Removing Hardwood Floor Stains

There are two finishes that are applied to a hardwood floor. The first being wax and the second being surface finished floors (usually urethane).

Stains from Surface Finished

Cigarette Burns: Fixing these will be determined by how deep the burn has penetrated the wood. If the burn has penetrated the urethane stain and wood. You will have to sand the burn mark out then re-stain and re-urethane. If the burn is to deep you may have to replace the board. If the burn has only stained the urethane you can simply sand the stain away and re-finish.

Gum and Wax: These two items can easily be smeared if not removed correctly. First you will want to make them as cold as possible using ice in a plastic bag or a bag of frozen peas. Wait till the gum or wax has become brittle enough to crumble off. Then you can use a cleaning product made for cleaning wood floors. Oil and Grease Stains: Use a commercial grade hardwood cleaner.

Stains from Waxed Floors

To remove stains from waxed hardwood is basically the same as urethane accept you will have to re-wax after. Instead over using sandpaper you may want to start with #000 or #00 steel wool. Always allow the floor to dry before waxing.