Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Easy Repair Tips for Hardwood Flooring Marks

Hardwood flooring is recognized for its beauty, lasting durability and natural appeal. While hardwood floors are easy to maintain, they're still porous and vulnerable to stains. Unavoidably, spills will happen and leave marks on the floor, which may cause it to look dirty and stained. Luckily, marks can be eliminated from hardwood floors by using simple cleaning solutions. Stains ought to be removed as quickly as possible, however. The longer these marks remain on hardwood flooring, the harder they are to get rid of.

Step 1
Sweep the hardwood flooring with a household broom to remove any dust, dirt, grit or sand. Go over it with a dust mop to remove lingering debris. It's essential to get rid of surface debris from the floor before starting to remove marks and stains.

Step 2
In a bucket, pour one cup of commercial wood floor cleaner and one gallon of lukewarm water, making a diluted cleaning solution. Wet a microfiber or sponge mop in the solution. Mop the spotted areas of the hardwood flooring with the cleaning solution. Examine the full length of the floor for any remaining stains.

Step 3
In a bowl, mix together one cup of distilled white vinegar and one cup of cold water. Moisten a clean dry cloth in the vinegar solution. Wipe the cloth over any residual marks or stains. Moisten another clean cloth with plain water. Buff any spots that you treated with the vinegar solution.

Step 4
For dark marks and stains caused by standing water, you'll need to remove some of the finish and reapply it. Rub the spots with steel wool, in the direction of the wood grain. If this doesn't work, sand the areas lightly with fine-grit sandpaper. Clean the spots and surrounding areas using mineral spirits or a commercial wood floor cleaner. Let the floor dry.

Step 5
Apply a matching finish to the flooring, feathering it out into the surrounding area. Put on a coat of floor wax after the finish dries thoroughly. If you prefer just a surface finish, use a cleaner recommended for wooden flooring (such as oil soap) and buff vigorously with a clean towel.

Tip to Remove Wax Build-Up
Hardwood flooring that has not been properly cared for may acquire some wax build-up. To remove it, strip away all the old wax with mineral spirits or a commercial wood floor cleaner. Use soft cloths and fine steel wool pads to clean and eliminate all the residue before you apply new wax.

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