Best way to remove dirt lines from hardwood floor

3 years ago

I just removed tiles that were on top of a hardwood floor. They left dirt stains at the perimeter of where the tiles were. Do you have any recommendations on getting these stains out before I try to sand them out?

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Comments (3)

millworkman
3 years ago
The entire floor should be sanded at one time with a floor sander.
lindac92
3 years ago
Soap and water?? Dry quickly because that floor may be finished in shellac.
Notice, to a millworker, everything looks like it needs to be sanded down. But if you want to preserve the old patina, try to clean off the dirt.
And if you cant clean it with something like 409, consider trying denatured alcohol, but then you will have to add a finish.
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SJ McCarthy
3 years ago
When it is 'black' like that it indicates the RAW wood has been exposed to the minerals in DIRT or water (I see water stains/intrusion at the base of the wall where she's nailing).

The 'dirt' is gone but the MINERALS remained LONG ENOUGH to stain the wood (not the finish...the wood itself) a black colour. This is an indication of wood damage...not finish damage.

There is no scrubbing that will remove MINERAL STAINS in wood....you need to sand PAST the black stain (honestly....look stains in hardwood floors...you will come up with THOUSANDS of photos). There is no other way.

Notice the black stuff to the right...that's water damage. The water evaporated but the MINERALS in the water remained long enough to stain the wood BELOW the finish. There is no cleaner in the world that will get rid of that other than a floor sander.

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Best way to remove dirt lines from hardwood floor

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millworkman

lindac92

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