remove food dye from wood flooring, follow the steps we have outlined below.
For this method, you will need hydrogen peroxide, a towel, a toothbrush and a clean spray bottle.
- Begin the cleaning process by applying peroxide to the food coloring stain. You can do this directly or use a cloth.
- Allow the peroxide to rest for a few minutes. Be careful during this process, as any moisture could damage your wood floor.
- Once a few minutes have passed, use the toothbrush to work the peroxide into cracks or crevices that the stain has touched. Then wipe the stain away using a clean towel. (When the color begins to transfer to the towel, you will need to use the clean side to continue the process.)
- When the color has been lifted, dry any moisture immediately.
Should You Get Help?
In some circumstances, you may find yourself trying to clean a stain that cannot be removed. If you try various methods and the stain is still on your wood floor, then you should definitely call a wood floor cleaning service.
These professional companies have various techniques to clean hardwood floors and they shouldn’t be ignored when you find yourself with a stain that can’t be wiped away.
Can You Use Cleaning Products?
If you are considering using cleaning products instead of the various methods we have outlined, then you need to make sure that the product you are buying is compatible with your wood floor type and finish.
Otherwise, you could cause more damage to your wood floors. However, we do encourage you to use cleaning products in certain circumstances.