Removing Salt Stains From Wood Floors

Keeping your hardwood floors free of salt stains and other damage during the winter isn t that hard.

Removing salt stains from wood floors.

Continue sanding until you remove the whole stain. There is an old wives tale that advises cleaning salt stains with vinegar and water. Excess water can ruin a wood floor and vinegar can be harsh on the finish and leave residue that is as unsightly as the original salt stain. To remove dark water stains from wood floors you have two options.

Dip a small brush such as a toothbrush into a small amount of bleach and rub onto the stain. Steer clear of salt stains this winter. The procedure for removing dye that has penetrated the wood is similar to that for removing black water stains but after sanding off the finish use chlorine bleach to remove the dye. Take care not to saturate wooden floors as too much vinegar or moisture could cause permanent damage.

Dampen the area but don t soak it. Let it sit for several minutes. Spray the stained area of the floor with the vinegar and water solution. For stubborn stains mix one third cup of white vinegar in a gallon of warm water.

Sweep or vacuum the area to remove any granules that might scratch the surface while cleaning. Let the solution sit for about five minutes then mop the area dry. Switch to a finer sandpaper once you reach the bare wood. 1 remove excessive salt.

Rub out stubborn grease stains with a cotton swab moistened with peroxide followed by a second swab moistened with ammonia. Repeat steps 1 4 if there is still salt residue on the floor. If you have removable floor mats you may wish to take them out for cleaning and also treat any salt stains that may have formed beneath them. Take 150 grit sandpaper and sand the stain directly again along the grain of the wood.

It has a built in vacuum that sucks all excess water immediately to prevent water damage to the floor. Liberally spray the salt stained region of your car s carpet. Dampen a clean microfiber cloth. Lightly spritz the mixture over the salt on your hardwood floors or tile.

Sand away the stain with 150 grit sandpaper. Here are the steps for removing salt residue from floors. If a white film appears on the floor wipe with a soft cloth that s been dampened slightly with clean water. Pick up the solution with mop wet dry vacuum or floor scrubber.

Do a second round after several hours and let the area rest until the next day. Sweep the floor of any granulated salt and other debris. The vinegar and water will help re dissolve the salt. Mix floor neutralizer in your mop bucket or floor scrubber.

Apply the solution to the floor and let it sit for 5 minutes. Be aware that this remedy can cause as much damage as the rock salt.