Introduction
With more of us working at home these days and with the kids studying at home too, the likelihood of spillages on your beautiful floor has doubled! Hopefully, these floor stain removal tips can help you restore your floor to its former glory after a nasty spillage. Note: Not all spillage circumstances will be covered in this article and not all results from the advice given are guaranteed.
Carpet
- Spilt Ink – Mix corn starch and milk together. Apply the paste over the ink stain. After a couple of hours brush it clean. The mixture should have absorbed the ink from the fibres.
- Red Wine – Turns out it’s not a myth, pouring white wine over the top does help. Remember to finish off by cleaning with a damp cloth.
- General Stains – Try a mixture of washing up liquid and water. Apply and wipe. Want an organic version? Pour baking soda onto the trouble spot, work in with a brush, then wipe away. A more powerful organic cleaner is white vinegar mixed with water, apply and wipe away.
Real Wood
- Pen – Apply toothpaste over it and work with a damp cloth to remove the stain.
- Water Stain – The ‘proper’ procedure is to strip, sand and reseal the area. But if you don’t have the tools or time to spare, try a tiny amount of bleach on a toothbrush. Obviously, don’t use that toothbrush in your mouth again!
- Other Stains – Tiny amounts of bleach or hydrogen peroxide on a cloth should work. Leave for a while then wipe away. Repeat if necessary.
Vinyl
- Scuffs and Marks – Rubbing alcohol on a cloth should restore your floor.
- Colourful Stains – For example, Bolognese sauce, wine, juice, etc… Bleach is your best bet. Mix with water and apply using a cloth. Use gloves if you can to protect your hands!
Laminate
- General Stains – Nail polish remover contains acetone which is an effective stain remover. A curveball strategy would be to use WD-40 to lift off a stain. Either way, with laminate remember not to use too much water as it is often not waterproof.
Tiles
- Discoloured Grout – Tiles themselves are super stain resistant. Nine times out of ten a damp cloth will remove your unwanted stain. The grout lines are another story however… If you favour chemicals, then bleach or hydrogen peroxide will work well. If you prefer the natural approach, then baking soda, white vinegar or lemon juice diluted with water and applied with a toothbrush should work too.
Conclusion
Stains are an unfortunate reality of life in the home. But hopefully, these tips can help you maintain your lovely floors. Both chemical cleaning and organic cleaning have been known to work well, so choose the method that you are most comfortable with. If you are a floor installer consider using F Ball C140 as an industrial strength, professional floor cleaner. Remember to always test your solutions and store-bought cleaners in discreet areas before applying to a visible stain. Here’s to keeping your floors in showroom condition!
