Care & Cleaning Tips
Unlike most other floor covering options, wood is very forgiving. Most problems can be prevented with proper maintenance, but when problems do occur, renewal and repair usually is possible. For renewing and repairing stains and scratches on any wood floor, always begin at the outer edge of the stain or scratch and work toward the middle.
To renew or repair a wood floor, you first need to determine which kind of finish is on your floor.
Wax Floors
If the stain or scratch has penetrated the surface and is in the wood, you are dealing with a wax-finished floor.
Chewing Gum, Crayon, Candle Wax (Wax Floors)
Apply a plastic bag filled with ice until the deposit is brittle enough to crumble off. Crayon or candle wax can be removed by placing an ink blotter on the area and applying a hot pressing iron to the top of the blotter. Solvent-based wax also can be applied around the area to loosen the deposit.
Cigarette Burns (Wax Floors)
If the burn is not very deep, rub the area with fine sandpaper or steel wool. Moisten the steel wool with wax for better results. If the burn is deep, scrape the area with a penknife to remove charred fibers. Rub with fine sandpaper, then stain, wax, and hand buff.
Dark Spots, Dog Spots, Ink Stains (Wax Floors)
Rub the spot with #000 steel wool and wax the affected area. If this fails, lightly sand with fine sandpaper and clean using #00 steel wool and mineral spirits or a wood floor cleaner. Allow the floor to dry, then stain, wax, and hand buff. If the spot remains, apply household bleach or vinegar and allow it to soak for an hour. Rinse with a damp cloth, wipe dry, smooth with fine sandpaper, then stain, wax, and hand buff.
Dried Milk, Food Stains (Wax Floors)
Gently rub the stain with a damp cloth. Rub the area dry and wax.
Oil, Grease Stains (Wax Floors)
Rub the area with kitchen soap having a high lye content, or saturate cotton with hydrogen peroxide and place over the stain. Then saturate a second layer of cotton with ammonia and place over the first layer. Repeat until the stain is removed. Let the area dry, then hand buff.
Water Stains, White Spots (Wax Floors)
Rub the spot with #000 steel wool and wax the affected area. If this fails, lightly sand with fine sandpaper and clean using #00 steel wool and mineral spirits or a wood floor cleaner. Allow to dry, then stain, wax, and hand buff.
Wax Build Up
Strip old wax away with odorless mineral spirits or a wood floor product made for stripping wax. Use cloths and fine steel wool to remove all residue. After the floor is dry, wax and buff.
Scratches (Wax Floors)
Wax the area thoroughly. For heel marks, rub in a small amount of wax with fine steel wool and hand buff to a shine.
Surface Finished Floors
If the stain or scratch has penetrated the finish only and is not in the wood, you are dealing with a surface finished (urethane) floor.
Chewing Gum, Crayon, Candle Wax (Surface Finished)
Apply a plastic bag filled with ice on top of the stain until it is brittle enough to crumble off. Clean the area with a product made for urethane finishes.
Cigarette Burns (Surface Finished)
Most common burns can be treated with a touch-up kit made for urethane finishes. Rub with sandpaper, stain, and refinish. For deep burns, individual plank or parquet boards may need to be replaced.
Food, Water, Dark Spots, Dog Spots (Surface Finished)
Use a cleaner developed specifically for urethane finishes to remove the spot or stain. More stubborn spots may require additional scrubbing with the cleaner and a wood flooring scrub pad made for urethane floors.
Oil, Grease Stains (Surface Finished)
Rub the area with a cleaner developed for urethane.
Scratches (Surface Finished)
Repair with a touch-up kit made for urethane finishes, available from any wood flooring retailer.