When Stains And Discolorations Ruin Your Wood Floor
Having a wood floor accentuates the indoor décor. The aesthetic appeal of these installations is a huge reason behind their popularity, where they bring a natural charm to any room. What’s more, wood floors don’t go out of style, and complement the different kinds of paintwork and wallpapers that are set up. With the different types of wood species available, coupled with a wide range of finishes available, you get to have the setup that appeals to your particular taste. However, this does not make the floors immune to staining. Some of the stains that are faced over time can be particularly troublesome to remove, calling for tough floor cleaning measures to be implemented. Let’s go over the different kinds of stains that are usually encountered.
- Streaking and mineral deposits
While they change the look of the wood, these are actually considered to add more value and character to the floor. They are as a result of the natural interaction been the original tree and the surrounding environment in which it grew – so they come with the floorboards even before they are installed. These mineral deposits range from potassium, limestone, silica, and even gypsum, depending on the predominant minerals that were in the region where the tree grew. This is also why you’ll find that no two trees – even those of the same species, are truly identical, Even the floorboards cut from the same tree can differ in their colour and grain patterns – adding to that unique charm of the installation. No remedy required here. Take it to be a characteristic trait of your particular floor.
- Moisture stains
Wood floors and the finishes that have been applied on them can change colour when exposed to moisture. Moisture stains are broad – from those spots under the plant pot, mildew-related spots, all through to rust stains that are induced by moisture. Basically, if moisture is involved in the formation of the spot, then it is a moisture stain. The floor cleaning measures here will depend on the additional elements that were involved with the stain. For instance, dealing with rust stains on the floor is different from the approach taken when removing urine stains.
- Chemical stains
These discolorations are a result of chemical spills on the floor – from incidents such as nail polish remover accidentally dripping on the surface, oil that winds up on the floor, all through to those situations where inappropriate floor cleaning agents have been used.
- Discolouration of the wood tissue
The primary cause here is the effect of the sun on the wood. Depending on the species, some will darken, and others lighten over time. For instance, American cherry, Brazilian cherry (jatoba), Douglas fir tend to darken over time, while Black Walnut and Cork will lighten. This happens due to the oxidation and photochemical exposure, and generally cannot be fully prevented, but only slowed down. For instance, measures like closing the curtains or moving around the furniture in the building can mitigate the effects.
- Spills
Regardless of one’s best measures to avoid them, spills are bound to occur at one point or another. You may be taking some tea and the mug accidentally gets kicked over. It can during a dinner date when things get so steamy that no one pays attention to that wine glass that was tipping over in the hand. Kids playing around with their milk and yoghurt are notorious for causing stains all over. Soft drinks, some ketchup that dipped onto the floor – they result in marks that are a stark contrast to the rest of the floor surface. Even ink blots are an issue – such as when you’re completing some drawings at home, tired from all the work, and in a brief lapse of concentration you accidentally knock down the ink bottle, sending its contents sprawling all over the surface.
The floor cleaning measures that will be carried out will heavily depend on the kind of stains that has been formed. Products required for removing coffee and tea stains are different from those needed when you’re dealing with issues like wine on the floor. While making the selection, keep in mind that the underlying material also needs to be protected – since you don’t want to use harsh cleaners that will get rid of the stain but end up bleaching out the wood floor in the process.
With the spills, the longer they are allowed to remain on the surface, the harder the stain removal becomes This is due to the wood tissue soaking up more of the spills, which get embedded in the structure. In some cases, the stains can get so deep, that a round of floor sanding may be required. Getting professional floor cleaning services occasionally will enable you to deal with those frustrating stains that could have formed on your installation. Here, the pros have access to a wider range of cleaning solutions that are not readily available over the counter due to their potency, allowing them to get rid of the stains easily. That way you will be able to restore the charm to your floor.
The floor treatment that is been applied can change colour over time. This is predominately seen when surfaces have been treated with oil-based finishes and waxes, where it slowly forms a yellow hue. The effect is accelerated on exposure to sunlight. This is part of the reason why water-based lacquers have increasingly become popular offering the desired protection without the colour changes occurring. Note that if than existing finish has changed colour, then the only recourse will be to sand it down to the bare wood and apply fresh new coats.
Speaking of sanding, there is a fairly common stain of “picture framing” that occurs when improper sanding is done. This is a halo-like effect, where the edges of the room end up appearing differently compared to the rest of the floor. It’s due to the edges being sanded with an abrasive grit that’s different from other sections. When the subsequent finishes are applied, the effect becomes more pronounced.
